Love in a spotlight

Abigail sent a message of apology to Caleb, but he didn't even bother to read it. Feeling frustrated and defeated, she absent-mindedly bumped her head on the table.

Harper rushed to her side, concern etched on her face. "Are you trying to kill yourself?" she asked, laughing.

Abigail's response was listless, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes." She felt like a withered leaf, drained of all energy and vitality.

"Hey!" Harper exclaimed, approaching Abigail. "We should find a way to get an invitation to that international fashion show."

Abigail's eyes sparkled, her energy renewed. Harper's enthusiasm was contagious.

"There's a competition for designing a gown," Harper added, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Let's enter it! If we win, we might get to collaborate with famous designers!"

Abigail's face lit up. "Really!" She was back to her usual self, eager and motivated.

Harper outlined their plan. "Yes, first we'll find an invitation, and then we'll register for the competition. How's that?"

But Abigail's enthusiasm faltered, her expression clouding over. Remembering something, her excitement slowed.

Harper noticed the change and gave Abigail's shoulder a reassuring slap. "What's wrong? This is our chance! We have to showcase our designs. That TV shopping channel was nothing compared to this!"

Abigail spent two days straight designing tops, but her mind kept drifting back to the fashion show. She let out a long, deep breath and whispered, "Oh God, the invitation..."

Here's a polished version:

Julian was busy preparing dinner when he noticed Abigail looked pale. "Hey, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Abigail shook her head. "No, I'm just catching a cold."

Julian's eyes narrowed. "You're not going to bed? Maybe you should rest."

Abigail headed for the door. "I'm fine, I just need some fresh air."

Abigail stood on the rooftop, gazing up at the starry sky, her eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and determination. Her childhood dream of becoming a famous fashion designer had been shattered when tragedy struck. Her father's sudden passing in an accident and her mother's loss to cancer left Abigail and her brother alone.

Despite the hardships, Abigail's spirit remained unbroken. After completing high school, she took on the responsibility of supporting her brother's college education, putting her own dreams on hold. However, her passion for design never faded.

Refusing to give up, Abigail transformed her father's old shop into a boutique, marking the beginning of her journey as a fashion designer. With every stitch and every design, she inched closer to her dream, fueled by the memory of her parents and her determination to succeed.

Abigail wasn't feeling well, so Harper stepped in to represent her at the meeting with Caleb to discuss the next live show. As Harper presented their ideas, Caleb was impressed to see the same enthusiasm and passion that Abigail always brought to the table.

But Harper couldn't help but feel a little distracted. She found herself drawn to Caleb's chiseled features and piercing eyes. His intelligence and charisma only added to his allure. "The term 'gentleman' was defined right in front of her," Harper thought to herself, her heart skipping a beat. "Why is he so irresistibly cute?" She felt a flutter in her chest, her mind momentarily blanking out as she gazed at Caleb.

As soon as Harper walked in, she rushed to Abigail, who was sipping on a warm cup of tea. "How was the meeting?" Abigail asked, looking up at Harper.

But Harper was too distracted to talk about the meeting. "Forget about the meeting!" she exclaimed, launching into a dramatic monologue. "Girl, how could you not warn me that the MD is a total Greek god?!"

Abigail's face scrunched up in distaste. "What?!" she asked, clearly unimpressed by Harper's dramatics.

"He's incredibly handsome and smart at the same time," Harper gushed. "And have you seen his physique? He's tall, and his voice..." Harper's words trailed off as Abigail rolled her eyes dramatically, stood up, and walked into her room, clearly uninterested in hearing more about Caleb's charms.

Harper followed Abigail into her room, a determined look on her face. "Hey!" she called out, sitting down in a chair beside Abigail. "Why don't you ask your model friend Sean about the invitation?" she suggested.

Abigail paused, her expression unreadable, and remained silent. Harper seemed to understand that Abigail needed space and reassurance. "Just get some rest, okay? Call me if you need anything," she said gently. "And don't worry about the design, I've hired Mason, a good friend who's great with stitches. Everything will be fine."

With that, Harper quietly slipped out of the room, leaving Abigail lost in thought, her mind consumed by the weight of her secrets and worries.

Caleb sat in a plush, velvet armchair at the exclusive private club, surrounded by his friends who were engrossed in a high-stakes game of poker. While they laughed, joked, and placed their bets, Caleb simply sat back, sipping his scotch, and enjoyed the atmosphere. His eyes occasionally scanned the room, taking in the luxurious décor and the hum of conversation, but his mind seemed a million miles away, lost in thought.

Barron took a break from the game and sat down beside Caleb. "Auntie called me," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Caleb raised an eyebrow, sensing trouble. "What did she want?"

Barron hesitated for a moment before dropping the bombshell. "Why don't you hear her out and go on a blind date?" he asked, his tone light but cautious.

Caleb shot him a dark, warning glance, but Barron pressed on. "Tomorrow at 6 pm, come to my cafe. I had no choice but to arrange this blind date for you."

Caleb's expression turned thunderous, his eyes flashing with annoyance. Barron knew that look all too well - it was the one that said Caleb was about to punch him.

But Barron stood his ground, his voice taking on a tired tone. "Your mother threatened me, Caleb. If I didn't arrange this blind date, she wouldn't sign the contract for the new hospital building construction."

Caleb's scowl deepened, but Barron continued, "Even if you have a girlfriend, bring her along. Just show up, okay?"