CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY ONE – THE ART COLLEGE

Jasmine stood at the entrance of Eastside Art College, her heart fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nerves. The red brick building loomed before her, its windows reflecting the early morning sunlight. She took a deep breath and stepped inside. The hallway bustled with activity as students rushed to their classes. Jasmine navigated through the crowd, her eyes searching for the dean's office. A hand touched her shoulder, and she turned to see a balding man with a wide grin. "Ms. Delacroix! Welcome, welcome!" he exclaimed. "I'm Dean Lambert. So thrilled to have you join our faculty." "Thank you, Dean Lambert. I'm excited to be here," Jasmine replied, shaking his hand. "Oh, please, call me Roger. Come, let me introduce you to some of your colleagues." Dean Lambert ushered her down the corridor, chattering away. "You know, when I saw your application, I just knew we had to have you. Your work is simply extraordinary!" They rounded a corner and entered the faculty lounge. A ha