Nick pours himself a coffee as he updates Sharon that McCall’s foreign divisions are onboard with merging with Kirsten Inc. Also, Adam’s resorted to blackmail to ensure we merge with Newman Media and Dad won’t fire him. Sharon’s calm but worried there’s more.
Adam finds Sally in a good mood at Society – she’s excited about meeting with Victor to accept his job offer. Now, what did you want to talk to me about last night?
Over a meal at the club, Billy’s not as thrilled as Vikki that the kids are going back to boarding school. Maybe you want to focus on Nate? Or is something wrong? he detects.
At the ranch, Nate will get right to the point – he’s concerned that the Newman family thinks he overstepped by promoting the merger. If that’s the case, he hopes Victor will tell him how to make it right.
Sharon wants Nick to look at the big picture; Adam wants to build the company; merging with Newman Media isn’t a bad idea. He doesn’t ‘want what we want’, Nick disagrees – Adam wants to take back what he considers his and will burn it all down to get it.
Vikki and Billy both apologize. He thinks she deserves better than what she’s had in the past (JT, Ashland, me) I didn’t fake cancer or try to kill you at least, he jokes. Swearing Billy to secrecy, Vikki confides that she’s not sure she can trust Nate – he kept something from me.
Nate owns betraying his family at CW. When he came to Newman, his loyalty shifted to NE/Vikki. He wanted to protect NE/Vikki and Audra (Adam blackmailing her was despicable) Victor appreciates the visit and Nate’s loyalty. Yes, ‘we’re good’ – for the time being.
What Adam wanted to talk to Sally about is now a moot point (working with them after the merger, since she knows Newman Media as well as he does) Alas, Adam thinks his days at Adustus are numbered.
Nick knew working with this wrecking ball would be a mistake. Adam could undermine this whole thing and we’re stuck with him.
Adam objects to ‘everyone’ (now Sally) using the ‘ugly’ word ‘blackmail’ – he went after something he believed in. It’s OK to admit you want to prove yourself to your father, Sally’s supportive. Everything Adam wants he doesn’t get – so why admit it?