With Love Simone

Chapter 2 Modelling and Friendship Be Like Mr Walkers

Earlier in The Morning, The Alicia Mansion.

A man in his drowsy state, grabbed a glass of juice on his way lying on the stand nearby his bed. He sipped the sweet drink, but as the taste didn't impress his taste buds, he kept the glass back on its earlier position. Still, in his half-awake form, he pulled out his vest revealing his perfectly sculpted and well-maintained body; totally justifying the title he carried with himself.

Tossing the vest in the corner of the room, he entered the white floored room which smelled of his expensive cologne which he used the previous night before going to his bed. The smell hit his perfect nose whilst his pink thin lips twitched from one side to another in amusement.

Opening the white curtains, he stepped in the shower area. Removing his remaining garments, he turned on the knob as the cold water hit his perfect body.

He ran his manicured fingers in his damp hairs for several times and then shaking his head for an umpteenth time, he stretched his hands on either side of the wall, as the water continued to flow down his back.

After spending full thirty minutes in relaxing his nerves under the shower, he turned the knob off. Grabbing a black velvet towel, he wrapped it around his waist. His stony chest still dripped wet whilst his gorgeous face was filled with small droplets of water that made his whitish and little bit of yellowish skin shine as he stood in front of the mirror examining himself with a grin.

"Who has given you the right to be the specimen Among the male population, Walkers?" He asked, staring at his reflection in the large mirror.

A witty smirk formed on the sides of his light stubbled face, his dark grey eyes filled with mischievousness, added to his male beauty.

He took another towel and wiped off his face and chest while drying his hairs he walked out of the washroom humming a tune.

Still continuing his activity he made his way to the bedroom area when a pillow was thrown on his face by the culprit who was sprawled on his bed flat on his belly.

"What the f**k, Ash? Why are you singing a song early in the morning?" Came the curse by none other than, his ever so famous and complete jerk, of a best friend, Rex Jones.

Rex, the multi-millionaire but the other name of an absolute jerk was Ashton's childhood best friend.

Now, our mind may wonder that they might have a typical best friend story, like each one of us. But there lies a twist in the tale because these two best friends used to be arch enemies in their school, but it is rightly said that our heart is the one to decide.

Same happened in their case when in their mutual primary class, they ended up sitting together. With just span of two hours, their hostility was replaced by the most strengthening friendship of the world and as they grew up to be two different personalities, Ashton took up the charge of being the more mature one among them whilst Rex has his own ways of living his life.

"Get up you Dimwit. Don't you have a company to run?" Ashton walked to the large dressing area that was on the opposite side of his bedroom.

He heard a frustrated groan and a messy head popped out of the brown comforter giving a glare to the man who was walking in the towel swaying his hips in a perfect model way. Typical Ashton Type.

"Remind me Arse, why are we even friends? You always seem eager to get rid of me!" He complained throwing the cover off himself revealing his semi-naked form which only comprised of his bottoms whilst his chiselled chest was on display.

Rex stood up, putting on his vest which was discarded on the floor carelessly.

He made his way to the large black and grey combination Walk-in-Closet where Ashton stood with a frown.

"Now why is the mighty Ashton Walkers frowning? Don't tell me in these millions of clothes you are not able to find one suitable outfit for yourself?" Rex mocked smirking at his best friend with his arms crossing over his chest.

"I am thinking whether to dress up in formals or casuals. You know I have to join the hotel management today at any cost, or else Dad will break my bones.” He sulked at the mere thought of his father, Christian Walkers deadly looks.

Being the youngest heir of Christian and Johanna Walkers, who were an ideal couple of Austria and the richest people owning The Seven-star Hotel, The Great Glacier, Ashton sure was worried about his reputation in his family heritage.

It was currently being managed by his elder sister, Alison Walkers, who was a fashion designer and was engaged to tie the knot to her long-time boyfriend, Derek Jones and Rex's elder brother.

Taking over his father's legacy was never an important, agenda for Ashton since he always was interested in his modelling career and once, he attained the Title of the topmost Hollywood model there was no looking back.

But the fate had some other plans when Christian was diagnosed with serious heart issues and he expressed his last wish of Ashton taking over his legacy leaving him no other choice, other than to be obligated to his ill father's wish.

Thus, leaving his permanent stay in San Francisco, he shifted back to Vienna two days back and was supposed to start his work from today.

But his mind, his ever so thrilling mind was anything but enthusiastic to be part of something which he didn't earn by his hard work but was just given on a golden platter.

Rex burst out into shrilling laughter almost damaging Ashton's ears who in return gave him a glare.

"Seriously, are you a girl by any means to have so much dilemma on choosing clothes?" He joked earning a smack on his head by Ashton.

He moved towards his casual section and picked out a white shirt combined with sky-blue faded jeans and passed onto Ashton who made a face, making Rex glare at him.

"Don't look at me like that. It sucks.” Ashton warned marching up to the changing room making Rex roll his eyes.

Before they can argue more, the buzzing of the ringtone echoed in the room breaking their trance. Rex jogged back to the bed and after throwing everything on the floor he finally found his cell phone.

"Hola Brother." He greeted receiving the call from Derek who let out an annoyed sigh from the other side and blasted his younger brother for not starting his work at their Austrian Branch.

Ashton emerged out tying his Rolex on his wrist to only see Rex doing his push-ups, whilst his cell was kept on speaker mode; Derek's angry voice filled in the room.

