Some guys just have all of the luck.

They see a girl they like, and they make their move. They flirt with her a little, and if they're lucky...she'll say 'yes' when they ask her on a date. They're naturals, they'll know just what to do...what to wear, where to take her, what to say to her...to sweep her off of her feet. If things go well, if they do it right, they make it to date number two. From there...well, you can guess what happens next.

Other guys...they're not as lucky.

They're not as confident, not as smooth-talking, not as charming. They see a girl they like, but they'll never ask her out. She would never say yes anyway. She's out of their league, so why embarrass themselves? She would much rather have a guy like the ones mentioned above, and they know they can't compete with guys like that. At least not without a little bit of help.

That's where Beck Oliver comes in.

When people ask him what he does for a living, he says he's a consultant. That's not a lie, but it also isn't the entire truth. His job is to coach men, the unlucky men, in the art of sweeping women off of their feet. There's no trickery involved. Beck helps these men find genuine connections, long-term relationships, all without changing anything about them if he can help it. He works with what they give him, and helps them figure out what moves are right to make and how to make them. With his help...any man can ask out any woman, and she'll say yes.

His business is built entirely on referrals, making it completely untraceable. No ads in any magazines or on social media, it's all word of mouth from one client to the next. After all, when you're dealing with fate...it's best to fly under the radar.

Beck can't help but cringe as he watches his newest mentee from afar. It's a man in his late twenties, with a head full of unruly hair and large glasses. He's dressed in a suit that looks about a size too large and a tie that is much too long. It's a windy afternoon, a bit cooler than Los Angeles would be this time of year, and the man is attempting to keep all of his napkins from blowing away while he eats his lunch. Beck continues to watch for another minute or so, but when the man kicks his drink over and becomes visually frustrated, he decides to step in.

"Robbie?" He says as he approaches him

"Hm?" The man, Robbie, hums as he looks up "Oh! You're him, aren't you? You're the guy."

"I'm the guy." Beck chuckles as he sits down on the park bench next to him

The two men shake hands before Robbie speaks again.

"Thank you for seeing me." He sighs "I just...I haven't had much luck in this department and I could really use some help."

"Help is what I do." Beck smirks "Well, for a while at least. You get three dates, after that you're on your own."

"What if it takes more than three?" Robbie asks

"It won't." Beck assures him "The third date is when we reach the most high-stakes moment. When a first kiss tells a woman everything she thinks she needs to know about a relationship."

"No kissing until the third date?"

"Not always." Beck shrugs "But if there's no kiss by the end of the third date, then there's nothing left to pursue...and any help I could give you would be useless anyway."

"I see..." Robbie nods "So, where do we start?"

"Easy, tiger. First I need to see if there's actually any chance I can actually help you." Beck chuckles "Is she single? Breakups aren't my expertise."

"She's single." Robbie assures him with a nod "She just got out of a relationship though. That's not a problem is it? If it is, I understand. I feel kind of uncomfortable with this whole...'consultant' thing anyway. I've been hurt a lot, had a lot of bad experiences, and well...I'm desperate. Not desperate in the sense that I'll take anyone, but...desperate for her."

"Tell me about her." Beck can't help but smile at Robbie's innocence

He can tell already that there's a lot of work that needs to be done here, but work is what he does.

"Well, uh...where do I even begin?" Robbie grins at the thought of the woman in question "I guess you could say I kinda work for her? I'm an accountant."

"I see."

"I'm one of the agents assigned to her...well her management team I guess." Robbie clarifies

"Her management team? What does she do?"

"I guess you could say...she's an entertainer?"

"What's her name?

"Cat Valentine?"

"Cat Valentine as in...global superstar, grammy-winning, platinum recording artist, Cat Valentine?" Beck raises an eyebrow "Wow."

"It's stupid, I know."

"S'not stupid." Beck assures him "It's just...her last boyfriend like...owned half of Europe."

"And he was a dick!" Robbie is quick to add "At least he seemed like one to me..."

"Does she know you're interested?"

"Well..."

"Does she know you're alive?" Beck decides to re-word his question

"I lent her a pen once."

"You have...high aspirations my friend." Beck laughs, shaking his head

"I know it's ridiculous." Robbie sighs " I've tried to talk myself out of it. I know. I just thought that maybe with your help I could...you know what? Never mind. This was a dumb idea. I'm sorry I wasted your time."

Robbie begins picking up the trash from his lunch and grabs his briefcase, feeing like an absolute idiot as he prepares to head back to his office. There's not a chance in hell that Cat Valentine would ever give someone like him a chance, no matter how much help he gets from this 'date doctor'.

"Hang on, Robbie."

"Do you have any idea what it's like to wake up every morning and feel absolutely hopeless?" Robbie asks, turning back to Beck "Feeling like the love of your life is waking up with the wrong man in her bed? But at the same time...still hoping that she finds happiness, even if it's not with you?"

"You're out of your mind." Beck laughs, placing a hand on Robbie's shoulder "Do you know that?"

"Yeah, I do."

"That's good." Beck grins

"It is?"

"Have you ever heard of Michelangelo?" Beck asks "Painted the Sistine Chapel?"

"Of course."

"Well, just call me Michelangelo." Beck chuckles "You're going to be my Sistine Chapel."

