Gemotions

The annual company retreat was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway. For Sam, it was turning into an exercise in cognitive dissonance. His friend, Alex, had been telling him about his amazing consulting job for a few years, but now they were at the resort and Sam found himself watching him.

Alex, who claimed to work on high-profile projects, seemed to be spending most of his time lounging by the pool with the interns. The way he spoke, the way he seemed to be making jokes at the expense of others, did not seem like someone who managed a business.

Sam kept replaying their conversations in his head, searching for the inconsistencies. The more he thought, the less convinced he was. He went to bed that night feeling a restless throb behind his eyelids.