Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. The interview process had been long and grueling, and she had meticulously prepared for each stage. Now, the official notice read, "Congratulations to John on his well-deserved promotion to Head of Marketing." Her jaw tightened.

She found herself replaying the interview in her head, dissecting every answer, every interaction. Had she been too assertive? Too opinionated? She pressed her fingers to her temples, a headache beginning to bloom.

Walking to her car, she noticed John was already there, leaning against his new, shiny vehicle. He waved, his face wreathed in a self-satisfied grin. She simply nodded back, a strained expression plastered on her face.