Gemotions

Maya felt a twitch in her jaw as Chloe, beaming, announced her Saturday brunch birthday bash. Maya had meticulously planned her sophisticated gallery opening for the same day, hoping to outshine Chloe's annual, predictable pool party. The details of Chloe's brunch, however, seemed meticulously designed to compete: a celebrity chef, a champagne fountain, and a guest list overflowing with the city's elite. Maya tightened her grip on her phone, picturing Chloe's smug expression as she gave the updates.

A coldness settled in her stomach. Maya immediately doubled the budget for the opening, demanding the most expensive canapés and hiring a string quartet. She'd always envied Chloe's effortless popularity, but now, the envy had transformed into something harder, sharper.

During the week, Maya made sure to conspicuously mention the gallery opening to everyone. She sent out embossed invitations with an aggressive flourish. She even considered changing the dress code to 'gala attire' just to make the pool party seem tawdry.