CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE - A Moment of Weakness

The following Monday, Claire walked into the Ultimate X office with renewed determination. She greeted her colleagues warmly, refusing to let the lingering tension affect her demeanor. In her morning team meeting, she addressed the elephant in the room head-on. "I know there have been some concerns about my leadership of this project," she began, her voice steady. "I want to assure you all that I am fully committed to making this merger a success. I value each of your contributions, and I'm always open to your input. But I also need your trust and support. We're a team, and we'll succeed or fail together." She could see the surprise on her colleagues' faces, and even Mark looked taken aback by her directness. As the meeting progressed, Claire noticed a subtle shift in the room's energy. People seemed more engaged, more willing to contribute ideas. Over the next few weeks, Claire put Mason's advice into practice. She meticulously documented her work, creating clear paper trails for a