Chapter 2, Part 1: Questionable Choices

"She's not coming..."
"Just be patient. Quietly."
"Ugh, I'm hungry! I could eat a hippo, I'm so nervous!"
"Glass... so much glass..."

For what seemed like hours each one of the four interviewees fidgeted in their seats. Honeydew's feet scuffed the ground nervously, Hyacinth paced about as if the room was going to explode, and Lichen had taken upon himself the task of trying to annoy Paprique to his popping point. Unfortunately, Paprique was finding it more and more difficult to ignore him.

"Why'd she ask you here, anyways?" Lichen began again after several minutes of wonderful silence. "Aren't you supposed to be some sort of best-selling author?"

"Not. Anymore." Paprique growled under his breath.

"Oh, d'you lose your publisher? Bummer, man. Guess it was only a matter of time 'til they saw through everything and bailed on you, though."

"..."

"Uuuggh, Lichen, could you please shut up?" Honeydew's shrill tone cut between them, briefly taking her gaze away from the hall to Molasses's office. "She's gonna be here any second!"

Lichen smirked and rolled his eyes. "Unlikely. She's just got us here like some sort of experiment... like with rats. Stick 'em in a cage, see how long it takes to turn them against each other--"

"Which you seem to be instigating quite nicely, from what I can see." Molasses's alto snapped everyone back to reality--even Hyacinth, who had taken quite the interest in a smudge on the window.

"Thank you--all of you--for sticking around," Molasses continued, entering the room with a smooth swagger and a broad, feline smile on her lips.

"Don't mention it," Lichen grumbled under his breath.

"I have to say, I was a little worried some of you wouldn't come at all. I know it's a bit... unexpected. Usually it's the unemployed asking for an interview--not the other way around."

"However," she continued, choosing her words carefully to try and mask her jarring Cocoabean accent. "In the endeavor of saving time, I decided I would come find you, rather than wait for you to come to me. But I needed to talk to all of you, first, to see each of you for myself and decide which you had what I was looking for... and, well, as far as I can tell--you do."

"...Who?"

"All of you. I want all of you to come work for me, if you'll accept my offer."

"Oh, that is such a relief!" Honeydew exclaimed, clutching her hand to her heart dramatically. "I was so worried you were going to send me home! My parents are going to be so thrilled."

"My brain... tingles."

"So... wait." Everyone paused for a moment, turning to look at Lichen with a very unanimous 'what now' roll of their eyes. "You want me to work with schizo, hairspray, and tin man?!"

"I suppose that would be the case, Mr. Moss."

"No. Just--NO." Lichen stood from his chair with such force that the pressure from his hands sent the table skidding a few inches away. "Look, I can handle the crazy and I can deal with the brat--"

"Hey, I'm not the one acting like a brat, here,"  Honeydew said in a sing-song voice.

"--but him?! You have got to be kidding me."

Molasses's voice was calm when she responded, though one of her brows lifted in surprise. "Do you have a problem with Mr. Le Pepper, Lichen?"

"A problem? Of course I have a problem! All of Sugar Valley has a problem! It's only a matter of time 'til people figure out you hired him and no one wants to come in here, ya know."

Behind him, Hyacinth tilted her head and let a little bemused, "Why?"

"Because--this man is a murderer."

Everyone around him let out a small gasp--except for Paprique. His face, as always, remained absolutely unchanged, except the direction of his gaze: firmly fixated right back at Lichen. "Now, Lichen, you know that's just a--" Molly began, but she was quickly cut off.

"No. I won't hear it. I'm outta here."

Not ten steps away from the table, though, Molasses began to laugh; Lichen's pace slowed, just enough for him to turn and give her a disgruntled, "What?"

"Of all of you, I thought you would be the least squeamish of something like that. Clearly, you're only jealous of him being the Bubble Buzz scandal, rather than you. Now, would an income of, say, $30 an hour, make it all worth your while?"

Pause. "You're kidding me."

"No, Mr. Moss. Now, please--come back and sit down."

After Lichen had returned to his seat--and uttered a soft 'Sorry, mate' in Paprique's direction--Molasses took a long, deep breath. She would need it.

It was finally time to explain to them why they were here.

