CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE – WORK – LIFE BALANCE

Karina sighed in frustration as she ended yet another tense phone call with her husband John. Though he had stepped back from his hands-on role at Hardy Enterprises, he was still constantly pulled into meetings and crises at the company he had built from the ground up. She understood the immense responsibility he felt to ensure the continued success of his multi-billion dollar corporation, even with a temporary leave of absence. But his inability to fully disconnect was putting a strain on their family life in the opulent mansion in the hills that his success had afforded. "Mrs. Hardy? Is everything alright?" Maria, their live-in housekeeper, asked with concern as she entered the study where Karina sat stewing. Karina managed a tight smile, not wanting to take out her irritation on the kindhearted woman who had become like a second grandmother to baby Becky. "Yes, Maria, I'm fine. Just...frustrated that John still hasn't been able to fully commit to his paternity leave." The olde