Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum with a malevolent energy as Sarah stared at the payroll spreadsheet. Brian, the fresh-faced intern, was making more than her. After five years! Her jaw clenched, and a headache throbbed behind her eyes. She felt a burning sensation in her chest, a heat that made her palms sweat.

She "accidentally" deleted a crucial file from Brian's shared drive. A simple mistake, she told herself, a clumsy click. The email she sent to IT, detailing the loss, included a subtle dig at his inexperience.

Later, she “forgot” to forward him the updated project brief. Let him flounder, she thought, as she watched him from across the open-plan office, his brow furrowed in concentration.