"$30 an hour... Hefty starting pay for just a coffee shop, I know. But, by now, all of you should have figured out--this isn't just a coffee shop. This is a business, one that will offer people more than just lattes and mochas. I'm sure some of you can guess what that may be, but in the interest of saving my pretty little hide--I can't show you. Yet."

A few confused expressions looked back up at her, so she continued. "But, you see, I chose you all because I know I can trust you to keep your lips sealed. Not today, perhaps, but soon. And I know this--" She took a long look at each of them. "Because I know you all are very good at keeping secrets."

A snort of laughter broke out from--who else--Lichen. "Oh? And why do you presume that?"

"It's no presumption, Lichen. Each of you," Molly began, pointing a finger slowly in every one of their directions. "Are already harboring a secret. One that, for fear of what may happen to you--your reputation--your families--has never been known by another soul: except, recently... by me."

Paprique's expression changed for the first time that evening. "That's... that's impossible," he said in disbelief.

"You--you can't! You can't know that! NO one can know that!!" Honeydew pleaded.

"Huh," Lichen murmured with a smirk. "How do we know you aren't just bluffing, though?"

Molly responded with a smile. "Where were you three nights ago, about 2AM?"

"I was--" Lichen froze. "Oh ho, touche... She's legit." A wry smile lit up his face. "Cool."

"This is... problematic," Hyacinth finally said after everyone had begun to grow quiet, now turning towards her for her reaction. She had been rather quiet and distracted the entire time--but now, when even she was able to realize the horror of the situation, the anxiety in Honeydew doubled.

"This--this can't be happening. I would get in so much... and my family... no one would ever..." Honeydew looked as if she was on the brink of tears. "How could you do this to me?"

"Please, Honeydew, let me fini--"

But Honeydew was already out of her seat, her face buried into her hands. "What am I gonna do?! I suppose I could run away... No one would ever find me in Greenbeanland..."

"Oh come on," Lichen said, laughing. "What'd you do, run over your neighbor's cat?"

"Jus... Jus leab me alone, Lichen! I hate you!"

"Dew. Listen to me." Molasses approached Honeydew slowly, clearly . "You have no reason to worry. I looked for these things in all of you as a reason to trust you, not to try and expose you. What happened in your past really does not concern me. Do you understand?"

Even though Honeydew didn't seem all that happy about it, she slowly nodded her head.

"I know what I know because I violated your privacy, yes--but well... I'm not sorry, because what I learned about each of you is very important to my ability to understand you--and in some cases, respect you. I know you won't believe me, right now, but I would never reveal to anyone what I learned. If you doubt me, just try and think of a reason why I could possibly want to. There isn't one."

"And that--" Molly continued as she walked back to her original position. "--goes for all of you. You have every right to be angry at me. I don't blame you if you are. But... you aren't the only one with things to hide.  In a way, we're all the same--just lookin' to get by every day without having to worry. If you work for me? You never have to. Not only will I keep your secrets hidden, I'll help ensure they stay that way."

"And we should trust you?"

"That's up to you. If you want, you can walk out of that door and never come back, no strings attached. But... If I know anything about all of you from what I've learned, it's that you all want a job like this, where you get to play on the edge of how every berry in this town expects you to live. You walk away now, and you may never get an opportunity like this again."

Lichen was the first to speak. "Well, I'm bored as all #@&! with school, and I'm crazy curious how you managed to find all this stuff out. You can count me in. For now."

"I'm not sure how I feel about all of this, but I'm afraid this may be my only option for a while." Paprique sighed, and then slowly began to nod. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, Ms. Macchiato."

"I like edges," Hyacinth mumbled quietly. "I'll... stay."

"Honeydew?"

"Well--" Honeydew froze; she'd still been pacing about the cafe with a worried look on her face, but hearing all three of her counterparts say 'yes' was at least partly encouraging. She wasn't alone. "I never did like being the odd one out. I'll do it."

"Wonderful," Molasses said quickly, as if expecting them to suddenly change their minds. "I promise you--you won't regret it. Bubble Buzz is going to be nothing like anyone in Sugar Valley has ever seen. I won't lie and say your jobs will be easy, once this place gets into the swing of things--but there will never be a boring day under this roof."

"Huh--yeah, I'll believe that when I see it," Lichen quipped back, but his doubt only brought out a smile in his boss.

"Oh you'll see it, Lichen. In fact... I have a feeling this job is going to be right up your alley."

