CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE - An Unplanned Encounter

That night, as Claire tossed and turned in bed, her phone buzzed with a text from Mason. Mason: Hey, you've seemed stressed lately. Everything okay? Claire stared at the message, torn between her desire to confide in Mason and her fear of appearing weak. Finally, she replied: Claire: Just work stuff. Nothing I can't handle. She put her phone down, ignoring the pang of guilt in her chest. The next few weeks were a blur of long days and sleepless nights. Claire threw herself into her work, determined to prove her worth. But no matter how hard she worked, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was fighting a losing battle. One Friday evening, as Claire was packing up to leave, Mark approached her desk. "Burning the midnight oil again, Claire?" he asked, his tone friendly but his eyes cold. "You know, if you're struggling with the workload, I'd be happy to take some of it off your hands." Claire bristled at the implication. "I appreciate the offer, Mark, but I've got everything un