CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR - A New Challenge

The next morning, Claire woke to the buzz of her phone. For a moment, her heart leapt, thinking it might be Mason. But it was just a news alert about Universe X. She skimmed the article, her stomach churning at the increasingly negative coverage. "You okay?" Zoe asked, poking her head into the guest room. Claire managed a small smile. "Yeah, just... processing, I guess." Zoe nodded sympathetically. "Take all the time you need. My home is your home." As Claire got ready for work, she steeled herself for the day ahead. The office had become a minefield of whispers and sidelong glances since the lawsuit broke. But she was determined not to let it break her. Arriving at Universe X headquarters, Claire kept her head high as she made her way to her desk. She could feel the eyes on her, hear the hushed conversations that stopped abruptly as she passed. But she focused on her work, losing herself in the familiar comfort of numbers and financial models. It was mid-morning when a shadow fe