A hallway interruption.

As the meeting drew to a close, Abigail glanced at Caleb while organizing her sample tops. The sound of his stomach rumbling awkwardly filled the air, and their eyes met. Abigail quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks warming with embarrassment.

Caleb stood up, file in hand, and began to walk away. But Abigail's voice stopped him. "Caleb," she called out softly.

He turned, his eyes questioning, and Abigail's careful expression betrayed a hint of kindness. She opened her tiffin box, revealing a neatly wrapped sandwich, hygienically sealed in plastic wrap.

"Please, accept this as an apology," Abigail said, her voice gentle.

Caleb's expression turned skeptical. He knitted his brows, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You used me, and now you're trying to make amends with just a sandwich?"

Abigail's eyes widened, taken aback by Caleb's accusation. "When did I use you?" she asked, her voice measured.

Caleb's eyes flashed with mockery. "Who's the one who held my hand yesterday? You made a public announcement, making Sean give up on you."

Abigail's thoughts whispered, Aren't you the one who announced to Sean that we're in a relationship, even though it's fake? But she kept her thoughts hidden.

Instead, she paused, collecting herself. "That..." She trailed off, then closed her tiffin box. "It's okay if you don't want to eat."

Caleb turned to walk away, but then abruptly turned back and took the tiffin box from Abigail's hands. His expression was plain, but his words carried a hint of amusement. "If you insist, okay."

Abigail stood in shock, her eyes wide with surprise. "When did I insist?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration.

Caleb returned to his office, the tiffin Abigail had given him held carefully in his hand. He placed it on his desk and opened the lid, a moment of anticipation flickering across his features. A thought crossed his mind: he should at least try it. He took a bite, his expression shifting slightly. The taste, he conceded, was surprisingly agreeable. He was about to savor another mouthful when a knock echoed through the room, causing a momentary frown to crease his brow.

"Mom!" he exclaimed, a relieved smile replacing the frown as he rose to his feet.

Amelia's eyes immediately landed on the tiffin box, her brow furrowing slightly. "Why didn't you have a proper meal?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

"I did eat well," Caleb replied, gesturing for her to take a seat.

Amelia's gaze swept across the modestly sized office. "I'll talk to your father about moving you to a larger space," she stated, her tone decisive.

"Mom, I'm perfectly fine here," Caleb assured her, a hint of weariness creeping into his voice.

Amelia shifted her focus, her expression softening slightly. "So, when are you going to introduce your girlfriend?" she inquired, a hopeful lilt in her voice.

Caleb's shoulders slumped slightly, a sigh escaping his lips. "Mom, is that all you think about when you see me?" he asked, a touch of exasperation coloring his tone. He was growing tired of the constant inquiries about his love life.

"What's so wrong with introducing your girlfriend?" Amelia asked, her voice laced with gentle persistence.

Caleb remained silent, his gaze fixed on a point somewhere beyond his mother's shoulder. He'd hoped the constant inquiries about his romantic life had subsided, but it seemed his mother's campaign for him to settle down had reignited with renewed vigor. The familiar questions about girlfriends and marriage, which he thought he had successfully side stepped for a time, now echoed in his mind.

Amelia xpression now a mixture of curiosity and subtle probing. "What about the girl you were with at the mall?" she asked, her voice casual yet laced with underlying interest. The mall incident, where Caleb had seemingly gone out of his way to arrange a public "date" with Abigail, now took on a new significance. It was a calculated move, she realized, designed to spark gossip among his employees, gossip that would inevitably reach her ears.

Just as the tension in the room thickened, a knock sounded at the door. "Yes," Caleb said, his voice casual, hoping for a brief reprieve.

The door opened, and Abigail stepped in, holding a neatly folded coat. "MD, I washed your coat..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes landed on Amelia, an elegant, middle-aged woman standing beside Caleb's desk.

Caleb's eyes flickered momentarily, a subtle shift in his demeanor that Amelia was quick to notice.

"I'm sorry," Abigail stammered, her cheeks flushing. She turned to leave, but Amelia's voice stopped her.

"Miss, do you work here?" Amelia asked, taking a deliberate step forward.

"I'm not an employee," Abigail clarified, her voice regaining a measure of composure. "My clothing designs were featured on the home shopping channel, and MD Caleb was my managing director."

Amelia's face broke into a wide, warm smile. "Oh, that's wonderful! Good work," she exclaimed, her tone now radiating genuine approval.

Abigail's eyes met Caleb's, a silent plea for a swift exit passing between them. She quickly stepped aside, creating an opening, and slipped out of the office.

Amelia turned to Caleb, a soft smile lingering on her lips. "She's sweet," she remarked, her tone gentle.

Caleb maintained a nonchalant expression, his gaze already shifting towards the files on his desk. "I have a meeting, Mom. I'll visit you later," he said, gathering the documents and heading towards the door, effectively ending the conversation.

As Caleb hurried towards his next meeting, his phone buzzed with a new text message. He glanced at the screen, reading Abigail's message: "I'll return your coat when you have a moment. Just let me know when you're free."

After a long day at work, Caleb sought refuge in Bros Club, a familiar haunt where he could unwind with Gabriel. He excused himself from their conversation, claiming he needed to take a phone call, and stepped into a quieter hallway. There, he unexpectedly saw Abigail and Sean engaged in conversation.

He didn't approach them, but observed as Sean walked away, leaving Abigail standing alone in the hallway. Caleb's expression hardened. He marched towards Abigail and, without a word, gripped her wrist, turning her to face him.

"MD!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with shock. Before she could react, Caleb was already pulling her away, his grip firm on her wrist.

Caleb led Abigail into a private lounge, the atmosphere shifting from public observation to secluded confrontation. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice low and intense.

Apbigail forcefully pulled her wrist from his grasp, a flicker of anger in her eyes. "I'm here with Harper," she retorted, her voice firm.