Kirsten nervously prepares a magnificent birthday party for her widowed father, Caleb Nichol (recurring guest star ALAN DALE), an extremely successful & driven businessman for whom Kirsten works. She is devastated when, rather than being proud of her hard work while he was out of the country, Caleb berates & demotes her for making deals without his approval. The situation worsens when Sandy, whom Caleb has never liked, reveals that Kirsten wants to quit & begin a simpler life away from Newport Beach with Sandy, Seth & Ryan. Caleb's gorgeous 25-year-old girlfriend, Gabrielle (NICHOLE HILTZ), trapped by her businesslike relationship with the much older Caleb, flirts with a conflicted Ryan at his job.