Gemotions

The notice, a stark white rectangle thumbtacked to the chipped paint of the lobby wall, felt like a personal invitation. *Condos Coming Soon!* read the headline. He stretched, a low groan escaping his lips, as he surveyed the other tenants huddled around the announcement. Their expressions were a blend of worry and annoyance. He, on the other hand, felt a peculiar lightness.

He adjusted his perfectly knotted tie. The rent-controlled status of his unit was, frankly, a gift from the gods. He'd poured his savings into bespoke furniture and a sound system that could rival a small cinema. He knew what his place was worth, and now, so would everyone else.

He casually flicked a loose piece of lint from his impeccably tailored trousers. “Well, this should be…interesting,” he drawled, his voice a smooth, buttery texture. He offered a slight, almost imperceptible tilt of his head to the elderly woman clutching her purse. “I imagine the renovations will be…extensive.”