The rest of the meeting was, for the most part, uneventful; Honeydew's worry had actually managed to keep her quiet, and the way Molly divied up the necessary tasks in the store between them was fair enough that only Lichen had reason to complain. By the end, they all had a schedule tucked in their pocket and a growing sensation that maybe, just maybe, they weren't making a giant mistake.

"So... How do you think she did it, crazypants?"

"I can hear him, but I can't see him. Just a voice in my head. The hand is a wall. The hand is a wall. The hand is a wall."

"... That's what I thought."

---

As Molasses started locking the doors to Bubble Buzz several hours later, she ran the entire night over and over again in her head.

She could have done it better, but as always, her desire for efficiency had completely overlooked the human element--although, by the end of the meeting, Molly had begun to wonder if Honeydew was just acting hurt to get attention. That girl was more of an enigma than she let on to be.

Still, Molly was glad she'd handled telling them the way she had. The less of a big deal she made out of it, the more they'd believe she really didn't care what they'd done. The first few weeks would probably be tense regardless, though.

Molly realized, as she slipped the keys into her pocket, that someone was standing along the shoreline just beyond the edge of the store's property. She thought it strange, since it was so late, until she got a closer look and recognized who it was.

"Paprique," she called as she got closer, clumsily navigating the sand in her heels."What are you still doing here? It's almost midnight--don't you want to go home?"

"Home? No... No, not really," he said in a slow, thoughtful voice, barely turning his head to acknowledge her arrival. "I can see the stars clearer, from here. That's what I always used to do when I needed inspiration for writing, you know--just come out here, let the stars guide me."

Molly opened her mouth to respond, but closed it quickly when she decided it was probably best just to listen.

"I know I'm supposed to feel upset--that you know what happened, that is--but I'm not. In fact... part of me is actually... relieved. If that makes sense."

Paprique fell into silence again. Occasionally he looked as if he was going to continue, but a wave would come up and, with a gentle splash, steal his thoughts away. Molly even wondered if he wanted her here, but she didn't have any desire to leave him all alone.

Finally, after enough time had passed to seem meaningless, Paprique's voice cut the cold air with bitterness. "I lost. Everything. Worth having. My will to write. My will to live. This is the only thing left to keep me wandering this world, and most days I can't even convince myself it's worth it, anymore."

"It's worth it, Paprique," Molly finally interjected. "If it can help you find peace."

"So... you really do know. You know everything, and you really don't care?"

"No... I care. Just not the way you'd imagine. In fact--I want to help you, someday."

"...Why?"

"It's... complicated," Molly said slowly, uneasily.

Paprique scowled--more than usual, that is. "If time is the issue, then--"

"No, it's just--" Molasses scowled. "--this town. It's so... perfect. The people, the places, they're so full of love and harmony, and most berries here just seem to take all of it for granted. They don't really see what a paradise it is. Deep underneath it all though, there's this dying limb that everyone else just seems to ignore--and as much as I'd like to, I can't.'

"But, maybe I'm just drawn to broken people because I want to fix them. It's sourness like this that turn a berry sweet down the path of becoming a bitters; perhaps I'm too much of an idealist, but if I can help stop that from happening, even a little... I will."

Molly watched Paprique's chest rise and fall slowly under the strain of his breath, and then his shoulders slump with the weight of his fallen dignity. He seemed reluctant to respond, but after several moments his lips parted and he spoke.

"We're all just stars, you know," he began, gaze settled onto those on the horizon. "Some of us shine more brightly than others, but even the darkest of us have light to share. That's how I used to see every living being--inexhaustably distant, but radiant enough to give hope and meaning to existence. Someday, though, all stars lose what gives them light--and, somehow or another, die into darkness in the vacuum of space."

"Unless, Ms. Macchiato, you have the power to re-ignite a star... I am beyond any help you could give."

Continue to Part 2

Chapter 1, Part 2: Sweet Dreams

"As you may already know, my name is Molasses Macchiato."

Molly stared across her desk, keeping a cool demeanor despite the trembling nerves she harbored deep beneath her skin. She had every reason to be nervous; these people were here interviewing for a job they hadn't requested. Not intentionally, at least.

They had all been looking for work of some kind, though--they'd just never applied to work at Bubble Buzz... not that anyone had ever been given the option to. Bubble Buzz's employment qualifications had been a mystery--until now.

