Gemotions

"Oh, my dear, these are just *heavenly*!" Amelia’s voice dripped with manufactured sweetness, but the way her fingers clutched the tiny cake betrayed her true feelings. They were, in fact, exactly like the "Lemon Drops" she had painstakingly perfected, a recipe she'd sold to her former best friend, Bethany. A recipe that Bethany was now using to build an empire.

Amelia forced a smile, her jaw aching from the effort. "Yes, Bethany has always had a knack for baking, hasn't she?" The words felt like sandpaper in her mouth. She'd spent months perfecting that recipe, trying to get it exactly right.

She excused herself and went to the restroom. In the mirror, her face was contorted, unfamiliar. She pressed her hands on the cool marble counter, fighting the urge to shatter something.