Young & The Restless Update
Recap written by Christine
Sally entered Adamâs office at Newman Media to talk about the video she sent him of Billy at the dive bar. He appreciated the video, and he said she was the best. She was curious what he was going to do with the videos. He hadnât made a decision yet. She admitted she was kind of ambivalent about the whole thing. She said that watching Billy drink and gamble, knowing he was an addict, wasnât taking the high road. Adam made it clear that he didnât take in pleasure in Billyâs relapse. Adam said he didnât want or cause this, despite what Billy claimed. Adam said Billy wasnât on the street â he was a trust fund baby with a lot of opportunities. Adam said Billy threatened him openly, so Adam wanted to be prepared. Sally asked if Adam wanted the videos for protection in case Billy came after him.
Adam said the evidence of Billy drinking and gambling was nothing new, because heâd done this many times in the course of his life. Sally thought that was sad, and Adam agreed. He understood why she was on the fence about exposing Billyâs behavior after seeing it up close. He didnât think a preemptive strike against Billy was warranted. Sally was relieved because she wasnât looking forward to a big war that could mess up the plans they had for Newman Fashion. He told her she had nothing to worry about. He thought 2022 would be a breakout year. She asked if he had plans for New Yearâs Eve. He didnât, and neither did she. She suggested they do “nothing” together as friends and colleagues. He said that was an original idea. âJust like me,â she said. She left with a smile on her face.
Sally and Chloe met at Crimson Lights. Chloe said Chelseaâs triumphant return had the fashion world buzzing because people loved a good redemption story. Newman Fashion was getting a ton of interview requests from the major trade publications, and they all wanted an exclusive. Chloe said it occurred to her and Chelsea that since they were starting a video platform, they shouldnât give away their biggest story. Chloe noticed that Sally wasnât really listening. Chloe asked if Sally was feeling threatened with Chelsea being her boss, because that was all in writing. Sally didnât feel threatened. Chloe guessed Sally was being this way because she didnât have New Yearâs Eve plans. Chloe invited Sally to come spend the evening with her, Kevin, Michael and Lauren. Chloe said Sally could make nice with Lauren after the wedding dress fiasco. Sally said she did have plans for that night. Chloe tried to politely figure out Sallyâs plans, and when that didnât work, she demanded to know who Sally was spending New Yearâs Eve with. Sally said that it she had a boring evening to look forward to.
At the condo, Billy and Victoria debated the price of her silence. She knew that Billy was setting a trap for Adam. Billy thought that Adamâs downfall should be enough for Victoria. Victoria wasnât sure Adam would actually believe Billy was spiraling out of control, but Billy was confident in his plan. He thought Adam would publish a story about his drinking and gambling, and then Billy would threaten to sue. Lily didnât think Victoria would be here making demands if she didnât think Billy could pull this off. âI wonât tip off Adam or my father if, and only if, you go through with this lawsuit,â Victoria said. She wanted Billy to demand a crushing amount of money. Billy said it wasnât about the money, and there was no guarantee Newman Media would have to pay out a dime. Victoria said the hit to Newman Mediaâs reputation would be devastating, and that would be enough. All Billy wanted was for Adam to admit he set Billy up. Victoria said that would mean a public acknowledgment that the story Billy published about Ashlandâs criminal activities was true. Billy pointed out that it was true. Victoria didnât want her husband taking a hit for something he did in the distant past. He assumed she wanted to use his lawsuit to scoop up Newman Media, the company her father snaked out from under her. She said she was simply giving him the terms of her silence.
Billy thought there was a way for both of them to benefit. He said, if or when Victoria got Newman Media back, she should let him run it. She scoffed and said he failed at ChancComm, so why would she give him a chance at Newman Media? He said he didnât fail, and he rehashed all the details about falling into the trap set for him and the hacking incident that released the article etc. He wanted to salvage his reputation. âDonât take that away from me. You owe me this much,â he stated. Victoria admitted that Billy made a compelling case, but she wasnât expecting him to make a counter proposal. They debated the proposal. He felt like she wanted to get ChancComm and Newman Media and leave him out in the cold. She noted that she never turned down his offer, but he countered that she didnât say yes either. She said a good leader should show good judgment, and heâd given her plenty of reason to doubt him. He thought this was a classic Victor move. He wondered if Victoria was trying to get Newman Media because Ashland wished heâd sold Cyaxares to her. Victoria said not to worry about her motivation â one word from her, and Billyâs plan was finished. Billy asked if Victoria was enjoying his downfall and watching Victor and Adam gloat. She said her personal feelings were beside the point. He thought that was convenient. He stated that this was his life and his reputation, and he asked if she wanted their kids to find out about this, because they would at some point. He said that itâd be good business for him to run Newman Media, and he could continue the good work he did at ChancComm for both of Victoriaâs companies. Lily thought Billy was losing sight of what this plan was supposed to be about. Billy turned back to Victoria and said that, after everything Victor and Adam did to him, he deserved this. Victoria said sheâd take it under consideration, and she left.
