The accidental rescue.

Abigail returned to the boutique, still reeling from her encounter with Olivia. She found Harper busy arranging a display of new arrivals and poured out her frustrations, recounting every detail of the meeting.

Harper listened attentively, her brow furrowed in concern. "I don't get it, Abigail. Why would they cancel your show?" she asked, shaking her head.

Abigail sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. "I don't know, Harper. And to make matters worse, Caleb's not answering my calls." Harper offered words of encouragement, reminding Abigail of her talent and hard work.

As the evening drew to a close, Abigail decided to clear her head by running some errands. She headed out to buy fabric for her next collection, her arms laden with two large plastic bags.

As she walked, a young boy accidentally tripped and spilled his ice cream all over Abigail's jeans. Abigail lost her balance and fell, twisting her ankle in the process. The boy's mother rushed to apologize, but Abigail brushed it off, not wanting to make a big deal.

Abigail hobbled over to a nearby bench, wincing in pain as she sat down. She pulled out a napkin and began to clean the ice cream stain, her phone ringing just as she finished.

Caleb's voice was on the other end, asking her to meet him. Abigail told him she was sitting in a park, and before she could ask about the show, Caleb hung up.

Abigail shook her head, annoyed, but before she could even process her emotions, Caleb appeared in front of her. Taking in her disheveled state, he asked, "What happened?" Abigail pouted, not wanting to relive the ordeal. "Nothing."

Caleb's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he said, "Come and have dinner with me. I need to clear some things with you."

Abigail slowly stood up, her eyes meeting Caleb's as he scanned her from head to toe, his gaze lingering on the ice cream stain on her jeans. He swiftly removed his coat and wrapped it around her waist, his movements gentle yet firm.

"I'm fine," Abigail said, her voice laced with a hint of protest. Caleb didn't respond, his attention focused on securing the coat around her waist to prevent it from falling off. Abigail added a soft "thanks" as she picked up her plastic bags.

But as she took a step forward, she winced in pain, her voice escaping in a soft "ah!" Caleb quickly grasped her wrists, his eyes locked on hers. "What happened to you?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Abigail sat back down on the bench, wincing in discomfort. "My ankle hurts," she admitted. Caleb promptly took the plastic bags from her hands, his expression thoughtful.

As Abigail attempted to remove her shoe, Caleb swiftly grabbed her ankle, his touch sending a jolt of surprise through her. "What?" she exclaimed, trying to pull her foot away.

But Caleb held firm, his eyes locked on hers. "Don't move!" he commanded, his voice firm but gentle. He began to massage her ankle, his fingers applying gentle pressure. Abigail hissed in pain, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Are you trying to kill me?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with humor. Caleb's expression remained serious, his focus solely on her ankle. "I said don't move," he repeated, his voice calm and soothing.

As he continued to massage her ankle, the pain began to subside, replaced by a warm, tingling sensation. Abigail's eyes met Caleb's, her gaze searching for answers.

Finally, Caleb stood up, his expression satisfied. "Try and walk," he instructed, his eyes never leaving hers. Abigail shot him a suspicious look, but took a tentative step forward. To her surprise, the pain was manageable.

Caleb let out a soft sigh, his shoulders relaxing in relief. He picked up the plastic bags and offered Abigail his arm. "Come on. My car is over there."

Caleb gazed at Abigail, who was devouring her food with gusto. "Did you starve the whole day?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Abigail didn't respond, instead gulping down a glass of water as if she was parched. She then set the glass down and asked, her eyes narrowing slightly, "Why did they suddenly cancel my design feature for the show?"

Caleb's expression turned serious. "There were some new company rules that came into effect. Don't be disheartened by it." Abigail's voice was measured as she replied, "I'm not disheartened, just a bit taken aback. I was already in the meeting, and then I got an email at the last minute."

Caleb's eyes softened, and he apologized, "I'm sorry about that. I was in another important meeting and couldn't reach you." Abigail nodded, accepting his apology with a simple "Okay."

Caleb continued, his voice filled with a mix of explanation and encouragement. "Your show was only scheduled for one month, so it couldn't be featured in the annual showcase. But make sure to keep up the good work. You have a long way to go."

Abigail nodded, her voice brief. "I know."

Caleb's expression turned serious, his voice filled with a hint of promise. "We'll be signing another contract for a three-month show with Shine Apparel at the end of this month."

Abigail's face lit up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Really? Thank you!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with gratitude.

Caleb's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Are you that excited?" he asked, his tone teasing.

Abigail nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! And to celebrate, I'll treat you to dinner," she said, her smile radiant.

Caleb's face broke into a wide, charming smile, making Abigail's eyes sparkle with amusement. "It's the first time I've seen you smile so widely," she teased, her voice playful.

Caleb's smile faltered, and he looked at Abigail with a mock-serious expression. Abigail couldn't help but smile back at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

"MD, thank you so much," she said, her voice sincere.

Caleb's expression turned mischievous. "We'll go on a date tomorrow," he said, his voice low and inviting.

Abigail's eyebrows rose. "Where?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Mall," Caleb replied, his face expectant.

Abigail's face fell, and she frowned. "That's not a date," she said.

Caleb's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Did you expect me to bring you on a movie date or something like a trip?" he teased.

Abigail's eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance. "I didn't mean that. What I said is, you know who in the world goes on a date, particularly in a mall?" Her tone implied that a mall date was not exactly the most romantic or exciting idea.

Caleb's expression turned mysterious. "I have my reasons," he said, his voice low and intriguing.

Abigail's curiosity was piqued. "What is it?" she asked, her eyes locked on his, demanding an explanation.