Gemotions

“How’s the project going?” asked the manager. Alex struggled to meet his gaze. He’d seen the figures, the numbers that had been inadvertently shared. He felt a sudden, sharp jolt. It felt like he was burning with a fever. The information confirmed what he'd suspected: Ben, fresh out of college, was making more than he was, after years of service.

“Fine,” he managed, his voice sounding thin. He felt sweat prickling on his forehead.

He spent the rest of the afternoon staring at his computer screen, his mind racing. He found himself scrolling through job postings, his fingers moving faster and faster across the screen. He was looking at something, but seeing nothing.