Victoria went to her office and told Ashland that Billy had been faking the whole time. Ashland wasnât surprised, because this was exactly the kind of stunt Billy would try to pull, though there was a certain warped elegance to the whole thing. Victoria said she was thinking of staying quiet, letting it all play out and letting Adam and Newman Media fall into the trap. Ashland noted that this could be damaging, since the article about him was true. Victoria thought she may have found a way around it. She told him about her plan to use Billyâs lawsuit to soften up Newman Media for a takeover by Newman/Locke. He asked if it was wise to go up against her father. Victoria said it wouldnât be the first time. She thought that once the shock wore off, Victor would admire her for it. Ashland asked why Billy would want to hand Newman Media over to them. She said Billy wanted her to put him in charge. Ashland hoped Victoria wasnât considering that. Ashland said that Billy had tried to hurt them, and he hated Ashland. Victoria said no one knew Billy better than her, and she promised he wouldnât be a problem. âSo keep your enemies close and take everything,â Ashland stated, and Victoria said exactly. Ashland loved the way Victoriaâs mind worked. Ashland had good news too.
Victoria and Ashland went to the main house to make an announcement to her parents. The experimental treatment seemed to have stopped the cancer in its tracks. Nikki and Victor were happy to hear that. Ashland said it was only one test, but Victoria stated that things were trending in the right direction. Victor said that meant Ashland had to stop kicking back at Newman/Locke. Ashland said they could put the power into power couple, and he kissed Victoria on the top of her head. Victoria said it would be an answer to her prayers. Adam showed up to talk about Newman Media, but Victor said they were celebrating. He and Nikki went to get champagne. Victoria told Adam the news, and he said he was delighted for Ashland and Victoria. Victoria shifted gears and said it was disconcerting to see Billy day drinking. She was glad the kids would be off to boarding school so they wouldnât have to watch their father implode. Adam said it was all too predictable. Victoria said she hoped Adam didnât plan to exploit this, though she figured Adam thought Billy had it coming after the article he published on Adam. Adam said that Billy wasnât doing anything they hadnât seen before, so there wasnât much to exploit.
Lily was put out because Billy added a whole new dimension to his plan without even discussing it with her. Billy said that Victoria knew he was lying and she held the cards. He was trying to make it work for everyone. Lily disagreed and said Billy was at Victoriaâs mercy. She asked if he really thought Victoria would let him run Newman Media after he tried to stop her wedding and after what he tried to do to her husband. âDo you really think that you can trust her with anything?,â Lily asked. Billy said that he was just trying to salvage things now that Victoria knew the truth. He thought his new plan could be a win-win. Lily thought Billy was being hopelessly naive. She couldnât believe how easily he was giving into Victoriaâs plan. He said he was trying to be realistic after losing his leverage. He thought it would be satisfying to run a company with Newman in the name, and itâd drive Victor and Adam crazy. Lily disapprovingly asked if the goal was about revenge now. Billy said no â he was trying to roll with the punches. She pointed out that heâd be working with his ex and her husband, who had a grudge against him. Billy said theyâd all been able to raise the children together, so he thought they could do this too.
Billy said Victoria was talking tough earlier, but he thought she respected his business acumen. âOh my God, Billy. Sheâs using you. Sheâs using you and youâre letting her do it,â Lily exclaimed. Lily said it didnât even matter because Billyâs cover was blown with someone who couldnât be trusted. âYou are all pawns to [Victoria]. Her father, her brother, her husband. You. Youâre all pawns in her game to out-Victor Victor,â Lily contended. Lily said in order for this plan to work, Billy now had to trick Adam into doing something that would allow him to be sued, and Adam was no fool. Lily thought it was clear that Adam had no interest in Billyâs return-to-the-gutter act. Billy asked if he and Lily could table this for now and enjoy New Yearâs Eve. Victoria called from the ranch and told Billy that Adam wasnât taking the bait. âYouâre gonna have to up your game,â Victoria said.
