Victor confronts Ashland at Newman. He’s done playing games. It ends now. What ends now? Ashland feigns innocence. The charade is over, Victor’s firm.
Nick tells Sharon all; Dad had Mike go check that clinic in Peru. His instincts were right. Two doctors went on record saying that Ashland paid them to falsify his medical records. He faked his cancer? as a cancer survivor, Sharon can’t wrap her head around it. He used Vikki to get his hands on the company, Nick asks Sharon to keep the secret. She won’t tell anyone – but Vikki should know. There’s no way she’ll be OK with this lie.
To what do I owe this pleasure? Adam tells Vikki that their Father will be back shortly. In the meantime, you can bounce your ideas off me – I work with you. You work FOR me, Vikki corrects. Adam just wants the company to succeed. This is too high-level for you, Vikki’s ready to leave. Adam wants to talk about expanding Newman Media.
Ashland thinks Victor locking the office door a bit dramatic – what charade am I supposedly perpetrating? You don’t have cancer, you never did, Victor accuses. Talk to my doctors, Ashland challenges. The doctors you paid off? Victor knows that Ashland’s goal is to control Newman Locke; the behemoth you created. Victor knows that Vikki pushed the merger because she thought Ashland only had a few months left to live. Who wouldn’t be moved by that? You played the game masterfully but it’s over.
What would our top three ideas even look like? Mariah’s not sold. It’d be art, music and maybe costumes, Tessa thinks a murder mystery too ‘dark’ for a celebration. Mariah wants their wedding to be different. it’ll come to us eventually. We’ll have the best wedding ever.
Believe me – Nick’s just as bothered as Sharon. They then tease Noah about looking like he just rolled out of bed and coming home at dawn. Noah’s sorry – he tried to be quiet. You were, until you knocked over a lamp, Sharon jokes. Noah wasn’t drinking – he was catching up with a girl from high school. Just a friend. Nick reminds that he’s Noah’s boss. Stop worrying about me so much, Noah sighs.
It’s outrageous conjecture, Ashland was publicly humiliated when his cancer diagnosis was leaked to the press. You think I’d walk away from Harrison, my son? He’s not your son, Victor points out. He has evidence that Ashland paid off doctors in Peru to falsify his records. I’ve got people down there unearthing your shenanigans – you’re done. Ashland thinks this feels like a set up by someone with a score to settle. Victor’s not having it – no one uses my family as a pawn! You got that?! Under no circumstances will you let Vikki know she was victim of a cruel hoax. I’ll tell you what you’re gonna do!
Bored with Adam’s expansion talk, Vikki tells him to run his ideas by his brilliant COO (if she’s not busy designing a dress to look the part) She’s working on the budget. Cool it with the condescension, Adam defends Sally. He won’t dignify Vikki’s digs with a response. Ashland’s much more than an advisor, Vikki demands Adam give him the respect he’s earned; WE’RE running the show. What she and Ashland have is very special. That’s one word for it, Adam fails to conceal his smirk.
Mariah wants the wedding to be interactive – guests should have a role. As much as Tessa wants to honour their guests, she wants the wedding to be about ‘us’. We’re ‘beyond lucky’, she concludes with some flowery words that Mariah wants to remember forever. And ‘Beyond Lucky’ is a great title for a song.
Sharon and Nick will work on not worrying about Noah. You two looked intense when I walked in, he observed. Nick was just whining about Newman stuff; nothing for Noah to ‘concern himself with’. When Noah goes to get himself coffee, Nick agrees with Sharon that he has to do something to help Vikki – I’m gonna do it right now (and leaves)
Victor orders Ashland to fake a cancer relapse; necessitating his return to Peru, alone – call Vikki and ask for a divorce. No explanation, no argument; a clean divorce. Revert control of Newman Locke to Vikki – then disappear from her life – FOREVER! Why would I ever walk away from the woman I love? Ashland asks.
Why is Adam looking at Vikki like a smug jerk? That’s just his ‘resting face’. Adam then stalls her exit – we’ll have to communicate given our current positions. Vikki’s given Adam too much of her time – and full autonomy at Newman Media – let’s see if left to your own devices you’ll succeed. Or fail. Adam ignores a call from Sally. Maybe you can share the rest of your brilliant ideas with her, Vikki’s ready to leave. We’re not done here, Adam stands to protest. Yes, we are, Vikki leaves.
Rey comes back to ask what he missed. Noah jokingly grumbles about his parents freaking out because he came home late last night. Mariah and Tessa appear to make an announcement – that an announcement is pending. Sharon, Rey and Noah all want their wedding to be a day they won’t forget.
Nick returns to Adam’s office to say that he’s changed his mind about getting involved. Adam doesn’t have much of an update – he restrained himself while distracting Vikki (so Victor could confront Ashland) He was tempted to throw her husbands lies in her face. The fireworks might have been detonated right now.
You’ve used my daughter as a pawn! Victor bellows. Wrong – Ashland loves Vikki more than anyone in his life. If he were to fly to Peru and file for divorce, what do you think the daughter you raised would do? Sit back and accept it? That’s not going to happen, Ashland’s sure. Vikki’s surprised to find the door to her office locked. Ashland? Are you in there?