Gemotions

Sweat beaded on Mark's forehead despite the arctic blast emanating from the office air conditioning. He kept hitting the escape key on his spreadsheet, the numbers blurring. A vague unease settled in his stomach, a feeling he couldn't quite name. He’d seen the lawyers from Sterling & Finch lurking around the executive floor all week. He’d tried to rationalize it – a new contract negotiation, maybe? But his gut churned with a different certainty. He rubbed his palms on his jeans, leaving damp marks. This morning's staff meeting, called with unusually little notice, felt like a prelude to something momentous.

He glanced at the clock: 8:57 AM. Three minutes. His jaw worked, grinding his teeth.

The announcement came, as expected, during the meeting. The CEO, pale and stiff, announced the acquisition. A collective gasp rippled through the room.