She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "I know you didn't apply to work here, and I know this isn't the job you'd ideally apply for, but that doesn't matter. I hand picked you from a list of candidates, for reasons I'll disclose after I ask you a few brief questions. Understand: I'm not asking you to work at a coffee shop. I'm asking you to work for me.'

"Now," Molasses continued, flipping idly through a few papers in front of her. "First: why don't you tell me a little about yourself."

"Well... My name is Paprique Le Pepper. I am a writer... Was. Was a writer."

"I'm Honeydew Melopepo! My family and I moved to Sugar Valley a couple of months ago, and so far I think I like it here except for the weather, it doesn't really get a lot of rain and I kinda miss all my friends back at Twizzlerbrook, but--oh, sorry. I guess that doesn't matter, huh!'

"Anyways, I'm a junior in High School, I love stage productions... ya know, the spotlight, the audience, performing. I'm also a straight-A student, of course--not that my parents would tolerate anything less than that, if you get what I mean! Personally, I don't think it's worth doing anything unless you can be good at it--and trust me, I am always good."

"Kind of a weird question, isn't it? You're the one who asked me here for an interview, obviously you already know who I am. If you want to know something, you're gonna have to be way more specific, hotcakes... but first, why'd you hand pick me? Was it the looks? The brains?"

"I'm the one asking the questions, Mr. Moss. Your questions will be answered in due time."

"Call me Lichen. I ain't quite a 'mister' yet, toots."

"Your office is very strange. Tiki. Weird... You some sort of aborigine?"

"I'm from the Cocoabean Islands. Hyacinth--please, sit down."

"Here's a pretty standard customer service question: Let's say you make a beverage for a customer, and they tell you you made it wrong... What would you do?"

"I would make them another one... obviously..."

"Make them a beverage wrong?! Are you kidding me?! I used to make espressos for my mother all the time, I've had so much practice it would be practically impossible for me to mess up. I'm pretty sure they'd have to be crazy to dislike my coffee. The most obvious reason would be that they're trying to score a freebie, at which point I'd have to tell them to leave because NO WAY am I catering to beggars and whiners!"

"Tell 'em to stick it up their @#&$! Nah nah--nah I'm kiddin', don't give me that look! Seriously, I'd probably just give them a coupon for a free one or something. If they don't like my coffee, they can just come back later and annoy some other barista for it. No reason to do it myself."

"Scalding hot coffee... into their face..."

"So, tell me: why are you currently looking for work?"

"... I... am no longer writing. Do I need any more reason than that."

"For lots of reasons I guess, but the biggest right now is that my parents want me to learn some responsibility. Of course, I'm already plenty responsible, but I should  humor them anyways, right? Getting experience at a job will make it easier to apply someplace later on, too, and I want to be plenty ready once I'm about to graduate! I just like being busy, too. Idle hands are never good, don't you think?"

"Are you serious? Why wouldn't someone want a job?"

"Yes, but I'm asking why you want one."

"Honestly? I'm really. Really. Bored... though having a few extra bucks to upgrade my computer won't really hurt, either. Is that good enough? Or do I need to spill my guts about how I want to buy my mom flowers or some $@*%#?"

"Lichen."

"Oh--sorry! Thought you'd be cool with that, being a chocolate berry and all."

"LICHEN!"

"Jeez, don't be so sensitive!"

"... Your lamp is looking at me funny."

"Now, what would you say is your best, most employable quality?"

"Dedication."

"I have to pick one? Oh... I guess I'd have to say, my ability to think on my feet and improvise!"

"Well, I would probably say my dashing good loo--"

"Lichen, please, be serious."

"Fiiinnee... I guess I'd say, I can figure out just about anything--I learn quick, and I never forget."

"... Employable... None."

"Now, I want you to think about this next one very, very carefully. This is the most important question I will ask you, and I want you to be completely honest. There's no shame in the truth. I want to know...'

"Could someone trust you to keep a secret, if their life depended on it?"

With one question, it was as if Molly had suddenly zapped her interviewees to life. With the exception of Honeydew, they had all been unattentive and bored--but something in this question, and the very nature of it, caused their faces to fall into something Molasses rarely ever got to see: Pure, urgent sincerity.

"Yes." "Totally." "Completely." "Always."

