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At the ranch, Nikki asks Nick if he’s heard from his father this morning. He shrugs, “No, I haven’t. Why?” Nikki sighs that Michael resigned last night because of Victor seeking revenge on Jack. Nick knows his dad can’t be happy about this. Nikki nods. He sees this as a betrayal.
They go over Michael being a friend as well as a lawyer. He could sometimes get Victor to see reason. Now that that’s gone, they’re concerned. Nikki guesses Victor is preparing a new attack against Jack and Michael didn’t agree with it. Nikki figures this will only fuel the fire against Jack. “Things could get really ugly, really soon.” Nick tells his mother he’ll talk to his dad and try to get a feel for where his head is.
Victor’s Orders
Victor arrives at Newman Media and tells Adam they have important business to discuss. Adam knows Michael resigned. He saw him the Club last night and he looked as unhappy as Victor does. The Mustache says he made an egregious mistake. He wonders how long he’ll be able to live with it.
Adam offers to talk about Michael quitting, but Victor only wants to discuss business. Why has he not hit Billy Abbott hard as he ordered? Adam says they’re still preparing those pieces. It’s old news so he’s having his team make it fresh. “I have this covered.” Victor asks if he’s trying to put one over on him. Adam knows he’s smarter than him. He’s not trying to pull anything… Billy will soon be feeling the heat. Victor wants to believe him, but he’s already expressed his resistance. He reminds his son he’s not reporting to Chelsea. Perhaps he made a mistake making him head of the company. He wants Abbott Communications to be hit hard. “If you can’t do it, I’ll find someone who will.”
More: Will Dumas crash Nikki’s party?
Adam asks if Victor is prepared to lose him and Michael all in one week. Victor respected Michael for looking him in the eye. If Adam does what he’s promised, they will be alright. Chelsea appears in the doorway and Victor urges her to help his son do what needs to be done. Victor leaves and Chelsea notes the tension in the room. “What is Victor forcing you to do this time?”
Adam tells Chelsea he’s stalled as long as he can… Victor wants him to put out a smear campaign against Billy and Abbott Communications. Chelsea wonders if it’s actually been her he’s been stalling. Adam had another plan… to send Billy’s shortcomings directly to Dumas, but Victor wouldn’t go for it. Chelsea says of course he wouldn’t; he wants to humiliate Billy. Adam warns if they don’t do it, they’ll both lose their jobs. Chelsea guesses her first day at Newman Media will be her last.
Adam says it’s just this one thing, but Chelsea argues it will never stop. She wonders if Adam’s actually OK with all of this. Billy and Sally are launching their company next week! Adam knows the timing is calculated. Chelsea can’t stomach it… they cheated on them. She can’t do it and doesn’t think Adam could either. He’s a better man now. “You’ve changed. I’m not wrong to think that, right?” Adam assures her that her loved changed him. He thinks he knows what they can do. He’s committed to the vision they laid out. She asks what they can do about Victor. Adam says they have to divert his attention from Billy by creating a new scandal.
Michael and Victor Run-In
At the Club, Michael grouches to Lauren about the kitchen screwing up his eggs. Lauren snaps that if she wanted to have breakfast with a grumpy man, she’d have breakfast with Victor. She reminds him he promised to put their marriage first. This is the first day of the rest of their lives and he’s acting like he lost his best friend. Michael says it wasn’t an easy choice for him. He’s sorry if he’s moody or distracted… he’s processing. Lauren asks if he’s going to make her feel guilty until he makes peace with this.
Michael apologizes. He didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. Lauren noticed. They go over him wanting to be friends with both Jack and Victor. Lauren’s sure this will make things better with them in time. Michael admits it took a lot out of him to quit Victor. He was angry but also hurt. He can’t help but feel he’s being selfish and letting him down. Lauren fumes, “You have always been there for him!” Lauren reminds Michael why he quit. Michael knows, but if she’d seen the look on his face… Lauren realizes her husband didn’t think it would get this far. He thought Victor would choose his love for him over his hatred of the Abbotts. Michael says a small part of him did, but a larger part knew he wouldn’t. He chose his commitment to her over his commitment to Victor.
