Chapter 5
Ashton Hendrix Taylor stood in the waiting room with all elegance drowning on him. He was all shade of handsomeness, dark straight hair that cut across his nape, sunglasses to hide the sun from bruising his eyes, to say the least of his manliness was an offense to his ego. Ashton looked like a demigod, with his pointy noise all flaring at the corners. His fine lips were a thin line with the bottom lip slightly a bulge across the line.
As a personality, he looked so reserve and most comfortable around the people he loves and has an awkward sense of humor which is often always striking to himself.
Raising his hand about his face, he checked the time, it read, 5:45 p.m. Olivia's plane was due any moment from now, and he was Impatient on seeing the lady. The woman he had spent the whole night thinking about, not because of the dare he had with his friends, but because of the fact that he needs to give some alone time with her, to see her in person. The fanciful image he had always set in his mind about Olivia is that she looks like a doll, especially when she is on stage, like seriously, she is everything a man could ever wish for. Brilliant, a career of her own and popularity that can last forevermore.
'Who doesn't love Olivia Harmony?' Ashton asked himself as he rolled his eyes.
Of course, he knew the answer, everyone loves the lady, she has a striking personality that no one can ever try to copy, even if they do, it wouldn't surpass her own. From the onset, she has been an angel, the best in all cases, and he can't even tell since when he had to be drolling over her. The had been when he was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old when Olivia had released her single titled, 'The stars,' the song had carved a hole in Ashton's heart, he loved it, more than anything in the world, his soul had longed for the day he will have to meet her in person, but then, he wasn't that courageous as he turned out to later be.
The fear of facing the lady, of telling her that she is his secret admire pushed him off, in fact, he had made it his several fantasies to think about the young lady each time he listened to her songs, and yes, no matter how many songs he had listened, it wouldn't change the fact that 'The Stars' will remain the best for him.
The star was a romantic song, it spikes about every ounce of love a lover could give the partner, from premature love to nurturing the feelings, and from the start to the end, it had always been good or bad, climbing the mountains together, strengthening one another a much as they can. Then, the last part was about exchanging vows, the lady with a white floral gown with tears in her eyes.
Oh! thinking about these brought light tears to Ashton's eyes, and he had to blink severally to avoid people from noticing his discomfort.
As he grew up, Ashton felt himself grow out of those funny days when he had to think of Olivia and listen to her pieces of music.
"She is just so perfect to be with you," Ashton muttered to himself.
Yes, he had had to repeat this lie to himself so much that it had become the truth, he had never dared speak a word of this stupid feeling to anyone, even his two best friends, Harris and Lucas. Hell no! His friends are like brothers to him, they love him, and he loves them too, but the fact that he can't tell if what he had for the pop star was just infatuation from the fact that he loves her songs or what, he couldn't just possibly expose that part of him to them, of course not.
Even though Ashton had kept Olivia in his heart for all these times, he had never forgotten about her, and the only thing he wanted was to wait for the perfect time, and the opportunity too. It was the best thing he had learned to do over the years, to wait for the perfect time, it could be a year, or two, but in his case, he had had to wait for five years, that is quite enough, yet, he would have waited for more if Harris had not asked for a bet. Deep in Ashton's heart, he is secretly happy that they had popped out with such a genius idea, he calls it fate, because, for a long time, he had fallen out of hope to wait for a lady that doesn't even know he exists or not. The effect was kind of shocking because he would remain and die a bachelor if all he wants as a last is Olivia.
As if that is not all, the worst part of it is that the fact that Olivia is coming here doesn't mean that she has something to do with him apart from the fact that she is coming to sing for him. Well, that's quite a lot he wouldn't be able to digest down his throat so easily. Oh yes! his emotions might just spill out all of a sudden, and it will be his to deal with, which will be something so awkward, especially when his friends will be at the party.
Heaving a sigh, Ashton shook his head from left to right unpleasantly, he didn't want his friends to attend the party all of a sudden, yes, he wanted a more private party, with only Olivia and him, maybe they could sit in one of the best restaurants in Lendamor, they can have a bite or two, and it is true that it is his birthday, but at least having the lady beside him the whole day will be the best gift anyone can ever offer him, and if it is coming from Olivia, then, he will be the greatest of all times.
