Gemotions

A tremor ran through Daniel as he sat at his desk, staring blankly at the spreadsheets before him. The numbers swam before his eyes. He’d meticulously crafted his presentation, spent hours polishing his pitch, yet a knot of unease tightened in his chest. His palms were slick with perspiration.

He heard the click-clack of Sarah's heels echoing down the hallway, each step seeming to amplify the pressure building inside him. She was also a contender. He knew her capabilities all too well. He pushed back his chair and walked to the water cooler, the walk feeling like an eternity. He took a long, unsteady drink.

The office felt unusually warm, the air thick with unspoken tension. He caught his reflection in the water cooler's polished surface – his face pale and strained. He had to breathe. He closed his eyes.