Rey was waiting for takeout at Society when Chelsea returned for the gloves she left behind. She thanked him for the gift he sent Connor, a Chicago Blackhawks jersey. She said Connor thought Rey walked on water. As leery as she was about Connor living at the ranch where Victor had so much access, it comforted her that Rey lived close by. Rey saw Noah and Connor playing hockey on the pond the other day, and Rey was impressed with Connorâs skills. He asked Chelsea how she was. She was happy because her son was. Rey noted that he asked about Chelsea, and he assured her she could be honest with him. She felt that he was one of the few people she could tell the unvarnished truth to, which was saying a lot given their history. He saw her climb out of that dark place and get her life back together. She said she didnât feel settled back into her life. She was living in the penthouse with all those memories, and she was working at Adamâs company. The situation was loaded with landmines, but it was worth it for Connor. Rey assumed Connor wanted his parents together. Chelsea said they made it clear it wasn’tâ happening. Rey hoped that was true. He wanted her to be able to see how much better she was without Adam.
Chelsea said Adam was a good dad, and that was all she could ask for. He wasnât always the best role model in the past, but he was making changes. Rey said Adam wanted people to think he was changing. Chelsea was sure Adam loved his son. Chelsea said Rey wasnât like Adam â he wasnât constantly a good role model. Rey thought he wouldâve been a good dad, but he didnât think that was in the cards for him and Sharon. He did love being a stepdad though. Chelsea said Faith had the best dad in the world, but she was lucky to have Rey in her life too. Rey got his order, and he wished Chelsea a happy new year.
At Crimson Lights, Mariah and Tessa asked when they could move into the apartment upstairs. Sharon had a process she conducted between tenants, like painting and shampooing the rugs, and she wanted to do it this time to, so things would be perfect for Tessa and Mariah. Tessa and Mariah were excited about moving in. Mariah revealed that she and Tessa were were going to start the adoption process soon. Mariah said that Tessa would be touring a lot, and Mariah shouldnât get pregnant for at least a year, so adoption made the most logical sense. A subdued Sharon said she was happy to hear that. Mariah said she and Tessa made this decision together, and they didnât make it lightly. Tessa never thought this would be possible for her until Mariah. Tessa said this was an expression of their love and commitment to each other. Mariah said they wouldnât go through with this until they were genuinely sure.
Sharon said she was happy about this, but she warned that the adoption process was long and difficult. They were aware, and that was why they were starting the process now. Mariah added that they would likely face more challenges as a same sex couple, but they were up for the obstacles. Noah showed up and said he had the final artwork for Tessaâs album cover. Tessa said they were in the middle of something, but Mariah said it was fine, so Tessa and Noah headed to the patio. Mariah wanted to know how Sharon really felt, because she seemed worried. Sharon truly was behind Mariahâs decision. She thought that it was such a beautiful, hopeful thing to want to raise a child, but the adoption process was daunting. Sometimes things didnât work out, which concerned Sharon, because Mariah had already experienced so much heartache. Mariah knew Sharon just wanted to protect her. Sharon said it was part of being a parent. Mariah knew things were complicated, but that was life. Mariah was always been ready to take on the obstacles, and she was lucky to have a supportive partner who was just as scrappy as her. Sharon said Mariah and Tessa would need to lean on each other through all the waiting and disappointments until they got to the other side.
Out on the patio, Tessa saw the album cover. It was a black and white photo of her face superimposed on a cityscape. The album name was City Diaries. Tessa noted that Noah had achieved everything heâd envisioned when they talked about the cover. âLook what I had to work with,â a complimentary Noah replied. He thought she was passionate, fearless and she was willing to be vulnerable. It was one of the many reasons he adored her. Tessa was caught off guard, and Noah quickly stated that he adored her as a fan and friend. Mariah came out to see the album cover. Mariah thought it was truly incredible, but she said he had an ideal subject. He agreed. Mariah asked what Tessa thought. Tessa said she was blown away. Mariah thought Noah would appreciate Tessaâs unfiltered feedback. Noah said he didnât want to put Tessa on the spot. He told her to spend a couple of days thinking about it, and he said there was still time to change things. Noah went inside. Mariah could tell something was bothering Tessa. Tessa loved the album artwork, but she felt kind of weird walking away from that conversation with Sharon. âDo you think that sheâs not as excited about our decision to adopt a baby?,â Tessa asked. Mariah brought Tessa up to speed on Sharonâs position. Tessa said theyâd overcome so much, and they could do this â they could make a family.
Sharon asked Noah how Tessa and Mariah liked the cover. Noah had a meeting, so he didnât have time to discuss it. He left as Rey came in. Sharon told Rey there was a lot going on with the kids today. He asked if she wanted to talk about it or if she wanted a distraction. She chose option two, so he said heâd have an employee take over at the coffeehouse and take her home.
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