CHAPTER ELEVEN - Damage Control

"Damn it," she muttered, running her hands through her hair. "Bad news?" Mason's voice came from behind her, causing Claire to start. She turned, ready to snap at him for eavesdropping, but the words died on her lips when she saw his expression. There was no smugness or judgment, just a quiet understanding. "The deal fell through," Claire said, her voice hollow. "Months of work, gone just like that." Mason was quiet for a moment, then said, "You know, the first company I started failed spectacularly. Lost everything, had to move back in with my parents at 25." Claire looked up, surprised by this admission. "Really? I never read about that in any of your profiles." Mason shrugged. "I made sure it stayed buried. But the point is, setbacks happen. It's how you bounce back that matters." Claire felt a lump form in her throat, unexpected emotion welling up. "It's just... there's so much riding on this. The promotion, my family's expectations..." To her surprise, Mason pulled up a ch