Loss/grief is new to Claire, Vikki worries that she’s masking her pain with work. Nikki thinks having something big to focus on might help Claire through her grief. What exactly are you suggesting? Vikki wonders.
Kyle was ashamed, he didn’t want to disappoint/upset Claire and thought she was better off not knowing – you’d just lost your father. Audra’s been more honest with me than you have! Claire believes Kyle would have continued to lie if she hadn’t forced his hand.
After a bit of back and forth, Jack’s comparison of how the Abbotts vs Newmans love their family, triggers Victor (who stands to bellow about Jack almost killing his wife in that hotel room!!) I’ll never forget that – got it!? Storming out (past Diane) Victor sends Cane a text – are you with me going against Jabot?
Planning to promote Claire to a junior position in a ‘certain division’, Nikki will share the details with her later. She and Vikki hope she’s enjoying her morning off (probably with Kyle)
Kyle couldn’t find a way to tell Claire (who no longer trusts him) Tell me what to do, he implores. This is all new to Claire – she doesn’t know how to handle this. I love you, Kyle chokes up – everything he did was to eliminate whatever threat Audra posed to them. Claire leaves in tears – I can’t make you feel better right now.
That bastard has no shame, Jack mutters as he and Diane take a table. Discussing the confrontation with Victor, they agree he shouldn’t be able to get away with it. Maybe it’s time to give him a dose of his own medicine, Jack suggests.
Hey, we were just talking about you – your grandmother has exciting news, Vikki chirps when Claire arrives at CL’s. Hearing about the kiss in Nice, Nikki’s shocked but believes Kyle loves her. Relationships are messy, she speaks from experience – give yourself some time. Now alone with her Mom, Claire asks if she should forgive Kyle. Vikki thinks she needs to ask herself if she cares about Kyle enough to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Diane agrees that Victor deserves payback but doesn’t want Jack to go to war with him when they have Cane to worry about. Plus, Kyle chose to take that contract to Victor – if he’d failed and had to face the consequences, he would only have himself to blame. He didn’t succumb – he beat Victor. On cue, Kyle arrives with bad news.
Coming home from her ‘retail therapy’, Nikki’s pleased that Victor will no longer oppose Claire’s relationship with Kyle. But, be honest – was this really just a test? Or did you suspect from the beginning that he’d break Claire’s heart?
Going back and forth, Claire needs time to make her decision. She thought she could rely on Kyle. Vikki takes her hand across the table.
There’s no reason to assume that Kyle’s a ‘cad’; he was married to Summer, Nikki reminds – he’s a nice young man, not the enemy. Victor changed his mind because Kyle withstood the temptation of Audra and stood up to him. Nikki believes that Victor’s dislike of Kyle has more to do with his father.
Claire’s upset that I was dishonest; Kyle feels like Audra’s words have gotten to her – she was never a threat to our relationship. You did kiss her and conceal that, Diane points out. You’ve been the one constant in Claire’s life, Jack also thinks she needs time to process things. Kyle vows to prove his love – I’m going to ask Claire to marry me.
Despite Nikki wishing it weren’t the case, Victor’s war with that sonofabitch (Jack) will never end.