Fake relationship, real problem.

As they walked, the silence between them grew thicker. Abigail struggled to find the right words to apologize. Finally, she reached out and gently touched Caleb's arm.

Suddenly Caleb's face was inches from Abigail's, his eyes locked onto hers as he shielded her from the passing bike. Abigail could feel the warmth of his breath, the beat of his heart, and the strength of his arms wrapped around her.

For a moment, they stood there, frozen in time. Abigail's mind went blank, her senses overwhelmed by the sudden closeness.

As the bike sped away, Caleb slowly released Abigail, his hands lingering on her arms for a moment before dropping away.

"Sorry about that," Caleb said, his voice low and rough.

Abigail swallowed dryly, still feeling the effects of Caleb's sudden closeness. "I... it's okay," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Just as Abigail was trying to process the sudden rush of emotions, Harper came running across the street, a big smile on her face.

"Hey, guys! What's going on?" Harper asked, oblivious to the tension between Caleb and Abigail.

Abigail cleared her throat, her expression smoothing out. "Just dodging bikes," She said.

Harper laughed. "Well, I'm glad you're both okay. MD Caleb, I was thinking... Abigail was a runner-up in the fashion show, and we're having a dinner celebration at her grandma's place tonight. We'd be delighted if you could join us."

Abigail's eyes widened in horror. She didn't want Caleb to come to dinner, especially not at her grandma's place. Caleb's eyes met Abigail's, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths. "Okay," he replied, his tone straightforward.

With that, Caleb walked away. Abigail felt a shiver run down her spine as she wondered what the night had in store for her. She glanced at Harper, who was beaming with excitement.

"Hey, are you out of your mind?" Abigail snapped at Harper. "Why did you invite him?"

Harper looked taken aback. "What's the problem? He's our managing director."

Abigail struggled to articulate her concerns. "He's not...I mean, we can't just invite him over. It'll be awkward...He's just not the type of person you invite to dinner."

Harper held up her hands, laughing. "Okay, stop. He said okay, by the way."

Abigail's annoyance grew. "That's because you invited him!"

Abigail's eyes narrowed. "So what?" Harper repeated, ignoring Abigail's frustration and walking ahead.

Abigail quickened her pace, catching up to Harper. "Hey, you!" she hissed, her voice low and irritated.

Grandma's backyard was buzzing with activity as everyone scurried about, preparing for the dinner party. The warm evening sun cast a golden glow over the lush green grass and vibrant flowers, and the sound of soft music filled the air.

Julian had just been discharged from the hospital, but he was noticeably absent from the festivities, choosing instead to rest and recover in his room.

Ethan and Mason were busy setting up the bar area, laughing and joking as they worked. Two employees from the fashion show were arranging flowers and balloons, while a few others were setting up the music system and testing the lights.

Harper flitted between the different groups, making sure everything was running smoothly. She stopped by the outdoor kitchen, where Abigail was busy cooking up a storm. The delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen had everyone's stomach growling in anticipation.

Harper flitted between the different groups, making sure everything was running smoothly. Abigail, on the other hand, was holed up in the outdoor kitchen, her hands moving quickly and efficiently as she cooked up a storm. The delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen had everyone's stomach growling in anticipation.

As Abigail expertly flipped a chicken breast, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of nervousness. Caleb was due to arrive soon, and she still wasn't sure how she felt about him joining their little celebration.

The doorbell rang, and Harper's voice echoed through the yard as she greeted the first guest. Abigail's heart skipped a beat as she wondered who it might be.

As Harper walked towards the backyard, accompanied by two guests, Abigail's eyes widened in surprise. Caleb had arrived, looking handsome and charming in his casual evening attire. But what really caught Abigail off guard was the person standing beside him - Barron.

Abigail's mind was a jumble of worries and concerns. If Barron was here, she would have to act like Caleb's girlfriend, or at least, appear closer to him than she actually was. But that was a problem, because she had never told anyone about their fake relationship, not even Harper.

And Harper was the biggest concern. Abigail knew her friend was perceptive and would likely pick up on any subtle changes in her behavior around Caleb. If Abigail started acting too cozy with him, Harper would definitely catch on.

But then there was Barron to consider. Abigail had no idea what he was like, but she had a feeling he was the type to notice details. If she didn't play it cool, he might sense that something was off.

What was Caleb thinking, anyway? Abigail wondered. He wasn't the type to do something spontaneous like this, especially not when it came to his personal life. And yet, here he was, standing in her grandma's backyard with his friend Barron, looking like he owned the place.

Abigail's eyes narrowed as she watched Caleb chatting with Harper. She was going to have to talk to him, find out what his game plan was. Because right now, she was flying blind, and she didn't like it one bit.

Abigail composed herself as Caleb walked towards her, a small gift in his hand. She raised an eyebrow, a question in her gaze, as he handed her the gift.

But before she could ask what it was, Barron appeared beside Caleb, another gift in his hand. Abigail's eyes widened slightly as she took the second gift, her questioning gaze faltering. She smiled politely, her expression neutral, as she murmured a thank you to both Caleb and Barron. The sudden attention had caught her off guard, but she was determined to play it cool.