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Chance wanders into Crimson Lights and Sharon tells him he looks great. He tells her he feels great and notices she has a little pep in her step today. She says everything is coming along with Kirsten Incorporated and the launch is coming up. Chance tells her he has good news of his own, “I’ve made a decision about my future.”
Sharon asks him not to keep her in suspense. Chance announces that he’s going to leave law enforcement altogether. Sharon can’t say she’s disappointed. Chance can’t keep putting his mother through this. How many times can he put the people he cares about through the same ordeal. It’s not fair to his mom, Dominic… or Sharon. “Getting shot, again, was a wake-up call. It’s time for change.”
Sharon assures him they all knew what they signed up for. There were sleepless nights but he also kept Genoa City safe, “Are you sure this is what you want?” He is. Sharon asks if he’s told Nina. Chance will tell her when she gets back from New York. He has to tell the appropriate people at the GCPD and make sure they have what they need in place. Then he’ll spend time with her. Sharon is thrilled. Talk turns to him thinking about going into the high-stakes corporate world.
Kyle arrives at the door to his family home and pauses to think about his meeting with Tucker before entering. He finds Jack and Billy working in the living room and reports that the lights will be back on at Jabot by the end of the day. Jack steps out to take a call and Billy questions Kyle showing up late, “Where’d you go? What’s more important than your new job?” Kyle asks why he cares. “You still don’t trust me, Billy!” Billy wants to, but he’s having a hard time believing his turnaround is sincere. Kyle realized that COO job was perfect for him, what’s so suspicious. Billy says he’s good at reading people and his gut is telling him something’s not right. He warns Kyle that it might be a good time to rethink his priorities.
At Society, Devon tells Ashley he doesn’t want to play games with Tucker. If they ever reconnect it has to be real. Ashley’s not asking him to pretend, but sometimes fighting fire with fire is the only recourse. He’s angry and taking it out on Chancellor and Jabot. She asks if Devon would at least consider forgiving him. Abby agrees that maybe they can stop the destruction Tucker’s planning. Devon can’t pretend to feel something he doesn’t. Ashley will give some thought to what to do next and kisses them goodbye. Once alone, Abby tells Devon he’s a good man, but when it comes to Tucker, she’s starting to think her mom is right and they need to fight fire with fire.
Devon doesn’t want Tucker anywhere near Abby or Dominic. Abby argues that he’s going after his company and her family’s company — shouldn’t they do something to stop him?! Devon asks what exactly they’d do if he doesn’t believe him. He’s not stupid! He won’t believe he had a change of heart overnight. Abby asks, “What if Tucker makes the first move?” Devon’s certain he won’t come to him begging for forgiveness, but Abby’s not so sure.
Tucker visits Audra in her suite and tells her, “I just saw your boyfriend.” She asks which one. He says Kyle, who was asking a lot of questions. “He’s got a plan of his own. He’s gathering information just as I suspected. So, what more do you need to see he can’t be trusted?” Audra argus the point but Tucker’s convinced all Kyle wants is his dad’s approval. This will make him easy to manipulate. Audra thinks McCall is underestimating Kyle. Tucker worries, “Audra, please don’t tell me you’re falling for this guy.”
Audra insists that she and Kyle merely have fun and work well together. There’s no love story and she has her eye on the prize as always. Tucker’s glad to hear it. Kyle’s just a haircut. A tool to use and throw away. Audra asks why Kyle can’t run Jabot alongside her. “I’m starting to worry that your need for revenge is clouding your judgment.” Tucker insists he sees everything with clarity and is cool-headed. Audra assures him he doesn’t have to worry about her either. She’s like a cat and will always land on her feet — on the side of success wherever that may be. If it looks like his obsession is getting in the way of that, she’ll jump ship.
At the Abbott mansion, Billy tells Kyle he’d like to be wrong about him. Kyle says he can also figure out people’s motivations, “Billy, your insecurity is showing.” Summer walks in and Kyle asks what she’s still doing there. Summer says she is working there today as he well knows, “Where have you been?” Kyle fumes, “Why is everyone asking where I’ve been?”
Summer marvels, “Wow, you’re this stressed on your first day. It’s not a good sign.” Kyle apologizes — he has family drama with Billy. His uncle refuses to give him the benefit of the doubt and is convinced he’s carrying out a scheme to get his job. Summer asks, “Is he wrong?” He’s been pretty vocal about hating that Billy is in the co-CEO position, “Have you suddenly changed your mind?”
Kyle says his change of heart isn’t so abrupt. He was having a hard time accepting Billy as co-CEO but he’s over it, for the good of the family. Summer’s skeptical. Kyle insists he’s not working an angle. She asks if he regrets stepping down to run Marchetti. Kyle does. He should have stayed where he was in the first place. Summer points out he had no idea how things would turn out. She muses that if they had never come back from Milan, they might still be together, “Is it possible that coming home to Genoa City was the beginning of the end for us?”