He controlled his giggles seeing the looks on his friends face and finally having mercy on the poor man who was asking his brother to reply, he revealed, "Hey Man, cool down. He will join work from today. Don't raise your BP level for this arse.”

"Yeah, go waste your time with Alison. That suits you more.” Rex added earning another curse from other side and before they can get into another quarrel, he hung up the call.

Another buzzing echoed indicating a message has been received, and Rex immediately checked it out to only see his girlfriend Alice's message. He smirked giving a devilish look to Ashton who raised his one brow in confusion.

"Let's go to the mall.” He squealed.

"Hell no!" Ashton denied straight away.

"Just for five minutes, buddy. It's not like you will become bankrupt.”

"With the amount of money, you spend on your girl, I highly doubt you want me to follow the same league.”

“Whatever! Just stay here I will be back. Lend me clothes.” Rex ordered earning a disgusted look from Ashton at the thought of borrowing his clothes but seeing that man's blue eyes gleaming in the morning light, he can't even deny it after all he was like a brother to him.

***

The minute their Red and Black beauty screeched in front of the shopping mall, they gathered the public attention especially the females, whose eyes went wide as the doors slid opened in the vertical direction.

It was that one-minute silence before the entire crowd burst into loud echoes seeing their favourite model step out in front of them.

“Ashton!” The crowd screeched with big smiles and rushed towards him as he stepped out with a ghost of a smile playing on his pink lips. It was enough to melt their hearts.

“Seems, you are going to be busy with them all day.” Rex joined and teased him as he scrutinized the hooting and cheering crowd pushing the security to get their way to their star.

"All thanks to you.” Ashton mock saluted.

He signalled the guards to let the people be, and as soon as the way was clear, the girls dashed towards him excitedly shouting his name ecstatic.

“Can we please have your autograph, Ashton?" The girls requested cutely blinking their eyelashes at him making him shook his head at their fangirling.

He never got the concept as to why he was treated at such a high pedestal. He was just one normal man who happened to be in one of the professions like everyone else.

But just he was surrounded by media all the time, but that doesn't change the fact that he worked like everyone else only.

If someone thought that modelling was easy then they were so wrong, because it was like walking on fire with every eye fixed on you and one wrong move can spoil your entire career. So how did it make it any different from the business world?

Rex leaned in close to his ears and whispered, "It seemed to me as they are all ready to seduce you right here".

"Shut up. You know what will happen even if they laid their eyes on me, so what's the point of bringing it up?" Ashton shrugged the idea away instantly and as his phone rang, Rex excused himself whilst Ashton hot engrossed in signing his name on his admirers’ hands.

He was completely occupied in his activity only in a while answering their questions when he felt someone gazing at him intently. It continued for a few seconds until he decided to raise his eyes finally to see the person but all he met was speeding black cars passing the area but no one dared to even look in that direction. How weird?

"Who was that?" He inquired the girls who gulped but immediately went away leaving him with a scowl on his face.

It was the first time ever he visited Austria in years because his shooting was mostly scheduled in US, UK, and France, but on analysing his hometown now after years, he felt as if he doesn't know the place only.

"Why is this city becoming so strange?" He wondered and just then Rex came back with a blonde girl by his side, who gave a wink to Ashton sharing a brotherly hug.

"I so don't like you hugging my best friend,” Rex complained with a pout making Ashton chuckle in amusement.

"What to do honey, your best friend is a better option than you!" The blonde girl, Alice teased Sharing a hi-five with Ashton who laughed seeing their usual banter.

The trio hailed in San Francisco for a long time now, but since Ashton was moving hence his friends too decided to take a break from their usual city and explore the heaven of Vienna which seemed alien to them.

"You know I feel here the people are so weird,” Alice stated suddenly as they were looking around in the mall to get something good for the welcome party of Ashton which was held after two days in his parent’s mansion.

“Weird in the weirdest way,” Rex muttered under his breath as some salesman passed him a glare for even staring at the jacket on display.

"I think I will need to take surviving classes here from Alison,” Ashton suggested making Rex laugh loudly earning deadpan looks from the passers-by.

"What???"

"Aren't you forgetting that my future sister in law and your sister is totally whipped by Jones family's elder heir, Derek Jones to even spare others some time.”

He reminded them of the insane lovers who hardly can take out time for other things apart from video chatting with each other all the time.

Alison stayed with her parents in Vienna whilst Derek handled his father's export business in San Francisco along with Rex. And the distance relationship was hard but it was an exciting part of their lives.

"Whatever!"

"How about we spend the evening in Admiral today?" Alice suggested searching on her phone.

The guys gave her annoyed looks at her choice of place, but Rex nudged Ashton to agree because he didn't want to go on a no kissing zone for a month.

"Fine!" They agreed and just then Ashton's phone rang making his eyes lit up in excitement and the couple gave him knowing looks.

"Hey, my love. What's up?"

“Aww, I miss you too baby. Come soon.”

“Alright but don't overdo yourself and I love you.”

Throughout the phone call, his eyes were shining with happiness and love for the person on the other side who was his life whilst the couple smiled as they saw Ashton lost in the picture of the girl who had him wrapped around her fingers.

They just prayed for their friend to be happy always unaware that the case might change soon because…

No one has control over the unpredictable destiny.

But do humans allow their destinies to take over the charge entirely while they act as puppets to it?