Michael and Lauren chat with Esther in Crimson Lights about hosting Christmas. Esther remarks that it was a shame Gloria passed out so quickly. Michael confesses he double-spiked her drink.

Lauren and Michael grab a table and discuss his plans to help Diane. The AI simply existing is bad enough, but Victor having it makes it

even worse. When he informed Victor that Jabot was shutting down, Michael had hoped that would be enough to put the Mustache off the attack, but it only made matters worse.

 

 

Lauren is surprised when Michael asks what she thinks he should do. She points out that double-crossing Victor would make him more angry and dangerous than they have ever seen. Part of her wants her husband to run away from this, but she doubts there is anyone else who could put a stop to Victor’s plans.

Esther interrupts to take another jab at Gloria, and Michael jokes about his brother’s crazy family. Returning to whether he should cross Victor, Michael teases Lauren that if he gets caught, they’ll have to run away to a tropical island. Lauren is on board if it means saving their friends. Admitting this terrifies her, she urges him to find a way to pull this off that Victor will never figure out.

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Audra Eavesdrops
Claire bumps into Kyle at Society and shares her Newman family Christmas photos with him. They discuss the tension between Nikki and Victor. Kyle thinks Victor should put his love for his wife over his hatred of Jack and the Abbotts. Claire feels he’s being unfair. He insists her grandfather needs to be stopped by any means necessary.

Claire wonders if Kyle is trying to manipulate her onto his side. He denies it. Claire is hardly blind to Victor’s flaws, but she can understand why he’s so hostile to Jack. At the same time, she’s also grateful to Jack for saving her grandmother, especially since she helped push her off the wagon. That said, she’s determined to remain neutral. They switch the topic to Harrison’s Christmas.Holden interrupts and asks if Claire ate without him. Kyle takes the hint and abruptly heads for the door with Claire trailing behind. Once they get outside, she stops him. He tells her he needs to focus on his family right now and understands that she’s moving on. As Kyle wishes her the best and walks off, Audra, eavesdropping from around the corner, smiles.

Sally calls Adam out for cruelly ruining her big night and not thinking about how it would impact her. All he cares about is doing his father’s bidding! Adam had not intention of hurting her. She counters that he knew it would hurt Billy… he doesn’t think when it comes to him or Victor. Adam knows he’s hurt her, but he’s grown. She had to have seen it with Connor. Sally sees that, but he’s far from the man he was with her and is becoming exactly like his father.

Sally accuses Adam of despising Billy and doing something callous to Jack… and it’s come straight from Victor. Adam tries to defend himself and she asks if he even wants to be his own man. Getting defensive, Adam accuses her of believing Billy’s lies. Sally insists her boyfriend has changed. Adam snarks that he talked her out of leaving fashion at the top of her game… how is that putting her first?! Sally argues he did the same thing to Chelsea. Adam thinks she’s worried, deep down, that the old Billy will come back.