Gemotions

The sun beat down on the patio, making the air thick and heavy. Andrew ran a hand through his hair, already feeling sticky. He'd agreed to meet Alex for a celebratory brunch. The celebrations, however, seemed premature.

Alex had been boasting about his new consulting job for months. But Andrew had caught a glimpse of Alex’s work laptop screen the other day, and the spreadsheets seemed more… administrative than strategic.

“So, the big consulting gig… everything going well?” Andrew asked, forcing a smile.

Alex took a long pull of his mimosa, his face unreadable. "Couldn't be better. Challenging, sure, but rewarding." He tapped his fingers on the table, a nervous rhythm.