It's been a while. Reviews were slow, my studying and work schedules were a pain in the behind and on top of all that, I had some personal struggles of my own to sort out. But here's the fourth chapter of the story! Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 4

"I feel like we haven't met in ages!" Olivia exclaimed as she savoured the taste of her coffee. She had just met up with Madison and Mel at the local mall for some girl time. "You know, the Three Musketeers minus the men."

"You know I'm caught up with planning the wedding." Madison explained with a sad tone. Smiling playfully, she nudged her head at Mel. "This one doesn't have an excuse."

"House work, Maddie!" Mel chuckled. "And the renovations in the en-suite and dining room. They're being a pain in the ass."

"I've been busy with work too." Olivia nodded. "Being Tech Supervisor is no easy work. I only accepted so I can keep the house."

"We already asked you if you want us to pitch in a little something, but you keep saying no." Mel pointed out.

"This job's enough to pay the last few payments so the house is one hundred percent mine. And I'm really super duper thankful to have such awesome friends like you guys!" Olivia smiled, putting one arm round each girl's necks. They laughed as they walked into the food court and sat down round a free table.

"So, what are we getting? Big lunch? Small lunch?" Madison asked. "It's Mel's turn to pay."

"Big lunch. I feel like we need to celebrate Olivia's new promotion. We didn't properly do it right on our last girls' night." By that she referred to when they were so drunk Olivia drunk-dialled Ian and told him he looked like George Clooney on a good day... he doesn't even begin to look like him. "I'm thinking... pasta? Mac and cheese?"

"I'm gonna go all out..." Olivia paused dramatically and grinned goofily. "... with a burger."

"Thought you were gonna say you'd wipe out all the food in the building." Miadison laughed.

"That'll come after the gig next week." Olivia replied with a wink. "Speaking of the gig... My boss is gonna be there."

"Mr Adler?" Olivia nodded. "Oh yeah! That's the guy who danced with Ian's mom at our wedding!"

"Funny fella."

"He's a big Police fan and he's bringing his wife and daughters along." Olivia explained. "Which means we need to up our practise."

They ordered their food and in a few minutes they were eating. "So Sam told my you were working late last night..." Madison said. Olivia turned red. She knew where this was going: Dean. "...and Sam read the message out loud for us..."

"Who's Dean Smith, Miss Olivia Muhl?" Mel asked teasingly.

"Director of sales and marketing... bit of an airhead when it comes to the real world, but an okay person."

"He hot?" Madison asked, chewing on her chicken Caesar salad. Olivia looked down and popped a fry in her mouth

"He's cute..." she shrugged. He was way more than that: he was funny, SUPER SEXY and she but wondered what his body looked like underneath his shirt... "... and he loves music. Real music."

"Poster boy for your next date night then. Why don't you ask him out?" Madison suggested. Mel nodded with agreement.

"No way. Nah-uh. Not in this life or if he's ever poorer than me." she retorted, her voice rising a few octaves. "And I don't have to date to get out of the house. I've you guys."

"Okay, so if not Dean... how about..." Mel looked around and saw an attractive tanned man in his late twenties. Tall, dark hair and had a sleeve on his left arm. "... that guy? Dark hair. Sleeve tattoo."

Olivia turned round and grimaced. "He looks like Jersey Shore puked on him."

Mel rolled her eyes. "How about that guy over there? Crew cut, white tshirt." Madison suggested, jerking her head towards the man's direction. Olivia looked over Madison's shoulder and raised her eyebrows.

"He's cute... really cute..." 'But not cuter than Dean Smith' she wanted to add, but bit her tongue.

"Hmmm..." Madison seemed unconvinced until she saw another guy standing next to the counter at the food court. "How 'bout him?" She pointed at the guy at the counter and when Olivia turned round, she immediately turned back, literally burying her head.

"That's him." she hissed.

"Him?"

"She obviously means Dean Smith, dumb blonde." Madison dead-panned. "And may I say, he is looking..." she shuddered. "Let's just say I'd gladly have a threesome with him and Sam."

"Yeah, count me and Ian in." Mel murmured, sipping her drink as she looked him over through her eyelashes.

"Guys! That is disgusting!" Olivia whispered, but boy were they right: he was wearing a tshirt—a tshirt! Who knew Dean Smith would even own a tshirt, let alone wear one and look very very hot in it?!—and classic denim jeans with black shoes. "You think he saw me?"

Her friends shook her head and she turned her head round to stare and their eyes met for a split second. 'Oh shit!' she thought. "Well, if he didn't before he did now! He's coming over her!" Mel hissed.

"Girls, act the fuck cool okay? He's elite and we're just—" As she was about to finish her sentence, Dean was standing next to her, holding a smoothie in one hand. "Hey! Dean!" she smiled so bright even a blind person would see through her. "What are you doing in the real world? At the mall?"

"I—Wait, real world? What, I'm now allowed to be at the mall now?" Dean smirked.

"Yeah, Liv!" Mel said in mock-shock.

"Give the man a breather!" Madison chimed in.

