A/N: Here is the first chapter of my new Rom Com novel. I had fun writing Meeting Mr. Mogul, but this is a whole new level of laughs and cringeworthy for me.

For my Radish Fiction readers, this story is available there as well to accommodate both reader preferred platforms. Same update day.

Updates will be weekly for now. Change of update will be announced in the future.

Thank you for everything! ~ Mel.

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Sighing heavily, the girls probed me to do the most inexcusable - and mind you - disconcerting thing I'd ever done in my life. Coleen was smiling from ear to ear as Megan leaned on the table, eying each of us as she whispered the root of my concern. It made you wonder how I'd gotten myself into this mess. It had to do after I had a shitty day, which ended in me seeing my now ex-lover being ridden cowgirl style by my college nemesis, and wearing a wrong sized bra.

How could a wrong bra size lead me into this situation? It was because I currently wore the said bra, and I felt like my chest cavity was about to cave-in at what I was about to do.

I got my glass of Cosmos and took another sip while they continued talking.

"How about that table over there?" Marie pointed out, her eyes darting across the room towards a pool table occupied by three men.

I followed her gaze and studied the men she was referring. My heart jolted at the sight them. They looked like fitness junky and could probably sway a girl to get in bed with them. Before my thoughts led to a different direction, I turned back to my four best friends with a grim look.

"To hell I'm not going to that pool table," I hissed under my breath, knowing that they clearly heard me.

"Don't be a poor sport, Kyla. They seem like nice guys," Rose pointed out.

"Rose, no. I couldn't do what you girls are asking," I said in defeat, closing my eyes and shook my head in disapproval.

"Don't be a wimp. As promised, you are doing this," Megan commandingly stated.

"You have to do it, Kyla. We had gone through this before, and now it's your turn," Marie argued in Megan's defense.

"It's not that bad, Kyla. I did it last year after Landon. And I tell you, it was fun," Coleen encouraged lightly, looking at me with slight sympathy.

"We are talking about you four. I'm not like that. Hell, I've never approached a stranger unless it is necessary like the sales lady at Macy's," I pitifully argued again, feeling my defeat was near.

"Once, just once Kyla. Do it. You need it," Megan affirmed deadly.

"Fine! I will. God damn you women. If I didn't love you..." I grumbled under my breath before getting out of the booth.

I stood up and face my friends, straightening out my slightly wrinkled red dress. The girls simultaneously smiled and gave thumbs up in approval. In my nude Marc Jacob's wedge, I turned and strutted across the room. My heart was pounding in my eardrum, making me more nervous than I opt to be.

Reaching the pool table, it was then they've noticed my arrival. All three looked up at me in surprise. I deemed their appearance. And by the looks of it, I was out of my league here. What were my friends thinking? Obviously, they weren't.

Finally one of them spoke. A flirty smile was already in place. Typical.

"Hi sweetheart, is there something we can do for you?" the guy who was smiling asked. In the dark ambiance of the bar, it was difficult to make out the rest of his facial feature. However, I noted his blond hair and couldn't deny he was attractive like the rest of his friends.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment and opened them, glancing between the three. "Okay. I'll make this brief, so listen well," I started, shocked at the confidence in my voice. But I didn't let it show and kept a firm front.

"Excuse me?" the other guy, who stood on my right, asked in disbelief. He had darker hair that probably matched the color of his eyes. From his posture, he wasn't interested in me as much as his blond haired friend, which was a good sign.

"Can you see those four girls across the room siting in the booth table? I'm with them," I asked and pointed with my thumb. "Anyways, long story short, I need you to give me your number and make them think I'm actually going to have a one night stand with one of you, which won't happen. And if you willingly play along, I would reward you with anyone of my friend's real cellphone number," I explained in one breath. A bit bewildered I suddenly had a swimmer's lungs. "What do you say?"

The dark haired stared at me in skepticism. While his other friend, the blonde, smiled cheekily and chuckling at what I was offering. But my eyes gaze landed towards the third member of the group, who hardly said anything since I approached them. He stood across from me with little expression crossing his poker face. Even with the pool table between us, it was easy to note his tall and built physique. Though his two friends also had a close built as him.

