Gemotions

The new department, filled with the cheerful drone of sales pitches, felt foreign and hostile. His fingers tightened around the lukewarm coffee cup as he surveyed the scene. His heart hammered a furious rhythm against his ribs. He felt a profound sense of outrage. The manager, a man whose smile seemed permanently plastered onto his face, clapped him on the back. "Welcome to the team!" he boomed. He flinched, the gesture feeling like an act of blatant mockery. He stared out the window, his jaw clenched, and promised himself he would never look so defeated again.