At Society, Chelsea and Adam canoodle until talk turns to the cancellation of the Abbott Communications launch. Adam says Victor figures it blew itself up given it was Billy Abbott’s brainchild.

As Adam starts ragging on Billy, Chelsea mildly defends her ex’s abilities. As talk turns to Billy’s penchant for “playing dirty”, they launch into a debate about whether or not Sally would be shady like her boyfriend. Ultimately, Chelsea thinks she’s a good influence on Billy. Adam argues that Billy won’t listen to her, and he’ll try to micromanage her at Abb Comm. Chelsea’s sure the redhead won’t let him tell her what to do.

Why Does Sally Walk Out On Billy?

At home, Billy’s excited that Sally’s still there and he hasn’t scared her off with his plans to take Cane and Victor down. Sally immediately quashes his ennui by pointing out how dangerous and risky it would be to threaten Victor. Billy promises they’ll get everything they’ve dreamed of. She snaps, “Everything you’ve dreamed of.” She complains that all of this could blow up in his face and he could lose everything. Billy smirks, “Not gonna happen.” Well, that should make her feel better.

Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t. She declares that this is illegal and unethical… it’s blackmail! Billy’s totally unconcerned. Sally asks, “What if Victor calls your bluff?” Billy says he’s holding all the cards. The gambling reference confirms Sally’s worst fears, but Billy keeps dangling the idea of getting everything they’ve dreamed of. She’s not keen on it being funded by blackmail and declares that she can’t follow him down this path of hatred, obsession and revenge. She is nowhere in that dark picture and she doesn’t want to be. With that, she takes off out the door.

How Will Kyle Screw Up Next?

At Crimson Lights, Kyle’s still badgering Claire to hit the restart button. Claire can’t forget that he lied to her so easily; she wonders if he’d ever have told the truth if it weren’t forced out of him. Kyle, having learned nothing from his ill-timed marriage proposal, announces they should go on a getaway to Paris… tonight. This will fix everything! Laying it on thick, he suggests it would honor her father.

Claire points out this would be running away from their issues. Esther, having heard Kyle’s suggestion, bounds over to gush and sigh about young love in Paris. Once she’s gone, Claire, as expected, tells Kyle she cannot go and accuses him of trying to distract her from their problems just as he did with the proposal. He broke her trust, and she can’t forget that.

Kyle acts offended that she’s suggesting this is a tactic and starts up with blaming Audra and Victor for everything. She informs him that the issue is that he lied to her. Kyle, just wanting what he wants, continues his campaign. As he vows to do whatever she needs him to do in order to make things right, Holden appears.

Esther pops up with drinks for the “young lovers headed to Paris”, but Claire tells her they’re not going. Holden thanks Esther for the mochas the other night… he and Claire loved them. Esther toddles off and Kyle tries to get rid of Holden, who announces he owes them both an apology for overstepping. Claire assures him he has no reason to apologize and that he never overstepped. She prompts Kyle to speak, so the Abbott allows that he may have overreacted. Holden announces that he’s headed to L.A. to close off Cane’s offices there, but he’ll be back. Kyle thought Ashby fired him… why would he go back to working for the man?

Holden assumes Cane rehired him because he already knows the playing field. Claire tells Holden she’s glad he’ll be sticking around. When she steps out to take a call from Victoria, Holden asks Kyle if they’re good. Kyle petulantly accuses his rival of trying to make him look like an ass. They’re not “good” and never will be.

Why Does Adam Erupt?

Sally arrives at Society as a text from Audra comes in asking what’s going on and if she’s alright. Ignoring it for the moment, she makes her way inside and runs smack into Chelsea and Adam, who realizes she’s upset and asks what’s wrong. Getting more dirt than they ever could have imagined, Sally informs the couple that she’s no longer a part of Abbott Communications. They pepper her with questions. Adam wants to know if something happened with Billy. Assuming he booted her, Adam calls him an ass and a sonofabitch. Sally pleads with him to let it go. She ignores a call from Billy and walks over to the bar. Adam, having noticed her avoiding Billy’s call, wonders to Chelsea what that bastard has done now.