At the clubs’ bar, Sally babbles on excitedly about their trip to Nice – from socks to intrigue – to the mile-high club. What Billy’s most looking forward to seems to be finding out who Aristotle Dumas really is.
Running into Chelsea at Society, Nikki asks if they’re about to be family again. Adam and I are happy; marriage hasn’t been discussed. Nikki then pries the truth out of Chelsea – the problem is Victor.
Adam barks into his phone – we’re sitting on the Billy Abbott story – don’t run anything without my approval ~click~ He’s flashing back to telling Victor that he’ll handle Chelsea (and her extracting a promise that he won’t use NM to go after Billy) when Victor drops by Adam’s office, he approves of the articles praising Nikki but there’s been nothing critical published about Billy.
Billy thinks bringing Dumas onboard will launch Abbott Communications into the stratosphere. He believes the Abbotts and Winters have been invited to witness an ambush on Victor.
Chelsea respects Victor but he’s insisting NM publish a certain agenda. He’s forcing Adam to attack Billy. Nikki’s surprised he has a problem with that. Chelsea does – how do I get Victor to back off? This isn’t about handling Victor, it’s about your handling of Adam, Nikki replies.
Adam’s job isn’t playing his father’s attack dog. Your job is what I say it is, Victor orders him to ‘crush that SOB’. Now let’s talk about protecting Chancellor from Dumas, he adds.
Yes, Chelsea’s made her feelings known; Adam’s agreed not to fling mud at Billy and is trying to show Victor that going after Dumas would be a better use of the platform. How do I get Victor to leave Billy alone? Why do you feel the need to protect Billy? Nikki wonders. Chelsea wants to protect Adam too.
Back at the bar, Billy explains why they’ve all been summoned (against Victor) Dumas wants Chancellor and is assembling an army. He ghosted you, Chelsea points out. Maybe it’s to give me plausible deniability, Billy suggests. This trip isn’t safe, Sally thinks they should skip it and let everyone fend for themselves.
When Victor informs that he, Nikki and Nick are heading to France to see Dumas, Adam sounds salty when hearing that Sharon’s going – seems like she and Nick are a couple again. Would that bother you? No, Adam would be happy for her. Is NM to run an expose or does Dumas plan to keep everyone from talking, somehow?
Chelsea doesn’t want Adam and Billy (or Connor and Johnny) to become the next Victor and Jack. Adam was terrified of losing his dad (when he was shot) his instinct is to comply – his need for his father’s love runs deep. She must find a way to dissuade Victor. Nikki admires her determination – welcome to the world of trying to save Newman men from themselves.