Harris Zay

*ASHTRID*

************

The sky is glowing with thousands of stars, and the moon shine brightly, emphasizing the beauty of the ocean, where a restaurant lies. Nothing could possibly go wrong with such a scenario.

Camera flashes outside the restaurant where I am seated waiting for a friend, next to a glass of wall. It seems, that regardless how pleasant and cool the place is and how fantastic for a relaxed evening, nothing will get past a damn paparazzi itching to capture what shit I end up pulling tonight.

"What a way to ruin a good time."

Nobody can blame them; it's worth standing out in the cold for hours solely to capture a photo of celebrities and the elite dining in. They had been loitering outside holding their camera, determined to flash me. I bet no great shots have been taken since securities are ganging up on them.

After a few minutes, the security staff manage to toss them away from the restaurant, enabling me to get my phone from my purse and send Elenor a message, "I knew this was going to happen. Where are you? I've been here for 10 minutes and there are paparazzi outside. Damn you El, if tomorrow's headline includes me, you're dead!"

My expression reflects how serious I am. I should have known Elenor was going to be late; this is her thing since when we were little, "Perhaps she's planning on keeping me here until morning," I can feel my blood crested with fury, just thinking about a rumor may circulate throughout town; that I may have been ditched by an anonymous date.

I can't bear the thought of reading tomorrow's news about how famous model Ashtrid Silva was abandoned by her date!

Now that the paparazzi have left, everything shifts back peacefully at Zking. The restaurant is packed with wealthy guests; even a few meters away from my table, a group of elites is hanging around. I breathed deeply as I raised the palms of my hands to summon a waiter, settling on the wine that had recently circulated among the elites, the known Red Star wine of the young master.

"May I take your order, madam?" a young man with a dashing alluring vibe approached my table. A very, very fine young man. Naturally, his features stand out to me; I've got keen eyes and an attraction for beautiful things. What a pity, I don't only love beautiful things, but I also love them expensive.

"It's a shame I don't date cheap men," I couldn't help but think. He has the looks, and if I met him outside of work, I would assume he is a wealthy man.

I forcefully draw my gaze to the menu he handed me, where a picture of what I'm craving displays right in front of my face, ignoring the man's presence, "I would like... " for a moment, the word 'like' isn't adequate enough for describing the rumored wine, after all, this is Red Star I'm talking about.

"No. I'd love to have the rumored masterpiece of the young master," I say, shifting my glance away from the menu and back to him, as he examines me attentively with a grin that reveals his dimple, "the one that everyone in town has been whispering about lately."

I wonder where but the look on his face seems awfully familiar with me. If by chance the young master look even better than this gentleman, then I better get to know him better.

"I heard this became his masterpiece because he dedicated it to his lover, is that true?" I put my chin in my palm, determined to interrogate the waiter as if he knew the answer, yet he remained silent,"...As I was saying, I would love to have a whole bottle of that wine" For whatever reason he has, he does not seem pleased with how I try to gather a few stories about his owner "One Red Star was it?" he grins at me as he confirms, "Yes. That's the one"

After taking my order he went back to the kitchen and my phone rang. My anonymous date finally decided to call, "Do you happen to have a knack on how to read time?" without waiting for Elenor to reason out I took the chance to scold her for she had kept me waiting for nearly a half hour.

"Spare me, okay? Just order some stuff to keep you company, and I'm sure the paparazzi will whip up stories about you if you choose to leave alone."

"You better get your ass here this instant or I'll never speak to you again."

"Will you please calm. I'll be there in ten minutes."

"Make it five minutes, and if you don't get here by then, you'll have to pay for my dinner."

I hang up the phone just as the waiter returns with the drink in his hand. It looks exactly like an ordinary wine that everybody can afford, which makes me question how good it is. It made a pleasant sound when the wine poured into my glass. I witnessed the Red Star's rich red color swirling over the curvature of the glass.

Slowly, I level the glass of wine up to my nose, becoming familiar with its aroma, a sweet and lovely fragrance that stung to me like it was brimming with love. "I wonder if the rumors were true. Is he really in love?" the sensation the wine stuffed me with as it sides down of my throat was not what I expected. I suppose it's safe to say that rumors were true. There's something about it, somehow; it's bittersweet, yet there's even more.

"Amazing. I wonder how Don Hudson's son created it" After a few more drinks, I realize I'm almost done with the bottle, "I need to stop drinking before it rubs me off" I push the glass away from me before I find myself wanting for more "Now I'm dying to know you Harris Zay," pulling my attention sideways, fascinated by the splendor that the ocean is.