Thanks for the comments, this chapter should clear a lot of your questions up :)
Lunch Date
Barney loved all the attention he was getting at the office because of her. A lot of the guys were still talking about it days after the gala, and those who hadn't attended kept bugging him to have her pick him up or something so they could meet this girl as well.
So he arranged a lunch date to show her off a little around the office. And maybe also so he could see her again.
"Mr. Stinson? Ava is here." His secretary informed him.
"Thanks Mary." He replied, and got up to greet her.
Ava was just wearing jeans, and a revealing top, but she still looked super hot. Gosh, he really wished she wouldn't have that stupid, "no sex with clients" rule.
"Hey babe." He greeted her, kissing her softly on the lips.
"Hey," she whispered, "ready for lunch?"
He nodded, "I just need to grab my wallet," he took her hand, and lead her down the corridor, and into his office.
"Wow, that's a nice office." She commented, as he let go of her hand.
"Thanks, do you like the posters? I had them custom made."
She stepped closer, and read each one, "custom made, huh?"
Barney stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered, "you look stunning today."
"Barney, can you come here for a second?" A voice asked behind them, and as they turned around Barney reluctantly let go of her.
"Oh hi there," It was George, the senior partner who had danced with Ava at the Gala.
Ava just nodded, while Barney asked, "Can it wait? We were just heading out for lunch."
"Bilson, and I have an important call with Azerbaijan, and he is a little shaky on the details of the last round of negotiation, can you just refresh his memory?"
Barney rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry to take him away, but it will only be a minute or two." George added.
"It's fine." Ava ensured them both.
Barney walked out of the office, but halted when he noticed that George wasn't following him.
"Go ahead, I will keep your beautiful girlfriend company."
Barney looked back over to Ava, who just nodded, and finally left the office.
…
George, and Ava were standing in font of his bookcase when he came back into the office.
Somehow the vibe of the room was different though, which caused him to ask, "is everything okay?"
"I was just about to ask you the same." George replied, stepping away from Ava.
"Yes, everything should be fine now." Barney replied, still eyeing both of them suspiciously.
"Well then, have fun on your date." George winked at him, and left the room.
"What was that?" Barney asked her as soon as he was sure George wouldn't hear him.
"Nothing, let's go, I am starving."
Barney nodded, and wrapped his arm around her waist.
They had to wait in front of the elevators, and he seized the opportunity to kiss her.
She kissed him back, but something was off.
He finally figured out what it was as they sat down, and ordered their food.
"He kissed you, didn't he?" Barney asked.
Ava seemed surprised by his comment, "what are you talking about?"
"George…something happened between you two while I was next door."
"That's ridiculous." Ava said, but she didn't even try to sound convincing.
"You tasted differently then before I left."
Ava raised her eyebrows, and asked amused, "what?"
"Is he like another client of yours?" Barney asked.
He couldn't deny that this was bugging him a lot more then it probably should have.
"No."
"Then why did you kiss him?"
"I didn't kiss him."
"I know you did."
"What's it to you anyways?" She asked.
"Well, I'd appreciate if you wouldn't make out in my office with my boss." Barney got a little louder.
"You know what," she put her napkin back on the table, "I am not having this discussion."
Barney watched her getting up, and closed his eyes for a second. This wasn't how he had imagined this lunch to go.
"Ava wait." He caught up with her half a block later.
"What?"
"I am sorry, okay?"
"Don't be, it's fine." She turned back around, but he got a hold of her arm, and spun her back towards him.
"It's clearly not. I am sorry I accused you of … you know what. I was a jerk, but the Carpaccio you just ordered isn't, and I won't be either, I promise."
Her expression went from anger to something else entirely.
"You're not a jerk, but this isn't a real date either, let's just call it a day, okay?" She suggested.
He couldn't hide his disappointment, "fine."
She stepped closer, and kissed him gently, "I will just tell the agency I didn't show up, okay?"
"What? No, it's fine."
They stood there for a second in which Barney wondered whether or not he should just walk away.
"Piece of advice though, don't bring a girl you really do care about to the office with you." She whispered.
"What did he do?" Barney asked alarmed.
"Don't worry about it."
"Ava, tell me."
"It's fine. Everything is fine, okay? Just don't expose someone you love to that ass."
Barney swallowed, he hadn't meant for all this to go down like that.
Ava picked up on his rising panic, and quickly calmed him down, "don't worry, I didn't do anything to jeopardize your career."
"I don't care about that, he can't just molest you like that." Barney clenched his fists.
Ava smiled at him, "oh, that was nothing, trust me. Just forget we ever had this conversation."
She kissed him again, but this time he kept his eyes open, watching her.
He felt like a character from an old-timey hooker movie, where the guy wanted to rescue the girl.
She broke the kiss off, smiled at him once more, and said, "you better get back."
He nodded, but called after her a few seconds later. She turned back towards him,
"Here," he pulled his wallet out.
"Barney I already told you…" she stopped when she noticed that he wasn't pulling out money.
He picked through his business cards until he found one with his private information on it.
"Here, that's my card. Call my cell if you are ever in trouble, okay? Day or night." He handed her the card.
She looked down on it, and smiled, "thanks."
"I mean it, call me." He said once again.
She nodded, and gave him another smile before turning around.
…
Much later that night he was sitting at the booth with Ted. Lily and Marshall had long gone home, but neither Ted, who had recently lost yet another 'the one' nor he felt like going home yet.
"We should really get going, I mean it's almost four am." Ted slurred.
"Just one more round." Barney replied.
He waved Wendy over, and ordered another round of shots.
"Have you ever wondered why girls go into jobs like stripping, or … or working for an escort company?" Barney suddenly asked.
"Money?" Ted guessed.
"Yeah but…there are other ways to make money."
"True, there is flight attendant, waitress…"
"Ted, focus!" Barney interrupted him.
"Since when do you care about strippers, Barney? Isn't your only concern regarding them whether or not they are willing to do a little more in the Champaign room."
"I am just wondering why they do it."
"I am wondering why any girl does you." Ted giggled.
The shots came, and they emptied them right away.
"All right, let's get you home Teddy Westside." Barney said as he put the glass back down.
They got out of the booth, and while Ted went to the bathroom one more time, Barney went to the bar to pay for the drinks.
He caught a glimpse of the television.
Either he was way drunker then he thought, or Ava was hosting some morning show.
"Hey Carl, can you turn it up?" Barney asked, pointing at the TV.
"Nope, only for sport games, you know the rules Barney."
"Ready?" Ted asked seconds later.
"Almost."
"What's wrong?" Barney asked.
"I know her." He pointed at the TV.
"Really? She's hot. Can you introduce us? But only if you haven't nailed her yet, I don't want your leftovers. Have you nailed her yet?"
Barney shook his head, still starring at the TV, and Ava.
Seconds later a text at the bottom of the screen told him that the girls name wasn't really Ava.
"Robin Scherbatsky." He read out loud.
"I thought you know her." Ted commented.
Barney nodded, "I do. I just didn't know her real….you know what, never mind. Let's get you to bed my friend!"