On Crimson Lights’ patio, Jack reads out a prepared statement explaining to customers that they’re merely restructuring. He hopes it will buy them enough time to head off Victor’s next attack.

Jack calls someone to release the statement. He disconnects as Adam and Chelsea come in. Jack erupts over what they did to him and his business. “How could you?!” he rails. How could they do this knowing why they did what they did… not to mention who was responsible. “I thought we were friends, Adam.”

Adam protests that it was news. Chelsea questions if there was any part of the story they didn’t get right. Jack hollers that Victor is attacking their company… they know that’s why they had to do what they did! Adam sighs. This isn’t personal. Jack reminds him he vowed not to be used as Victor’s battering ram against him. “This is a stab in the back from a friend, Adam! And I will never forgive you for this.”

Adam looks green around the gills as Jack rants about the effects of this on his employees and challenges him to write a retraction or an apology. He knows they won’t do this because they’re afraid of Victor. Chelsea argues that it’s his company; they work for him. Adam offers to tell his side of the story. Jack tells him to go to hell and warns he will burn Jabot to the ground himself before he ever gives Victor the satisfaction of destroying his father’s company!

Adam and Chelsea move inside the coffee shop and go over their confrontation with Jack. Adam regrets getting pulled into this, but what choice did they have? They merely reported news. Chelsea argues that it’s also news that Victor was using an illegal software program to go after his enemies. That was the real story. They’re feeling guilty because Jack was right.

Adam and Chelsea go over the situation ad nauseum as Adam tries to spin it. They had no choice. He knows she hates this; he hates it too. But he can’t always say no to Victor. Chelsea, with a tear, questions at what point they’ve gone too far. She’s getting to that point. “Aren’t you?!”

Chelsea admits she may be thinking of leaving. They don’t run anything! “I don’t want Victor to own our souls.” Adam shouldn’t want to go down this road with him either; he’s come so far. “You’ve got a conscience now. We both do… and it’s a good thing.”

Billy Corners Phyllis

At the Club, Phyllis leaves Victor an angry voicemail about coming through on his end of the deal. Billy appears and guesses he’s stiffing her. Phyllis tries to blow him off, but he probes to find out what Victor offered her. Did she think she’d steal the AI and he wouldn’t screw her over?!

Phyllis stalks off, but Billy follows. He knows how it feels to be treated like a disposable rag by Victor. He’s there to offer her a deal she can trust and count on. “Generational wealth,” that’s the kind of deal he’s talking about.

Phyllis and Billy sit so she can hear him out. He’s already figured out Victor is reneging on their deal. He knows she stole the AI program from Cane and is hoping she can steal it back from Victor. “Name your price. Pick the highest number you want. It’s the deal of a lifetime, Phyllis. Don’t screw it up.”

Phyllis admits it would feel good to stick it to Victor, but questions what the Abbotts would do with it. Billy claims they’d destroy it. She wants to think it over. He warns if Jabot fails, she gets nothing. Daniel appears as Billy walks out. He asks his mother, “Do I even want to know what that was about?”

Daniel sits and points out his mother is acting squirrely. He’s sure she’s up to her neck in whatever is going on. Phyllis claims, “This hurts my heart.” Daniel can’t ignore his gut or her actions. He feels she hasn’t dealt with what happened to her and Sharon and wishes she’d back out of whatever she’s doing. Phyllis, bristling, insists she has no secrets.

Changing the subject, Phyllis asks when Mariah will be returning to her wife and child. She saw him kissing Tessa. Daniel agrees that he wasn’t thinking. Phyllis warns he’ll get his heart broken. Daniel claims the kiss was meaningless, but his mother’s not buying it. He switches gears back to Phyllis being in trouble. He fears she stole the software from Cane and gave it to Victor for some sort of promise.

Diane’s Debate

At the Abbott mansion, Kyle leaves Summer a voicemail thanking her for Harrison’s Christmas gifts and letting her know Victor is going after Jabot. He thinks it will make a difference to have her involved and asks that she call him back. Diane appears and they discuss the dire straits they’re in.

They agree it’s not a good idea for Kyle to ask Claire to intervene with Victor. Diane stresses about Phyllis being one of their only strategies. At the end of the day, the woman looks out for herself. Diane’s not happy about betting their future on her. Kyle argues that she always sides with her kids.

Diane’s sure Victor would top anything they offer her. Phyllis also had to know Victor would go after Jabot when she handed him the AI… where was her concern for Summer then?! They debate whether a blank check will sway the redhead. Diane thinks she has another way to stop Victor.

Billy arrives and reports that Phyllis is considering their pitch. Kyle’s sure that Victor will anticipate this. Jack comes in just as Diane shares that she has another way to stop the Mustache. Jack would love to hear it.

The Final Scenes

Still at Crimson Lights, Chelsea and Adam debate a video game that Connor’s obsessed with that isn’t teaching him anything good. You win by oppressing people and amassing money. They’re living in that world, she complains. Exploiting Jabot as they did feels so dirty. They need to be good human beings that Connor can be proud of. It’s more important than doing Victor’s bidding. Doesn’t Adam feel that way as well?

At the Club, Daniel accuses Phyllis of bobbing and weaving to dodge his questions. He and Summer have concluded she stole the AI software and handed it to Victor. She needs to find a way to get out of this. Phyllis insists everything’s working out in her favor. “Trust me, I’m going to win.” Daniel shakes his head. Phyllis vows this will bring their family together once and for all.

At the Abbott mansion, Diane explains that Victor stealing the AI software and using it against Cane was illegal. He’d get prison time. They can put him away. Billy points out they don’t have proof, but Diane triumphantly declares that she knows where she can find it.