CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOUR – MARCO RETURNS

Before Luca could respond, Jasmine was already on her phone, dialing frantically. She called every contact in their supplier list, explaining the situation and pleading for help. Most couldn't accommodate such a large, last-minute order, but a few offered what they could. Next, she called in every favor she'd built up over the past months. The owner of the small organic market down the street agreed to let them buy out his stock. A farmer she'd met at a local market promised to make an emergency delivery of whatever he had available. As she worked, Jasmine dispatched staff members on various missions – picking up supplies, reworking the menu with Antonio to accommodate what they could get, calling reserved guests to explain potential changes. An hour later, Jasmine stood in the kitchen surrounded by an eclectic array of produce and supplies. It wasn't their usual stock, but it was enough to work with. "I don't believe it," Luca said, shaking his head in amazement. "How did you pull