Once in the store, which looks eerily similar to how it looked when we shot the commercial here, the chaos subsides slightly. But there are still two dozen people in line, their phones all held up and pointed toward Alexander, who’s kept his Ray Bans on. His breathing is short and shallow. Lucy and Erica stand next to him, blocking everyone while they help him regulate his breathing.
I question for a second if we should be here or whether we should have gone with one of the other thirty locations in Manhattan instead, but then I recall what Alexander said to me on the flight here.I need to confront my past, not avoid it like I used to.
I step toward Alexander as Chloe comes over with the store manager, and I pray under my breath as she introduces the manager by name.
“Alexander, this is Marcelo, the store manager.”
Alexander straightens his back, removes his glasses, lets out a sigh, and shakes the guy’s hand.
“Nice to see you again, Marcelo. Thanks for letting us use your store again and sorry about the chaos outside. How are Ernesto and Paulina? Are they here again today?” He turns his head to scan the store.
“They’re at school today, but they’re great.”
Marcelo’s mouth is agape and even I’m impressed by Alexander’s ability to remember the store manager’s kids and their names. It’s a personal touch that warms my heart, sending my body temperature up and making me want to take off the jacket Alexander lent me.
“Where do you want me?” Alexander slides his arm over Chloe’s shoulder and walks toward the counter, where three young female baristas wait in line.
He’s already tinkering away at the coffee machine, being shown the ropes, by the time I get to the far end of the store. The social media influencer Jools Lebron waits on the couch patiently.
“Great to meet you.” Jools offers her hand when her assistant introduces us.
“The honor is all mine.” But instead of shaking her hand, I bend and kiss her ring.
“Look at you. Very mindful. Very demure.” She flicks her blond hair back over her shoulder, a braided plat falling down the right side onto the top of her high-cut black T-shirt.
I feel myself blushing and I’m instantly transported back to all the viral videos from 2024 that I had watched a thousand times. Jools became the moment that year with hervery mindful, very demure, very cutesyline. Even Alexander had seemed excited when I ran through all the influencers we’d gotten for the activation events and saw Jool’s name. It was something I’d never seen, given how famous he is.
“I hope you haven’t been kept waiting too long. Can we get you anything?” I offer.
“We’re good, thank you.” Jools reaches into her Louis Vuitton clutch, pulling out her lip gloss and applying it.
Before I know it, we’re all set up and ready to go, Jools in position at the counter while Alexander waits by the coffee machine to make Jools’ order.
“Welcome to Brewed, what can I get you?” the barista asks.
Pedro, Lucy, and Jools’ assistant are all on their iPhones, capturing the moment.
“Can I get the Hot Messpresso please?”
“Sure, anything else for you today?” The barista’s cheery disposition is almost as sickeningly sweet as the lemonade I had at lunch.
“No, thank you.” Jools reaches for her phone.
“That’ll be six ninety-five when you’re ready.”
Jools taps her phone on the card reader.
“Thank you. Our barista will be making your order. It’ll be ready at the end there shortly.”
Alexander stands primed and in position. He starts up the coffee machine and presses some buttons.
“Look how he makes the Hot Messpresso. Very mindful. Very demure.” Jools turns to the camera phones behind them. “He even takes the time to let the coffee sit. Very mindful. Not like those baristas at the other stores.”
The right corner of Alexander’s lip lifts as he tries not to break character. He grabs the chocolate to add the mess to the espresso, but pauses.
“Would you like the chocolate mess for the Messpresso or the cream?”
Alexander’s blue eyes sparkle like diamonds as he looks at Jools.
