บททั้งหมดของ BREAKING THE RULES : บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 27

EVELYNEmma is six months old and I'm drowning. Between running my company, being a mother, and trying to maintain my relationship with Richard, I feel like I'm failing at everything."You need to hire more help," Tonia says, finding me in my office at nine PM, still working while pumping breast milk."I have help. We have a nanny.""I mean at work. You're doing too much. You have fifteen employees now. Delegate.""I do delegate.""No, you micromanage and then fix everything yourself. That's not delegating."She's right but I don't want to admit it.When I get home, Richard is on the floor playing with Emma. She's giggling, reaching for his face."Hey. You're late.""I know. Sorry. Work was crazy.""You said you'd be home by seven. I held dinner."Guilt washes over me. "I'm sorry. I lost track of time."Richard picks up Emma and stands. "She's been fed and bathed. I'm putting her down now."His voice is polite but distant. We've been like this for weeks, polite strangers sharing a hou

EVELYNI watch Richard fall apart slowly over the next few weeks. The investigation consumes him. He's barely sleeping, barely eating, just working to clear his name."You need to take care of yourself," I tell him after finding him asleep at his desk at four AM."I'm fine.""You're not fine. Richard, you're going to make yourself sick.""I have to fix this. My company, my reputation, everything I've built is at stake.""I know. But you're no good to anyone if you collapse."He looks at me, exhausted and defeated."What if I can't fix it? What if this ruins everything?""Then we start over. Richard, you've built an empire once. You can do it again.""I'm forty three years old. I don't know if I have another empire in me.""You do. But right now, you need to focus on getting through this investigation."The SEC investigation drags on. Every transaction is examined, every email reviewed. It's invasive and exhausting.Meanwhile, the media has a field day. Every day, there's a new article

EVELYNI'm in a board meeting when my phone buzzes with an emergency call from Emma's daycare."Miss Hart, Emma has a fever. You need to come pick her up.""I'll be right there."I excuse myself from the meeting and rush to get Emma. She's flushed and crying, clearly miserable."Poor baby," I coo, carrying her to the car.At home, I take her temperature. One hundred and three. I call the pediatrician."Bring her in. We want to check her out."Richard meets us at the doctor's office. Emma has an ear infection, nothing serious but she needs antibiotics and rest."Someone should stay home with her for a few days," the doctor recommends.Richard and I look at each other."I have a huge presentation tomorrow," I say."And I have a board meeting I can't miss."The doctor looks between us. "Figure it out. She needs a parent, not a nanny, right now."In the car, we discuss options."I can reschedule the board meeting," Richard offers."No, you're the chairman. You need to be there. I'll cance