"I will give you my number. But I don't need your friends. I want your number instead, sweetheart." It was the blond who answered.

I pursed my lips in disapproval. "I'm not included in the deal. Aren't my beautiful friends enough to attract your interest?" I slyly inquired.

The blond peered behind me and his smile grew. While he was checking them out, I peered over to the dark haired beside me. When our gaze met, he arched his eyebrow.

"That's it? No questions asked?" he inquired.

And finally I caught on his dilemma. His suspicion was directed to the fact whether I wanted more from them. I bit back my lips to stop myself from letting out a witty comeback.

"Yes. That's it. I don't really want a one night stand with a stranger, and you three just happened to be my friends choice for this experiment." I sourly informed.

Finally, the one standing across from me joined the conversation. "Let me get this straight. You're here because you lost some kind of bet or game and your friends want you to pick up anyone they choose and sleep with them?" He inquired rather than stated.

I glanced up and smiled sheepishly. Hearing it being said so plainly by a stranger was mortifying. Why did I allow myself get dragged along with it?

"More or less. You got the gist of it right."

"I didn't know girls do that sort of thing too..." The dark haired one chuckled in amusement.

"Oh, trust me. We're not a species of saints and innocent virgins," I announced sarcastically.

The dark haired one burst in a fit of laughter as the blond joined in, hearing my remarked. The one standing across from me only smirked and shook his head in approval.

"Well, this is a first." He muttered as he stared at me. For a split moment, he exchanged a look with his friends. "Okay. We'll play. But let me asked you this first, which one of us do you want their phone number?"

I stared at the man across from me. For a second, I couldn't respond and stared at his heart-stopping smile. There was a brief moment where the bulb from the pool table gave enough light to show his beaming face. It was then I caught a glimpse of his ocean blue eyes.

Absentmindedly, the words flew out of my mouth. "You."

The man across from me leaned closer towards the light, showing more of his handsome feature. I watched as the edge of his lips tugged up into a smug grin. And then he did another swoon-worthy act. He winked at me.

Fuck me. With just that, I thought I didn't want just his number. I want him. All rational thought had just gone away like a dust in the wind. But I quick shook the thought away before I gone primal in this pool table.

While I was lost in thought, he pulled out his wallet and got a piece of paper. He turned towards a man behind him, whom I just noticed, and got a pen from him. He wrote down his phone number without further words. After which, he slid it across the pool table to me.

"Here, that's my private cell." He stated as the piece of paper stopped in the middle of the pool table.

I recollected my composure by clearing my throat. Without peering over him, I leaned over and grabbed the paper. "You could have written some random number. I just wanted my friends to see you gave me a number at least." I muttered, trying to play it cool.

"But how are you going to call me if it's not real?" he smugly suggested.

I had done the wrong move and met his gaze while he said those words. From how he smiled, I knew I reacted like a shy teenager. I was blushing profusely.

"Yeah... No." I gathered back my wits and looked away. I glanced between the blond and dark haired guy, who was also peering between their friend and me, watching our exchange. I cleared my throat, feeling uncomfortable now. "So who wants one of my friends number?"

"Just call me. That's your payment, sweetheart." It was him who replied this time. As much as I didn't want to look at him again, my eyes wondered in his direction.

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to have your blonde haired friend's number." The blond guy asked, tearing my gaze away from the brown haired, blue-eyed charmer.

"Sure." I muttered and proceeded to ask him a paper.

After writing it down, I was about to excuse myself and end this embarrassing conversation with strangers until he spoke again.

"This was rude of me. I forgot to ask your name." He smiled, looking apologetic. "I'm Jensen, these are my friends Reed," he gestured towards the dark haired guy, "and Grant," he pointed towards the blonde.

"Kyla." I stated. "And my friends there are Marie, Coleen, Megan and Rose, in order from right to left."

"Nice to meet you, Kyla." Jensen said with another smile. The way he said my name filled my stomach with butterflies.

"You too, Jensen."

With that, I turned around and walked back towards the booth. Praying and chanting I wouldn't slip and fell flat on the floor, I reached my treacherous four best friends. From the identical grins on their faces, I knew I had played my cards right.

