Gemotions

“Well, this is just great,” Mark muttered under his breath, staring at the message. The familiar knot in his stomach tightened. He’d been so sure, so convinced of his ability to navigate the corporate landscape. He’d even taken pleasure in the whispers, in the feeling of being in the know, of being a step ahead of everyone else. Now, he felt exposed, vulnerable.

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture a nervous tic. He remembered the arguments he had with his wife, who had told him that it wasn’t worth it.

His colleagues, the people he’d worked alongside for years, were now staring at him. He knew they were thinking the same thing: *he* should have known. He should have said something. He’d been too arrogant, too consumed by his own self-importance.