Gemotions

A chill snaked up Maya’s spine as she waited for the elevator doors to open. She fiddled with the strap of her satchel, twisting it until her knuckles were white. Her design for the new sustainable energy grid was going to be groundbreaking. The city needed it. And she needed this contract.

She arrived at the conference room early, wanting a few minutes to compose herself. She felt a knot forming in her chest. The air was thick with anticipation. It seemed to amplify the hum of the florescent lights above. When the opposing team filed in, she instantly recognized one of the lead designers, a man named Marcus.

He approached, extending a hand. "Maya, right? Fantastic concept. Shame, though." The blood drained from her face. His smile didn't reach his eyes. "We've been working on something… rather similar." He gestured towards his own laptop, its screen already displaying a nearly identical diagram.