CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR – MENDING FAMILY TIES

Over the next few weeks, Karina threw herself into her work with renewed vigor. She tackled each project with determination, her confidence growing with each successful completion. She noticed a subtle shift in how Miguel interacted with her – his criticisms, while still present, were more constructive, and he seemed to genuinely listen to her ideas during meetings. The change didn't go unnoticed by her colleagues. Elena cornered her one day in the break room, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Okay, spill," Elena demanded, lowering her voice. "What's going on with you and Miguel? He actually smiled at you in the meeting yesterday. I thought I was hallucinating." Karina laughed, shaking her head. "It's not what you think. We just... came to an understanding. We're trying to work together more effectively." Elena raised an eyebrow, clearly not entirely convinced. "Uh-huh. Well, whatever it is, it's nice to see. The whole office feels less tense these days." As Karina settled back int