They weren't going to win any prizes for Interviewee of the Year. In fact, most employers would probably turn green at what Molasses just endured--but no, not her. Where others would only see a waste of time, she saw exactly what she was looking for. There was a reason they were all unemployed, that they'd stoop low enough to accept a job at a coffee shop... but the way Molly saw it, their lack of social prowess gave them skills much more valuable to her.

Sure, they were a bunch of misfits, but they were misfits with something crucial in common. Something Molly's business couldn't survive without.

Molasses took a deep breath, a smile on her lips. "That's just what I wanted to hear."

Chapter 1, Part 1: Sweet Dreams

Sweet dreams are made of this

Who am I to disagree?

Travel the world and the seven seas

Everybody's looking for something

Some of them want to use you

Some of them want to get used by you

Some of them want to abuse you

Some of them want to be abused

- Sweet Dreams, Eurythmics -

There's a place in-between dreams and reality that Molasses always found comforting. She could feel the ebb and flow of her thoughts, but they didn't string her along like a marionette; she could hear the sounds of far-off cars and distant children, but they didn't coax her awake. It was a level of serenity she could only reach here, between two worlds.

They weren't the only two worlds she was stuck between, though--there was still the dilemma she was trying to escape from in the first place. But Molasses could not sleep and avoid it forever.

"Molly. Molly. You need to wake up." She felt a tender grasp on her wrist, trying to shake her to consciousness. "It's almost 4 o'clock. You're going to be late."

Molasses's lips tugged into a smile. "Dey can wait, mah bizness ain't goin' no-place. Now shuddup 'n let meh sleep."

Her fingers traced the lips pressed against her hair: she felt a smile. Unfortunately though, her companion was just as stubborn as she. "Don't give me that Cocoabean Island attitude, girl. You know I know you better than that. C'mon... wakie wakie."

Molasses was quite intent on ignoring him, but once he slid out from under her, the cold breeze coming through the window felt like icicles against her skin. "Ugh, Merlot, that's so not cool," Molly grumbled, roughly blinking her eyes as she tried to push herself up. "I was getting up... just... slowly."

"Uh huh," Merlot chuckled, shaking his head at her. "Sure you were. Just like the last nap you took here."

"Hey, that doesn't count," she groaned in retort. "I'd been lifting boxes all day, I deserved a break!"

"Mhm. You just keep tellin' yourself that, cocoabean."

Molly rolled her eyes as she stretched, finally getting a small energy boost to get out of bed--even if it was from a sudden desire to kick Merlot's behind. One that doubled once she turned around and saw him splayed out over where she'd been laying.

"What, so I have to get up and you're just gonna stay in bed?"

"Hey, it's not like I booked an entire evening of interviews. I know better than to work past the afternoon."

"And you're just going to lay here for the rest of the night?"

"Yep."

"Man, why do I even bother with you," Molasses groaned and facepalmed, turning away before she got the urge to shove him onto the floor.

Merlot sniggered and shrugged. "I keep asking myself the same question."

"So... I've been meaning to ask," Molasses had started tugging on her clothes, but mid-button on her shirt she turned about to face the lazing man. "Why'd you call me over? I thought we weren't doing this this anymore."

"We weren't... Things changed."

"Oh? What happened to that pretty little cream puff you were chasing? She sprout feathers 'n fly away?"

"Basically. She found someone else, I guess."

"Oh. Well... I'm sorry, Lo. I knew you had her heart set on her." Being comforting wasn't exactly Molly's 'thing', but a little twist in her gut wished she could do at least something. It was weird, seeing Merlot like this. "'Least you got me as a fallback, though, right?"

"Ha. Yeah. I guess." Merlot shifted slightly, shaking his head. "Only a matter of time 'til you find someone else, too."

Molasses had to try very hard not to choke on a guffah in her throat. Yeah, she thought to herself. I wish.

Once she was fully dressed, Molly turned towards the mirror and took a good look at her reflection. She tried to fix her hair, but it looked like 'bed-head' was going to be the fashion of the evening. At least Merlot had been careful not to smudge her makeup all over the place.

As she reached up to tug on her collar to try and flatten it, she noticed Merlot's reflection looking at her--rather intently, at that. Molly smirked. "What're you lookin' at?"

"Mm, just thinkin'."

"'Bout?"

