Gemotions

He’d always prided himself on his even temperament. But after seeing the payroll sheet, he felt his chest tighten. He looked at the numbers, then back at the spreadsheet. It was impossible. He knew he'd been given a raw deal. His own pay stub. Mark, the new hire, was pulling a larger salary.

He slammed his fist on his desk, then instantly regretted it. His knuckles ached. His colleagues turned to stare. He forced a smile, but felt the heat rising in his face.

He took a long, slow walk around the block, breathing deeply, trying to calm down. It didn’t work. The image of the pay stub was burned into his memory.