Dakota shambled into her new workplace at 5:30, feeling like a freshly awakened zombie.
“Hi, Dakota!” Jubilee was already there, chipper and fast on her feet – relatively, given her stature.
“Huh...”
“Are you Dakota, right?”
“Huh.”
“Good, you're here first! Zack and Piper haven't turned up yet. So put on your apron and we'll start. Sally'll show you around...”
“Huh?” Dakota was trying to process the instructions.
Jubilee looked into her face and frowned. “But first you oughtta have a coffee. It'll wake you up. Here, put this on,” and she threw the employee apron at Dakota, “and I'll show you how.”
Dakota's hands reflexively caught it and started putting the cloth over her head. “Coffee?”
“Yeah, coffee, here, come with me,” Jubilee took her hand and led her to the adjoining preparation room. “Just press this button here… and here… and if you want to add cream or anything else, you've got all these buttons next to it. You need to learn them anyway so you may start right now. Have you eaten your breakfast yet? You might taste our merchandise. And now, if you'll excuse me, I need to sort out one of suppliers.”
As she was sipping her morning coffee, Dakota became aware of all the smells around. Lovely, enticing smells. She noticed a pile of fresh donuts within reach. Her clouded mind brought out words about an employee discount. Might be worth testing. Her hand reached for a first one… then second… third...
Had she been fully awake, Dakota would have been appalled but now, in this state she ate and ate… until a new voice broke her trance.
“Hey, you there! What're you doin'?”
“Huh?” Dakota was becoming aware of an uncomfortable pressure around her waist.
“Y'know you're supposed to pay for it first, right? A discount doesn't mean it's free, y'know.” A high-pitched, grating voice violated her ears, a shape appeared at the edge of Dakota's vision.
“That's OK, I'll settle it for her,” Jubilee called from her office.
“Oh, well,”
“Who're you anyway?”
“Dakota Johnson, pleased to meet you,” her subconscious resorted to a worn-out phrase.
“Eh, Sally, likewise. Listen,” the speaker lowered her voice, “you already know the boss?”
“Yeah, we're… friends.”
“Anyway, keep in mind that I am in charge of the morning shift, no matter how good friends you are with the boss.”
Dakota's eyes finally focused on the speaker. She saw a…
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