Gemotions

"Mediocre at best," the critic, Mr. Harrison, had sneered in print, effectively torpedoing Chef Kenji’s career. The review had been a death knell. He felt a deep, cold ache in his chest.

Kenji, a man of meticulous habits, usually left his apartment spotless. But now, he tossed the newspaper into the growing pile of unopened mail. He decided to act. He knew Harrison's address, learned from a simple Google search. He knew the critic loved orchids, specifically a rare variety that cost a fortune.

He visited the critic's home, pretending to be a delivery person. He left a gift in a box, a single, perfectly crafted orchid. Inside, hidden amongst the petals, a tiny, poisonous dart. He smiled with a feeling that tasted like victory.