Gemotions

"Yeah, they're paying those new hires *what*?" Mark's eyebrows shot up as he spoke with his friend on the phone. "No way." He kept trying to shake his head. He had been an employee for ten years. Now, his junior colleagues in marketing were reportedly earning more.

He stared out the window, at the bustling city below, feeling a sense of unease. He was usually so confident. Now, he started to second-guess everything: his work, his achievements, his value.

He hung up, the words still echoing in his mind. He found himself walking to the HR office, his stomach twisting. He hated confrontations, but he had to know. The receptionist’s cheerful greeting felt particularly cloying that morning.