"Looking at the smiles and you bending over that pool table, I supposed you got Mr. You-can-fuck-here-and-now's number from his sexy smothering grin." Megan observed smugly.

"I don't want to relive that moment just yet guys," I groaned disapprovingly, knowing they'll want a feedback right then and now.

"Come on, Kyla. Don't me a poor sport." Coleen whimpered in plea.

"I gave the blond haired one your number Coleen. He wanted it." I muttered in admission and grabbed Rose's glass.

She reached out for it but I was quick. I gulped down a good mouthful of her wine, giving my suddenly parched throat a slow burn.

"Oh god! Did you get his name?" Coleen gasped in disbelief. From her question, she wasn't angry at the news.

"I think it was Grant." I replied.

"You weren't supposed to get acquainted with them, Kyla. It was supposed to be a no strings attached, no first name basis one night stand." Megan groaned in disapproval, interrupting Coleen from asking more questions.

"Well that's means it was a failed attempt. Let's just call it a night and try again some other time..." I suggested evasively, trying to buy my way out of the ridiculous situation.

"That's such a waste. I think the guy was really handsome. And Kyla had done great. Give her some credit," Rose countered, looking sympathetic for me.

"I don't think Kyla would have a one night stand without at least knowing the guy's name, Meg. It'll do," Marie reasoned after sipping her third round of beer. From how her words hadn't slurred, she was the only one in our group who'd make it out tonight without a headache tomorrow. Alcohol barely fazed her.

Megan peered over Marie, and then at Rose - who was slightly out of it already - and then at me. Her eyes also looked over at the pool table before sighing gravely. "Okay. But he has to walk out here with you in tow."

I blink back in surprise. Not sure I was hearing her right. "What?"

"You heard me. If he's seriously into you, seeing how he actually gave you his number, you would be having the night of your life tonight."

If Megan weren't one of the people who I would take a bullet for, I would have screamed at her face for being ridiculous. "What if he won't?" I inquired, trying to find another way out.

"Next weekend sounds good."

I wanted to slam my head on the table. But instead, I stood up and excused myself. I headed towards the bar counter and ordered two shots and a whiskey. There was no way out of it without looking like a prude and dent my friendship.

"From those drink you're drowning, the phone number wasn't enough to impress the girls?" I jolted at the sound of his voice.

Casually leaning on my right, Jensen held up his hand to the bartender and ordered two glasses of whiskey.

To humor him, I replied. "No. Now they want me to leave this place with you in tow."

He straightened up, giving an idea of how tall he truly was. I stood only up to his chin even in three-inch heels. Without a choice, I had to glance up to meet his gaze.

"How about we just roll with this? If you're up to it," he offered cheekily.

Before I could reply, the bartender returned with our drink. I grabbed my glass as he took his. I did the shots and drank the whiskey in one go. I winced at the burn and then placed the empty glass on the counter.

"So I'll take that as a no?" he inquired when I hadn't replied.

I held up my finger, signaling him to wait a moment. "I'll be back."

With that, I turned around and headed to the booth. From their look of astonishment, they had seen who was with me by the bar counter. There were hardly any words exchanged after my return. I grabbed my coat and purse before saying a quick good night.

"Oh god, she's going for it..." it was the last words I heard from them, which was from Coleen, as I made my way back to the bar counter.

Just like how I left him, Jensen was leaning by the counter. He gave me a welcoming smile.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked playfully.

"Come on." I grimly stated and turned on my heels.

I hadn't glanced back at him and marched my way towards the door. It was only when we stood outside the bar on the pavement I realized I'm not sure where to go next. I'm not letting a stranger I've just met in my apartment for a one-night stand. While I was contemplating, Jensen grabbed my arm and pulled me out of my stupor. And like on cue, a black SUV parked in front of me.

Not really sure at that point about my life choices, I watched as Jensen opened the back door and got in. When I hadn't followed, he peered over and eyed me with concern.

"Are you regretting this now?" he lightly asked, though there was a hint of seriousness on his tone.

I studied his face for a moment and then shook my head. "I'm drunk enough to forget this happened. I don't really care at this point anymore. Let's do this."