"You two are enjoying this way too much." Olivia blushed.

"And as to answer your question, I'm here to buy groceries and gifts for my sister and nephew. They're coming to visit next week and I've no clue what to get them." The way he was looking down at Olivia was immediately caught by Mel and Madison, and stared at each other knowingly.

After an awkward silence, Olivia cleared her throat and motioned her hand across the table, at her friends. "These are Mel and Madison, my friends. Mel's Ian's wife and Madison's Sam's fiancée."

"Samuel and Ian from Tech?" Olivia nodded. "Nice to meet you then."

"Well, we don't want to come off as rude but we gotta head out." Mel said, standing up.

"We are?" Madison frowned. Olivia turned pale and stood up. She knew what they were doing and she didn't like it one bit. When Miranda saw the glint in Mel's eye, a smile slowly spread across her face. "Oh yeah! We do! We, as in Mel and myself, have to get going!" She quickly threw the napkin over her empty plate and stood up, pulling up her bags along with herself. "I have a wedding to plan!"

"We were planning that weather together!" Olivia exclaimed.

"But I already had a wedding and you did not, so it's up to me to plan her wedding. I've experience." Mel winked, dragging Madison with her.

"Nice meeting you, Dean Smith!" Madison yelled before disappearing round the corner.

"Did I say 'friends'? I was meant to say 'my friends who just betrayed me'." Olivia laughed nervously.

"Anyway, um, can you help me with the gifts? I have absolutely no clue what to get them."

"How old is your nephew?" she asked as she walked up to the cash register, bag and money in hands. She paid for her and her friends' food and made her way outside the food court.

"Turning seven." he replied, rushing after her. He drank the last of his smoothie and threw the cup in the nearest bin.

"What does he like?"

"I dunno, last time I saw him he was about two years old." he said. "That's why my sister's coming to visit. Took time off work and all."

"You can never go wrong with toys. Cars, soldiers, trains. Or a video game. Kids these days are already pros in technology." Olivia explained. "And as for your sister, it's two words: Victoria's Secret. Every woman yearns or owns Victoria's Secret lingerie, no matter who and what she is. $500 gift card sounds fair... You have enough cash for that."

"Yeah, I do... But my sister's... different. She's a bit of a tomboy and she doesn't lie frilly, cutesy things."

"All women feel sexy in them. All women need them. Your sister is going to love this gift. She can spend in on whatever she wants. If it's not sexy lingerie, it's sexy pyjamas." she pointed out.

"You're a gift sorceress, are you?" Dean asked her and she laughed.

"Like I said yesterday, it's all about being real." she winked. "Now come on. Let's go get your sister and nephew awesome gifts."

While shopping, Dean told her about when he gave her sister kitchen utensils for her last birthday, leaving Olivia scarred for life and pegging him as 'the worst gifter in the world', to which retorted that the word didn't and never will exist. It took him ages to actually make up his mind about the gifts, as it had been a while since he'd seen his sister. His job took over his life and he lost touch with his sister who lived one state over, an hours' worth by bus and train.

"But you're sure my sister is going to love her gift?"

"For the millionth time, Smithy, yes! Girls love VS! Especially if they can't afford it!"she pointed out with a cunning smile. "And your nephew will love his too. You got him the two options: toys..." She raised one hand, holding a bag with toys of cars, trains and soldiers. "... and video games." She raised her other hand with the bag containing several video games. "As much as I want to stay longer, I need to go feed Stevie, whom I'm sure is whining with hunger right now."

"Thanks for helping me, Liv. I really, really appreciate it... Is there anyway I can make it up to you? Buy you something maybe?" Dean asked.

"Whoa-oh, Smithy! You don't need to buy me anything! I was just helping someone who needed help." she smiled, handing him the bags.

"How about dinner, huh?" he asked her. "I'll cook you dinner. Tonight."

Pause. Rewind... Did Dean Smith, director of sales and marketing, elite, ask Olivia Muhl, tech supervisor, minion, on a date?!

"Band practise." Olivia replied.

"Tomorrow then?"

"On a work night?"Olivia scoffed. She was really trying to get of it (even though she wanted to so badly!), but Dean wasn't going to let her get the upper hand.

"We'll have dinner at your house then. I'll think of the food, you don't worry about a thing."

She surrendered. "Is this a... a date?"

"Whatever you want it to be, Muhl." he smiled crookedly. 'Damn that stupidly attractive smile!' she thought, but mastered her best and sexiest flirty smile. "I'll be at yours at seven."

"Sure thing, Smithy..." She gave him a one-over, winked, turned on her heels and walked off. "It's a date!" she yelled over her shoulder.

"Jackpot." Dean muttered under his breath, still smirking.

GIVOHRJFNWBARGUFEHIOADJFLNGBWHEA- this was my reaction at the end of the chapter. Next chapter has Olivia's friends' reaction to The First Date! Tell me what you think of how the story is developing! And if you want something to be added to the plot please let me know! I love new ideas as they can help with how the story progresses. I know the chapter's very short, but they'll get longer the more reviews I get [take the hint already!]