Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the office seemed to hum with his frustration. He’d spent five years building his role at the company, and now this… this *thing* was going to take over. He plastered on a smile as Sarah, his replacement, sat down. "Alright, let's get started," he said, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.

He began, slowly, deliberately. Each explanation was a carefully crafted performance, riddled with vague instructions and half-truths. He watched Sarah, eager to see her struggle, her confusion. He reveled in the way her brow furrowed as she attempted to navigate the complex spreadsheet he 'simplified' for her.

The coffee machine gurgled in the background, a soundtrack to his quiet satisfaction. He'd "forgotten" to tell her about the password that was needed to access the company's internal servers. That should keep her busy for a while.