CHAPTER TWENTY TWO – THE PRICE OF LABOUR

As the weeks passed, Karina's team continued to make progress, but the toll on Karina herself was becoming evident. She was losing weight, dark circles permanently etched under her eyes. Her team, worried about her health, tried to shoulder more of the burden, but Karina insisted on being involved in every aspect of the project. One afternoon, about a week before the deadline, Karina was presenting their progress to Miguel in his office. As she walked him through their latest findings, she noticed a slight smirk on his face. "Is something amusing, Mr. Eladio?" she asked, unable to keep a hint of irritation from her voice. Miguel leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening. "Oh, not at all, Ms. Zaslav. I'm just impressed by your... thoroughness. Though I do wonder if perhaps you've overlooked something in your haste to meet the deadline." Karina felt a chill run down her spine. There was something in Miguel's tone, a hint of smug satisfaction, that set off alarm bells in her head.