"No."
Leo refused.
"We're not going back to city hall."
"We'll talk right here."
Leo turned and took a stack of brand-new white hard hats from a nearby box.
He walked up to Smith and handed him a hard hat.
"Put this on, Mayor Smith."
Smith frowned and didn't take it.
"It's the rule," Leo said, staring into his eyes. "On my construction site, you wear one of these if you don't want your head split open. It doesn't matter if you're a mayor or a laborer."
The two men stared at each other for a few seconds.
Smith snorted, snatched the hard hat, and slapped it on his head.
Leo then distributed the hats to the others.
Only after the group of suit-clad mayors had all put on their hard hats, looking slightly more in place, did Leo speak again.
"Mayor Smith, you just asked me if I was trying to show off."
Leo pointed to the massive steel beam that had just been installed.
"Please, take a good look at that beam."
Smith followed his finger with his gaze.
