At the Abbott house, Diane grills Jack about where he’s been. He brags that he found a way to get proof that Victor used the program… from the most unlikely of sources.

Diane learns that Lily’s blown Cane off and he needs a win, so he offered him money for evidence that Victor used the program. Diane’s suitably impressed at the irony. She asks if Ashby agreed.

Before Jack can answer, Kyle comes in and announces they now have the ultimate bargaining chip. He explains he’s had their security team following Victor’s men. He’s learned that a man from Nick and Sharon’s past showed up to torment them. Diane asks what this has to do with Victor. Kyle grins, “Just wait until you hear.”

Kyle tells his parents about Nick and the man crashing in the car. Nick went to the hospital, and the man is fine… and he’s Newman enemy number one.

Cane Can’t Shake Phyllis

Phyllis finds Cane brooding at the Club bar and complains that he’s not kicking ass like Aristotle Dumas. She rants until he suggests she stay the hell away… for good. Unsurprisingly, Phyllis declines to move along and probes to find out what’s going on with him.

Returning to her theme, Phyllis goes on about Dumas being a badass. Cane says he’s dead. “Now leave me alone.” The redhead almost goes, but then asks if he’s thought about her suggestion to steal back the AI and takeover Newman. Cane insists he’s not interested. She asks what happened since the last time she saw him.

When Cane moves to a table to eat, Phyllis follows. He can’t get rid of her no matter what he says, so he finally tells her he and Lily kissed and then she said she was leaving town to get away from him. Phyllis shakes her head. Lily doesn’t want him. She rants about him pining for someone who judges him.

Cane instantly regrets bringing Lily up. They go back and forth arguing about his ex until Ashby erupts, “Can you just give me a moment of peace, please!” Phyllis intones that they can take over the world. “What are you waiting for?”

Cane sighs that she’s relentless. Phyllis compares him and Lily to her and Nick. It never works out. She urges Ashby to conquer the world with her. Just then, Mattie texts Cane to ask him to stop calling and texting her and Charlie. This prompts Cane to tell Phyllis about Jack wanting to team up to force Victor’s hand. Phyllis thinks that’s great for the Abbott, but not for Cane. Why would he partner with Jack when he has her?

Audra and Holden Hash It Out

At Crimson Lights, Audra runs into Holden and discovers he didn’t tell Claire what else happened in L.A…. at least not yet. Unimpressed with “yet” Audra reminds him if she burns, he burns with her.

They rehash the events of the night the creep died. Audra remarks that Holden saved her life… but he clearly regrets it. He was the only good guy she ever met in L.A., but the way he’s treating her now, it’s like that’s gone. Holden reminds her she was mean. She regrets that now.

Holden understands why Audra was cold but thinks she could have acted like they had nothing to hide. They go over Claire coming into the picture. Audra reminds him they have a bond and history… why is he trying so hard to score points with Claire?

Holden ignores the question and instead complains about Audra having her walls up all the time. After that night, he figured they’d have each others’ backs… always. They flash to her freaking out after taking the creep’s body out to the trunk of Holden’s car. He told her to go to another bar and talk to people, so she has an alibi.

In the present, Audra tells Holden that they may not always be friends, but they’ll never be free of each other. Holden wonders, doesn’t the secret wear her down? Talk turns back to Claire. Audra fumes that she doesn’t deserve him. Holden declares that he’ll keep his mouth shut if she leaves Claire alone.

Sally’s Screw Up

Billy joins Sally on the sofa at home, and they launch into a conversation about whether she’s waiting for him to screw up again. She insists they’re good… but admits she’s terrified that it everything they have could disappear.

Sally regrets talking to Victoria instead of Billy, who assures her she doesn’t have to take it easy on him. Sally worries about the pressure and he realizes she’s seriously worried. Billy wants to give back all she’s given him… she deserves that.

After some more talk about being transparent and Billy wanting to make Sally happy, she becomes emotional about the idea of losing him. Billy reiterates that he can take the pressure if she questions him. She finds all of this very sexy, so they head to the bedroom to make love.

Later, Sally watches a pensive Billy. She joins him and he says he was thinking about Jack and Jabot. All he wants to do is protect them. They chuckle over Jack being stubborn and changing his mind about Phyllis and refusing to let them publish the story about Newman. They decide to go dancing at the jazz lounge.

The Final Scenes

Sally and Billy walk into the Club, and he spots Phyllis and Cane together. He sends Sally downstairs, saying he needs to tell Phyllis there’s no longer a deal on the table. Instead, he eavesdrops as Phyllis urges Cane to join her to pry Newman Enterprises out of Victor’s hands.

At Crimson Lights, Audra agrees to back off on Claire if Holden keeps their secret. He teases that she caved first and the atmosphere lightens. Audra trails her fingers along his chest and muses that maybe they can be friends again. Suddenly, there’s a little electricity in the air.

At the Abbott house, Jack’s horrified about Nick’s crash. Diane asks Kyle where the man from L.A. is now. Her son says security did everything right. He pulls out his phone and says, “Come on in.” The Abbott goons enter with Matt Clark in tow.

Jack gawps, “Matt Clark?!” This bastard is supposed to be dead! He confirms the Newmans wouldn’t want this guy walking free. Pulling out his phone, he calls Victor and announces he has Matt Clark. “Perhaps it’s time we make a deal.”