**UNFINISHED**
The air was sullen and oppressive with menacing dark clouds haunting the skies of Manhattan; deep, low rumbles emanating from their full grey bellies. The first lonely tear of the sky fell to the pavement, then another and another until the sidewalk was darkened with the heavy sadness falling from above.
Dawson stood at the corner of Madison and 6th as the heavens opened. Failing to remember to charge his cellphone, he was now stranded with no way of contacting his driver to collect him. He hadn't the foresight to bring an umbrella with him either and now, in a matter of seconds, he was soaked through to the bone by the impenetrable sheets of water blurring his vision.
A startling crack of lightning tore across the sky, Illuminating the city for a few short seconds. People dashed and darted everywhere to escape the weather and Dawson decided that this was not the best moment to attempt to hail a cab or ride the subway for the first time in his life and instead trudged to the nearest shelter; A Starbucks.
The warmth enveloped his trembling frame as the whipping air was left behind on the street. For Dawson, today was most certainly a day of firsts for this was also his first time in a Starbucks too. He made his way to the back of the queue and drank in his surroundings.
Barista's stood behind the counter shouting orders and clattering crockery together, while low conversations were muttered at the tables and couches where customers sat over their steaming hot drinks. There was a repetitive click, click, click from the students with their heads buried in their laptops and some bluesy, slightly jazzy tracks were playing in the background. Earthy, fresh coffee had filled his nostrils and the smell of the fresh pastries and melted cheese amalgamated making his stomach groan with hunger. Dawson, although used to the finer things in life, was quite charmed by this coffee shop.
He glanced down at his Armani trench coat, now splattered with mud and dripping dark, dank liquid into a pool of muddy rain water at his feet. His hair was clinging to his forehead so he ran his fingers through it, spraying droplets of water into the air like a wet dog.
When it was finally his turn to order, Dawson just stared blankly up at the boards displaying the types of coffee available, completely overwhelmed by the different choices that surely couldn’t be in English.
"Good Afternoon Sir, Welcome to Starbucks, What can I get you?" Smiled the boy behind the counter
Dawson shot him an apologetic look when he realized he had no idea what he wanted and had only come in to escape the harsh weather. Noticing Dawson's startling pale blue eyes, the boy realized just who he was serving.
"Oh, hey… aren't you that guy who just inherited Calthorpe Enterprises?"
Dawson nodded, still unsure of what to say when he was asked this question. "I'm guessing you forgot your umbrella today?" Whispers were working their way down the queue behind Dawson and everyone was now staring at him, recognizing the handsome face that had graced their TV Screens and the newspapers just the week before.
Noticing Dawson's discomfort the boy behind the counter continued. "Assistant call in sick?"
"Oh err, no I don't have an assistant" Dawson replied, still staring up at the boards lined with coffee and prices.
"Really?" The boy looked shocked. "a busy guy like you? No assistant?"
Dawson laughed. "Well after today I think I need one to remind me to take an umbrella out when it’s due to rain and one that can choose a coffee for me. I have no idea what to have..." Dawson glanced down at the name tag on the boy's black polo shirt "So.....Frapp? What do you recommend?"
Judging from the puzzled look on Dawson's face, Frapp felt he should offer his services. "The name is Penn really, the guys around here call me Frapp cause I make a mean custom Frappuccino"
"I suppose I can try your specialty then" Dawson proclaimed proudly.
"You sure? That /is/ a cold drink – It’s not really the weather for it. I still make a mean coffee – A lot of the ones offered as Frappuccino are offered as hot drinks"
Dawson Smiled again. "How about you surprise me" he pauses and snatches a package of shortbread out of the display in front of him “and that”
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