Gemotions

The cafeteria chatter faded into a dull background noise. "He's making what?" Maria asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her lunch suddenly felt heavy in her stomach.

She started checking her own work, looking for any mistakes. She double-checked every spreadsheet, every email, every report. She wanted to prove her value, to solidify her position.

She began to speak up more in meetings, offering suggestions, volunteering for extra projects. Her colleagues noticed the shift, the newfound intensity in her eyes, but no one dared mention the elephant in the room.