Gemotions

Sweat beaded on Elias’s forehead as he clicked the final button. His stomach churned. This presentation was everything. His career hinged on it. He’d poured every waking moment into this AI-driven architectural design program. He’d even stopped sleeping properly. A thin sheen of oil slicked his palms as he reached for the ‘Save’ icon.

He had expected a standing ovation. Instead, a polite cough echoed from the back of the auditorium. An older woman with sharp eyes and a neatly coiffed bun stepped forward. She was someone from the competition. “Fascinating work, Mr. Vance,” she said, her voice smooth, but her gaze was a steel trap. "Almost eerily similar to my own."

His breath hitched. That had been his life’s work. He could only manage a small, involuntary twitch. The room swam for a moment. He felt like his legs would give way beneath him. The woman held out a USB stick. He couldn't speak, he just took it.