"Really?" Robbie's eyes light up "You think you can help?"

"I think so, yeah." Beck nods, extending his hand to shake Robbie's again "I'm Beck Oliver, it's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Robbie smiles "So, uh...where do we start?"

"I'll be in touch." Beck winks "I hope you're ready to paint that ceiling."

"I'll do whatever it takes."

"Great." Beck nods "We'll talk soon."

He doesn't look back at Robbie as he walks away from the bench where they had been sitting, but he knows the curly-haired man is probably trying his best to contain his excitement. He'll really have his work cut out for him on this case. Sure, he's coached men more helpless than Robbie, but he's never helped anyone pursue a celebrity before. That fact surprises him too, because they live in Los Angeles and the city is literally crawling with them.

The task, while unprecedented, won't be impossible. He has a success rate of over ninety-five percent after all. There's a bulletin board full of engagement announcements and wedding invitations back at his apartment, engagements and weddings that he had helped make happen. There's definitely hope for Robbie, Beck just needs to figure out where to start.

"So, the consulting business is good then?" Beck's brother-in-law, Ben, asks him as he takes his shot at the pool table

"Business is fine." Beck smirks, standing up straight again before stepping aside so Ben can take his shot "I feel like I should be the one asking you that question though. You're the one about to go through a major life change."

"Hey, I'm still going to be me." Ben assures him "I'm just going to be me...with a kid."

"Business is fine." Beck reiterates "Thanks for asking."

Not even his family knows the truth about the work that he does. He wouldn't know how to explain it without anyone thinking he's some kind of pimp. His parents certainly wouldn't understand, and while his sister and Ben might...he doesn't want to risk it. Whenever anyone from his family brings up work, he's as vague as he can possibly be. He's a free-lance consultant, different companies and business hire him when they need his services...advertising, marketing, and brand management...which isn't actually all that far from the truth.

"On your left." Ben says suddenly, nodding in the direction of the door "Check her out."

Beck follows Ben's gaze and sees that his brother-in-law had been indicating a woman who had just entered the bar. She's of average height with brown hair and brown eyes, definitely beautiful...just not Beck's type.

"I dunno dude..." Beck sighs as he takes another shot at the pool table "She's definitely very pretty but I dunno if she's-"

"I think she'd be fun to talk to." Ben shrugs

"You do realize my pregnant sister is waiting at home for you, right?" Beck clarifies "You shouldn't be talking to anyone."

"I could be your wingman."

"I don't need a wingman." Beck smirks, shaking his head

"Oh yeah?" Ben raises an eyebrow at him "Explain to me why it's been six years since we graduated and you still haven't found yourself someone."

Beck knows a lot about love, that's why he gets as much business as he does. It's because of that fact that he is careful about the company he chooses to surround himself with. When the time comes, he wants something serious. He doesn't do flings. A bad experience in college has left him very cautious about how he approaches relationships, because he doesn't want to get hurt again. He doesn't want to pick someone just to pick someone, but if he needs to flirt with someone to get Ben off of his back...well, he can manage that.

"Fine." Beck rolls his eyes, handing his pool stick to Ben "You want proof that I don't need a wingman? Watch this."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to get her to come over and talk to us."

The woman has stepped further into the bar now, and is surrounded by a crowd of people Beck can only assume is the group of friends she had come to meet. There's several of them, and for a moment he thinks he might've lost her in the crowd. Eventually he spots her again though, and then it's time to make his move.

"Hey babe." He says to her, pressing a twenty dollar bill into her hand "Can we get a couple of Coronas over at the pool table, please? Thanks."

He doesn't say anything else, turning to make his way back over to Ben.

"Excuse me?" The woman scoffs, obviously surprised by the gesture "Excuse me!"

"Lime wedges in the bottles are fine." Beck adds, then keeps walking

"Hey asshole!" The woman calls out "I don't work here!"

Beck stops walking and turns to face her as she catches up to him. She looks annoyed, annoyed that he had bothered her and pulled her away from her friends, and maybe even a little insulted.

"Wow..." He chuckles "I...I am so sorry. The paramedics are going to have to come and help me pull my foot out of my mouth."

"Just don't let it happen again."

As she presses the bill back into his palm, Beck closes his fingers around her hand and pulls the woman towards him.

"I knew you didn't work here." He smiles

"Did you now?"

"Yeah...but how else was I supposed to get you away from all of those other guys who were trying to talk to you?"

"Oh I see..." She nods "You're sneaky."

"S'one way to put it, yeah." Beck laughs, turning over his shoulder to wink at Ben "Do you have a name?"

"Rita."

"S'nice to meet you, Rita. I'm Beck." He tells her "Listen, my brother-in-law and I are just finishing up a game of pool, but if you want to...you and your friends could join us for the next one."

"Sure." She smiles "I'll go let them know."

She turns over her shoulder and begins walking back to her friends and Beck begins walking back towards the pool table.

"So, maybe you don't need my help?" Ben chuckles, handing the pool stick back to him

"Maybe I don't." Beck nods "Still don't think she's my type though."

"So, why's she walking back over here then?" Ben asks "And bringing her friends?"

"Because this game is much more interesting when you play it in teams."