Kyle tries not to think about what might have been. It’s a deep, dark hole. Summer says it just occurred to her right now. Jack appears and asks Kyle to go over a few things. He walks back out. Kyle tells Summer everything would have been different if they hadn’t come back, but they did. “We can’t change what happened after that.” Kyle exits and Chelsea arrives to work. She asks if Summer’s OK. Summer just has a lot on her mind. She asks Chelsea if they can work elsewhere.
In Audra’s suite, she tells Tucker that he’s underestimating Kyle. Tucker clucks that he’s just a daddy’s boy, and oddly, a mommy’s boy too. How is he continuing to fool her? “It’s time to start trusting me again.” Audra asks what makes him think she ever truly trusted him. Tucker muses, “Fair enough. There’s a fine line between trust and total distrust… it’s kind of like loving and hating someone simultaneously.” Audra’s never loved or hated him. Tucker asks, “Really? Cause I’ve…” He demurs, “It’s complicated. We’re complicated.” Audra agrees, “Yes, we are.” Suddenly, they’re making out.
At Society, Devon reiterates to Abby that he won’t fake it with Tucker just to find out what he has in store for Jabot. Abby warns whatever he has planned for Chancellor-Winters, he’ll pull it off in the long-term and it will affect Dominic. She knows he wants to keep things above-board, but she will fight for her family and won’t walk away, “I’ll do what needs to be done.” Devon warns Abby that Tucker isn’t someone you want to mess with. Abby snaps, “Neither am I.” She won’t sit around and wait for McCall’s next move. Devon asks what she’ll do then. Abby suggests he give her a role at Chancellor. Put her on the board. The move will show Tucker she’s in this fight too.
Ashley enters the GCAC and runs into Tucker coming down the stairs. He’s cool toward her. They go over him being mercurial and she asks, “What happened? I gave you the opportunity to take over the company and you jumped at it. Now, you’re acting like an ass. What changed?”
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Tucker and Ashey sit down at the bar, and he says the hardest part about what happened in Paris is that you realize you still love someone you can no longer trust. Ashley wonders why he’s still blaming her and taking no responsibility at all. Tucker reminds her he said he was sorry. Ashley says she saw Devon and talked to him about their relationship and it’s not good. Tucker asks, “So bad that you don’t think you’ll be able to help us make peace?”
At Crimson Lights, Sharon and Chance discuss him joining the company that’s his grandfather’s legacy. They go over Katherine making the company a huge success. Sharon wants to celebrate to mark the big decision and his new life. Chance is much more interested in celebrating her. They’re kissing when Summer and Chelsea walk in. Greetings are exchanged and Chance says he has to get to the station. Summer learns he’s stepping down and says, “Oh my God, Chance. That’s huge.” She figures it must feel good to have made a choice. Chelsea watches Summer beam as Chance thanks her for being such a good friend.
On the patio, Summer tells Chelsea her designs are great. Chelsea insists Chloe was a huge part of the process. Summer is sorry she didn’t feel they could all work together. Chelsea says Summer is demanding in a good way and Chloe is so smart and talented, but doesn’t like being told what to do. Talk turns to Summer’s personal life. Summer says her divorce from Kyle is in progress. “It’s still hard.” Chelsea feels they must have wonderful memories, and they have Harrison. The good outweighs the bad. Summer teases, “You’ve been through this before, haven’t you.” Chelsea asks about her talking to Chance earlier and asks if she’s interested in him. Summer says, “No,” and then admits, “I do like him. He’s been a really good friend to me, but it doesn’t matter because he’s seeing Sharon and I don’t want to interfere.” Chelsea asks if they’re serious. Summer doesn’t know, but there’s some kind of relationship and she doesn’t want to be the other woman. Chelsea asks, “If things could work out however you wanted them to, what would that look like?”
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At the Abbott house, Jack doles out some instructions to Kyle regarding getting back into the loop at work. He still wants his input and for them to work side-by-side. Kyle notes he’s not working by his side, “I’m down a rung or two.” Jack knows it’s a sore spot with him. Kyle insists he knows he doesn’t have to be co-CEO to make an impact. Jack trusts he’ll give it his very best. Kyle takes a call from Audra summoning to her suite. He says, “It can’t wait?” and then, “I’ll see you soon.” Jack raises an eyebrow.
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At the Club bar, Ashley tells Tucker that he’ll have to work a little harder with Devon. Tucker thinks it’s more business than personal — he’s concerned about Chancellor-Winters and his investment with Mamie. Ashley will help him get back on track with Devon. She knows how much it means to him to spend time with Dominic. Tucker appreciates her intention. Ash notes they’re being civil. He snarks, “Hooray for us.” Tucker says, “See you,” and walks out. Ashley tears up.
