The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and freshly disturbed soil.
A cool breeze whispered through the site, rustling the leaves of the tree Ethan was leaning against.
He had a can of soda pressed against his lips, taking a slow sip as he observed the excavation team setting up their equipment.
It wasn’t coffee, but it would do for early morning hydration.
His hood was pulled over his head, shielding him from the soft glare of the rising sun.
Despite the early hour, the workers moved with energy, their voices carrying over the hum of machinery being prepped. The real work was starting today.
The site had already been marked. Now, it was time to tear into the ground and begin shaping the foundation.
The excavation wasn’t just about forming the base of the building — it was also to carve out the underground level of the casino, just like the blueprints had planned.
That part would take time, precision, and a whole lot of patience. Though he had to admit, it was fun being outside.
Ethan took another sip, his gaze shifting as a familiar voice called out.
"You always drink soda in the morning, or is this just a special occasion?"
He turned to see Riley approaching, her hands tucked into the pockets of her work pants.
She was dressed similarly to the day before, her notepad tucked under her arm, but there was a visible energy in her step, like she was ready to get to work today, like how she was yesterday.
Ethan smirked. "It’s carbonated, it wakes me up."
Riley rolled her eyes. "That’s the weakest excuse for a breakfast substitute I’ve ever heard."
He chuckled, lowering the can. "You’re late."
She raised an eyebrow. "I’m late? Pretty sure I’m still earlier than half the crew."
"Fair enough." He tilted his head toward the site. "They’re getting ready to start."
Riley followed his gaze, watching as the workers finalized their setup.
The excavation team was handling heavy-duty equipment — drills, backhoes, and compactors — all of which would be used to dig into the earth.
Several workers were checking the measurements again, ensuring that they didn’t deviate from the marked lines.
The foreman strode toward them, his hard hat tilted slightly back on his head. "Alright, boss," he said, addressing Ethan. "We’re ready to go. You sure about that underground section?"
Ethan gave a short nod. "It’s in the blueprints for a reason. We need the extra space."
The foreman sighed, rubbing his chin. "It’ll take longer. More materials, more effort."
Ethan shrugged. "I didn’t bring you here for an easy job."
That got a chuckle out of the older man. "Fair enough."
He turned to signal his crew. "Alright, boys! Fire it up!"
The first drill roared to life, a deep mechanical hum reverberating through the ground.
The vibrations could be felt even from where Ethan and Riley stood, a reminder of just how powerful the machinery was.
The process started slow — careful drilling to break through the tougher layers of soil, making sure they weren’t disrupting anything structurally unsound.
Dust and small rocks kicked up into the air as the workers moved in a practiced rhythm, guiding the machines with precision.
Ethan watched in silence, his arms crossed as he took in every detail.
Riley stood beside him, hands on her hips. "Gotta admit, there’s something satisfying about watching the ground get torn up."
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Ethan smirked. "You don’t strike me as the destruction-loving type."
She grinned. "It’s not destruction. It’s progress."
He had to admit, she had a point.
The foreman walked past again, checking on different sections of the site, barking instructions where needed.
Some workers manually shoveled excess dirt away, making sure the excavation stayed within the designated lines.
The morning stretched on, and soon enough, they had dug deep enough to start reinforcing the underground section.
It would take days before it was fully carved out, but the framework was beginning to take shape.
Ethan took another sip of his soda — now lukewarm — and exhaled slowly.
Riley glanced at him. "You look like you’re thinking too hard."
He arched an eyebrow. "That obvious?"
She shrugged. "You get this look when you’re calculating stuff in your head. It’s like watching a computer process data." Stay tuned to freewebnovel
Ethan smirked. "I’ll take that as a compliment."
"Depends. Are you overanalyzing, or just admiring the work?"
"Bit of both," he admitted. "I want this done right."
Riley nodded, kicking a small rock near her foot. "Then you’re in the right place. This team knows what they’re doing."
Ethan glanced at her. "You trust them?"
She shrugged. "I’ve worked with some of them before. They get things done."
That was good enough for him.
By midday, the drilling had progressed deeper. The underground section was starting to take form, and reinforcement materials were being moved into place.
The dust in the air made the site look hazy under the afternoon sun, and the constant hum of machinery was now a familiar backdrop to their conversations.
The foreman called for a break, allowing the workers to grab water and rest before pushing forward again.
Ethan and Riley stepped back, watching as some of the crew leaned against equipment, wiping sweat from their brows.
"Not bad for half a day’s work," Riley commented.
Ethan nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Still a long way to go."
"Yeah, but at least now it feels real, right?"
He glanced at her, then at the carved-out sections of dirt, the stacks of materials waiting to be used, the workers catching their breath before diving back in.
It did feel real.
He smirked slightly. "Yeah. It does."
Riley nudged him with her elbow. "See? I knew you’d get excited eventually."
He chuckled. "I don’t do ’excited.’"
She rolled her eyes. "Sure you don’t."
The break ended, and the workers returned to their tasks.
Ethan remained where he was for a moment longer, taking in the sight of it all.
’This looks cool though,’ Ethan thought silently.