Gemotions

The morning sun warmed Elias's face as he hummed, arranging the succulents on his desk. Each leaf, meticulously dusted, gleamed in the light. He took a long, slow breath, savoring the subtle scent of earth and the quiet hum of the air conditioning. This was his favorite part of the day, the gentle ritual before the phones started ringing. He leaned back, his chair creaking softly, and stretched, feeling a satisfying pop in his shoulders.

The email notification chimed. He glanced at the sender: "Important Announcement." Elias wasn't particularly interested. He figured it was another memo about stapler usage. He opened it anyway. The words blurred at first, but then he registered the sentence: "Acquisition by…" His heart rate jumped a tick. He reread the whole paragraph, then another. He blinked. His hands, which had been still, began to tap on the desk.