He smiled. "You actually clean up kinda nice."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing! I just haven't seen you dressed up like this much--it's nice. I guess now that you're on your way to being a successful business woman, though, it's going to be the standard."

"I dunno about that, Merlot. The shop ain't even open yet, I wouldn't speak too soon."

"Molly, you could sell a fridge to an eskimo... I'm sure you'll do fine."

After some untranslatable murmurings under Molly's breath, she at last gave way to a semi shrug. "If you say so."

Merlot smiled--and as she looked and faced him, his face lit up even further. "You know Mol, I'm really proud of you. I know things were rough for you on the Islands, but you've totally turned your life around. You've got a whole new start here in Sugar Valley... it'll be worth it."

"But."

"... But what?"

"Don't try an' fool me, Lo. I adore you, but every time you try and give me a compliment, there's always a but. So... what is it this time."

"Molly, I really didn't want to bring this up, you're just about to leave--"

"Save it Merlot, I'm not a pastry--I won't crumble if you tell me the truth." Molasses swiftly approached the bed, sat down next to him, and began to tug on her shoes. "C'mon, shoot."

"I just--well--it's just.. the way you found these people to hire. With how far you've come, I just really don't want you to get in trouble. This... well... not only is it a little unethical, but what if they say no?"

"They won't say no."

"You're so sure of that? You haven't even met any of them, yet."

"Oh, I'm positive, Merlot. If there's one thing I understand, it's people like this. I've got an offer none of them can refuse--and if they try... well, I'll just blackmail them."

"Molly--"

"I'm kidding, Lo. Just trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"Alright, but I--" Merlot was cut off when Molly stood and leaned over to plant an unexpected kiss on the corner of his lips.

"No more talkie," she said after another quick peck. "I gotta go. I have four people I need to go convince to work for me--I need to be on my game. Wish me luck?"

"All the luck in the world, Cocoabean. You're gonna need it."

---

As irritating as Merlot's wakeup call was, it did do Molasses one favor: she had plenty of extra time to get to the shop before her employees-to-be would be there. Walking in heels was a pain, but a pain that was worth the fresh air she'd get on a brief trek across town instead of grabbing a cab. And she definitely needed the time to think.

She didn't like admitting it, but Merlot had a point. She was treading a fine line. In order to find the perfect candidates to work for her, she'd ignored some pesky little things called "laws" and dug up everything she needed to find the exact kind of people she desired. All it would take is for one of them to turn her in for her entire world to come crashing down. She had everything to lose--but it was worth it.

Merlot didn't know why she needed these four specific berries, and he'd never understand if he did. He didn't understand the game she liked to play. As much as he liked to pretend otherwise, Merlot was a good boy.

Molasses... was not.

But that's not something anyone else had to know.

"Hey Mr. Soybean! How're those inventions of yours coming?"

"Ms. Macchiato! Oh, they're just fine, taking a day to spend with the wife, though."

"Tell the Mrs. I said hi! And don't forget, shop opens next week--I better see you there!"

Not two blocks later, Molasses caught a flash of bright green hair out of the corner of her eye. "Oh hey Mrs. Frosting--you're looking fabulous today! Sorry, no time to talk, got interviews today. Wish me luck!"

On any other day, she would have loved to stop. Molly had a particular talent for winning the hearts of anyone she talked to, and as a budding entreprenuer, it was smart to make use of it as much as possible. Even after only 6 months of living in Sugar Valley, she knew its residents better than those of her hometown in the Cocoabean Islands--but in sharp contrast, no one knew much about her. Not really.

What little they did know, though, was that she'd come across the sugary seas to make a new life for herself. There were some theories on how she'd met Merlot that floated about, ranging from a Cocoabean cruise to an internet chatroom, but her motives for coming to the mainland weren't very clear. A hefty set of loans and several months later, though, she began working on making her dreams come true.

An ocean-side property was purchased, a shining blue building was erected, and the pungent smell of coffee beans led every citizen of the valley to a sign posted out front: Bubble Buzz, coming soon!

What laid inside was something of a fairy tale. Not to the typical residents of Sugar Valley, no--confectioneries were a dime a dozen in these parts--but to Molasses, it was something else entirely. Beneath the brightly painted walls and candy-coated floors, this wasn't just any ol' coffee shop. It was a dream that had taken flight:

The perfect cover
         for the perfect enterprise.

Continue to Part 2