CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND TEN – KITCHEN NIGHTMARE

The following morning, Jasmine woke with a renewed determination to make the best of her situation. She decided to try and integrate herself into the daily life of the compound, starting with the kitchen. After breakfast, she approached Maria in the bustling kitchen. "Good morning, Maria. I was wondering if I could help out today?" Maria looked surprised, then skeptical. "Help? Ms. Delacroix, this is a professional kitchen. We have routines, systems in place." "I understand," Jasmine said earnestly. "But I used to help out in my family's restaurant. I know my way around a kitchen." Maria hesitated, then sighed. "Very well. You can help with the vegetable prep for lunch." Excited to have something productive to do, Jasmine threw herself into the task. She was chopping carrots when she overheard two kitchen staff speaking in rapid Spanish. "What do you think she's really doing here?" one whispered. "Who knows? But she doesn't belong here," the other replied. Jasmine pretended not