Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, usually a comfort, now felt like a taunt. Amelia stared at the sleek, minimalist prototype, the culmination of six months of her life. And across the room, on the screen of her rival, David, was something… identical. The same brushed aluminum casing, the same subtly curved edges, even the same goddamn logo placement.

A tremor went through her. She gripped her mug, knuckles white. She’d poured countless hours, missed birthdays, sacrificed sleep for this. Seeing David's smug face, the way he casually gestured towards his version, ignited a cold fury within her.

"Well," David began, his voice annoyingly smooth, "Great minds, right?" Amelia forced a smile. A thin, brittle thing that felt like shattered glass in her mouth. She crossed the room, feigning interest, her gaze scanning the device with a calculated intensity. This wasn't some cosmic coincidence. This was deliberate.