Heaving a sigh, Ashton Hendrix kept an eye on the watch, it was kind of so important to him, especially as he knew that Olivia's plane will be coming. He has been here for about an hour now, and even though he had called the services before coming, they had assured him that the plane Olivia had boarded will be landing at 6:00 p.m. prompt. He wanted to be early than late, and it seems that he is too early. There was no announcing or the kind that the lady's plane was landing or not.
This whole issue is so tiring and frustrating. At least, for a pop star, she would have had a personal jet that will take her to places like this with no stress, or more, Ashton would have sent her to pick her up. Well, he would have offered it this way, rather than hurriedly buy her a two way flight ticket. Heaving a sigh, he seemed to be frustrated.
Ashton was clad in a tailored outfit comprising of dark blue trousers, a white shirt buttoned to the neck, and a tie fastened around it, coupled with a suit on it, and a jacket to top everything up. Tonight is quite a cold evening, the chilling breeze permanent, coupled with the air conditioner in the reception area. All these things just kind of made Ashton feel like he is in a fridge. He was in the office before rushing down here, and he still had a lot of unfinished tasks to complete, especially with the new records of sales that were brought in the office later that day for him to check and validate it.
Ashton's Wine House Enterprises (AWHE) always had millions of sales in a day, especially at the international level. Everyone loved his wine brand, and these days, he had made a reduction of ten percent in the prices, and before he noticed it, millions of records are sent to the office every day.
He loves it this way, it gives him a sense of fulfillment. The reason why he had made a reduction in the sales is that his birthday is at the corner, and when he is in a happy mood, he turns to make everyone around him be in a merry mood too. At least, a good deed deserves another one. Sighing, he decided to sit on the waiting chair that was present.
Since morning, the only thing that Ashton has had is breakfast, which consisted of two slices of toast bread, salmond, and a cup of tea. Well, that was quite enough for the time, but since then, he hasn't eaten anything at all, and the stress from it was just so awkward, more than he can actually think of. Staying the whole day wasn't his thing, and he hates missing his meals because he wants to be healthy as possible. Guessed today was a failed attempt to keep up with this thing. As he heaved a sigh, his chest seemed to tighten up immediately, and the hunger that went along with it is something that he has never felt before, he has the urge to eat something, oh yes, and the earlier he gets some food down gis throat the better it would be for him.
At first, the young man was in a dilemma if he should go to a restaurant and stuff some food down his throat or he should just keep calm and wait for Olivia to come before he goes out for a treat. The thoughts just kept filing in through his mind, and that is quite awkward, he can't even think about these things, it is kind of bizarre, and the fact that he is in confusion made him wonder.
Out of frustration, Ashton pulled his hands over his straight hair, as he tried his best to maintain its hue while he raked his fingers through it. He is always in such situations when he can't think about something to do, that awkwardness he felt his mind go through right now is just something he can't understand. Heaving a sigh, he rolled his eyes in frustration and walked out of the reception room. Making his way towards a deli still in the airport, but on a part reserved for eating, he decided to buy himself some snacks.
Deep down in him, he knew that this wasn't healthy, and the etiquette of eating with cutlery was more prevailing than any prevailing feeling, hit right now, his primitive urge took the front seat of his life, and he couldn't control the anxiety that grew up in help.
After so much debate on what he should have, the young man settled for an apple and a bottle of coke. This is the weirdest combination he has had in like forever, and he doesn't mind about it, besides, that will be the first fruit he is having for the day, and it is kind of healthy for his health in case he doesn't know. Sighing, the young man grabbed the stuff and walked towards his sit once more. Staring at the things in his hands, I was weird, more than what he can think about, and he started by digging his teeth in the apple. It was a green apple, he loves that most the best, especially how cool it looks like, and the taste is quite exquisite too, more than anything on earth. Chewing it, he had not doubted his sense of taste. Soft, and delicious to the extent that when a lady's voice came in through the speakers, indicating the arrival of the Boeing 004 plane, he was left in shock. All the appetite from his body had disappeared leaving him with a sense of emptiness. He didn't dare swallow the chunk of fruit that was left in his mouth. It is kind of bizarre, and the way he felt was strange. A feeling he had never witnessed before.