CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE – MANAGING THE BOOKS

Jasmine sat at the desk in the small office, surrounded by stacks of papers and financial reports. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she pored over the numbers, trying to make sense of the complex web of income and expenses that kept Cesaro's Bistro running. Luca leaned over her shoulder, pointing at a column of figures. "You see here? This is where we track our food costs. It's crucial to keep this percentage in check if we want to maintain our profit margins." Jasmine nodded, scribbling notes in the margin of the report. "So if this number starts creeping up..." "Then we need to either raise our prices or find ways to cut costs," Luca finished for her. "Exactly right." They had been at this for hours, diving deep into the financial intricacies of running a successful restaurant. Jasmine's head was spinning, but she was determined to master these skills. "Now," Luca said, pulling out another sheaf of papers, "let's talk about inventory management." Jasmine couldn't help but