Jack comes home to tell Diane that Nikki can’t stand by her ultimatum to leave Victor if he didn’t hand over the AI program but has made her disapproval. Jack knows Diane’s not Nikki’s biggest fan but he truly believes that she can get Victor to back off.
Cane appears at Lily’s table – your assistant told me where to find you (at the club) He’s brought along a single red rose.
Pausing on the front step to flash back to Victor giving him a Roman coin (in return for his complete loyalty) Mike comes inside to get an update from Adam – who fills him in on the Matt/Nick situation and suspects that Mike’s there to talk to Victor about the AI program ‘you don’t want him to have’.
At the house, Diane and Jack butt heads over Nikki. This isn’t ‘petty grievances’, she just thinks Phyllis and Mike are better options. He’s as loyal to Victor as Nikki is, Jack points out.
Mike’s just checking in – he has no ulterior motive and it’s no secret that he wishes the insideous AI program didn’t exist. Adam didn’t want to publish the articles attacking Jabot/Jack but his loyalty is to his father – now, which side are YOU on??
It’s lovely, Lily thanks Cane for the rose – no, she’s not ‘freaked out’, she’s confused by what happened on New Year’s Eve. You’ll say anything to convince me we belong together. The kiss proves we do, Cane believes.
Lily firmly stands by everything she told Cane before New Years (go be with Phyllis etc) She had a moment of weakness is all. It meant nothing to you? Yes – thinking we belong together is a fantasy. No, she can’t have drinks with Cane – she’s going to see Mattie for a few weeks to clear her head (and ‘get away from you’)
Diane thinks Mike’s their best bet. Jack worries that he looks at Victor as the father he never had. They agree that they can’t wait for someone to change their mind on helping them – we need to go on the attack. Jack will take the bull by the horns and go after that sonofabitch.
Mike raises his voice – he cares what Victor thinks, NOT Adam. Showing him the Roman coin Victor gave him, that represents loyalty, he raises his voice – you’re not the only one who had to work for Victor’s trust. Unlike his father, Adam doesn’t have a soft spot for Mike; ‘if you betray him, I will crush you’.
Kyle comes home to update that the press conference went well. Diane likes that he was calm and confident in saying this was a ‘hatchet job’ by Victor. Billy plans to run an anti-Victor story – let’s give him a taste of his own medicine.