Avoiding complications.

Caleb remained silent, his attention focused on taking a spoonful of pasta. Abigail's eyes widened in frustration, and she exclaimed, "You have to tell me!"

Caleb's eyes snapped up, his gaze meeting Abigail's. "Why?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Abigail's expression turned thoughtful, her voice measured. "Because I'm your fake girlfriend."

Caleb's lips curled into a sly smile. "So, you're a fake," he said, his voice low and teasing. "Fake doesn't need to know."

Abigail hissed, "Boring!" and rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Caleb's expression turned stern, his finger pointing at her. "You dare to roll your eyes at me?" he said, his voice firm. "I really don't like it when people roll their eyes at me. So, don't do it again."

Abigail's eyes widened in shock at Caleb's sudden display of dominance. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he turned to settle the bill.

As they reached her car, Abigail said, "If you're not busy, why don't you drop me?" But seeing Caleb's expression, she quickly added, "It's okay, I can manage on my own."

With a forced smile, she opened the car door to retrieve her bag, but Caleb swiftly closed it before she could grab it.

"Just get in," Caleb said, his voice firm and commanding.

Abigail slipped into the car, the door closing behind her with a soft thud. The silence that followed was palpable, a pin-drop quiet that filled the air. Abigail glanced over at Caleb, who was focused on the road, his eyes fixed intently on the horizon.

"Thanks to you, my brother also got justice, and you saved my friend's life," Abigail said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Caleb nodded his head, a small, almost imperceptible movement. Abigail waited for him to respond, but he remained silent, his attention still fixed on the road.

The silence stretched out between them, a comfortable, yet slightly awkward silence. Finally, Caleb spoke up, his voice low and smooth.

"For five months, you're my girlfriend. So, I'll protect you. Just be good."

Abigail turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Caleb turned to her, his expression serious, his eyes locked on hers. "But don't fall for me," he added, his voice low and warning.

Abigail smiled, her lips curling up in a playful, flirtatious smile. "Okay, for five months, I'll be your girlfriend." She added, her voice playful, teasing, "And don't fall for my charm. I'll be extremely charming, and you'll miss me when it's over."

Caleb raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "As if," he said, his voice dripping with amusement, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Caleb dropped Abigail off at her apartment, and she thanked him profusely for the ride. As she stepped out of the car, she couldn't help but think that he wasn't so bad after all.

The next day, Abigail settled into her routine, designing clothes and working on new tops with her friends Dimple and Gini. Her grandmother's house had been transformed into their office and workshop, with sewing machines and fabrics scattered everywhere.

The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air as they worked together, creating beautiful garments that showcased Abigail's talent and creativity. The house was alive with the hum of activity, and Abigail felt grateful to have such a supportive and loving environment in which to pursue her passion.

After a productive day of designing and working on new clothes, Abigail returned home and freshened up. As she was relaxing, her phone buzzed with a message from Mason, inviting her to meet him at Jins Bar.

Abigail messaged back, explaining that she had an appointment and couldn't make it. But Mason's next message caught her attention: "Sean is talking to the Soquing Fashion Group about a collaboration with you. This is your chance."

Abigail hesitated, unsure if she wanted to get involved. She replied, telling Mason that he didn't have to go out of his way to help her. But Mason was persistent, sending her a photo of Sean chatting with the CEO of Soquing Boutique.

Abigail sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude. She tried to ignore Mason's messages, but her phone rang again, this time with a call from Sean's number, which she hadn't saved.

"Hello?" Abigail answered, trying to sound polite but distant.

"Hey, Abigail. I heard you're not interested in the collaboration," Sean said, his voice friendly but firm. "I think you're making a mistake. This could be a huge opportunity for you."

Abigail tried to explain that she didn't need his help, but Sean wouldn't let up. He kept talking, making it difficult for her to get a word in edgewise. Abigail felt her frustration growing, unsure of how to handle Sean's persistence.

Abigail slipped into a simple yet elegant dress, getting ready for her date with Caleb. She had promised to meet him, and she didn't want to be late.

As she headed out, she hailed a cab and settled in for the ride. But just as the cab started moving, her phone rang again. It was Sean, calling to ask if he could meet with her.

Abigail sighed inwardly, feeling frustrated by Sean's persistence. "I have an appointment," she told him, trying to brush him off.

But Sean was insistent. "It'll only take a minute," he said, his voice persuasive.

Abigail hesitated, unsure of what to do. Finally, she agreed to meet with him, feeling a sense of resignation wash over her.

As she sat in the cab, Abigail pulled out her phone to text Caleb and let him know that she would be late. But as she started typing, she hesitated, unsure of how to phrase the message. She deleted the words and sat there, staring at the blank screen.

Abigail texted Sean that she would be getting out of the cab at Big Bazar Junction. A few minutes later, she hailed down the cab and stepped out onto the sidewalk, slightly hiding her face as she approached Sean's car.

She knew that Sean's presence often drew attention, and she didn't want to be recognized by the paparazzi or anyone else who might be lurking nearby.

Abigail slipped into Sean's car, trying to be as discreet as possible. "What is it?" she asked, her voice low and even.

Sean smiled and asked, "Where are you headed? I can drop you off. We can talk on the way."

Abigail hesitated, unsure of how to respond. If Sean dropped her off, there was a chance he might run into Caleb, and that would only complicate things.

"It's fine," Abigail said finally. "We can talk here." She glanced around the car, making sure they were alone, and waited for Sean to explain why he had wanted to meet with her.