CHAPTER FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN – RIVALS ACROSS THE STREET

The drive back to the city the next day was filled with comfortable silence and occasional bursts of conversation as Jasmine and Marco planned their next steps. As the skyline came into view, Jasmine felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. "Ready to get back to it?" Marco asked, sensing her mood. Jasmine took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be. But this time, I'm going to do things differently." As they pulled up to the construction site, Jasmine was surprised to see Hank waiting for them, a look of relief on his weathered face. "Welcome back, boss," he said as Jasmine stepped out of the car. "How are you feeling?" "Much better, thank you," Jasmine replied. "How have things been here?" Hank's expression turned sheepish. "Well, we've been keeping up with all those new safety protocols. Turns out, they're not so bad once you get used to them. The crew's even starting to see the benefits." Jasmine smiled. "That's great to hear, Hank. Listen, I've been thinking. I could us