At the Athletic Club, Devon asked Lily if she truly thought there was a place for Billy at Chancellor-Winters. Lily said that Devon was "refusing to see" a part of the picture. Devon denied it and asked Lily what had changed in her mind about letting Billy go. Lily protested that she was just "being logical." Lily argued that Jill had been feeling threatened and that if Lily and Devon fired Billy, it would prove to Jill that she had "had a right to worry."
Devon told Lily he understood her loyalty to Jill, but he felt that Jill had been overreacting and had been fueling the war between the two sides. Lily said firing Billy would "exacerbate the situation." Devon continued to disagree and said that Mamie's suggestion to divide the company could make sense. Lilly said Mamie's continued presence at the company had been worrying her and that Lily would not divide the company.
Devon said they should not throw out the idea of dividing the company just because Jill hadn't liked that the idea had been Mamie's. Lily said Devon also wanted to "cut Billy loose" because Devon had a problem with Billy. Devon agreed that was true and said that he also had professional reasons for wanting to get rid of Billy. Lily agreed when Devon said that Billy had been at too many different jobs. Devon said Billy couldn't be trusted to commit.
Lily reminded Devon she had been the one who had encouraged Billy to leave the company before, so Devon should not use that against Billy. Lily told Devon that she would talk to Billy about why he wanted to stay at Chancellor-Winters. Devon said he didn't think Billy was "worth the trouble."
At Chancellor-Winters, Chance asked Billy if Daniel had been let go. Billy confirmed that both Daniel and Heather had been terminated. Chance questioned why that had happened. Billy said it had not been his decision, and he didn't think it would "end well."
Chance asked Billy why Lily and Devon would fire Heather and Daniel "without cause." Billy reiterated that it had not been Billy's decision. Billy told Chance that Devon and Lily were united and that Nate would probably "follow suit." Billy said that he was committed to the company and would continue to try to execute Jill's vision. Billy continued that the "infighting" Chance saw was because there was "a lot going on right now." Billy worried that the company would have to fire the gaming division due to Daniel's departure.
Chance inquired about Chelsea, Adam, and Connor leaving town. Billy said he felt for all three of them -- even Adam. Billy said Connor had "one thing going for him," and that was Chelsea. Billy said he didn't think Adam had been handling things very well. Billy hoped Adam could "rein it in." Billy said that he wished he could go support Chelsea, but doing that could make things worse. Chance told Billy he admired Billy's restraint.
Chance reminded Billy about an upcoming meeting, which Billy had forgotten. Chance encouraged Billy to take some "personal time" if Billy needed it. As Chance started to exit, Lily and Devon walked into the office. Billy told Lily and Devon that he had just filled Chance in on the "shake-up." Devon said he supported Lily's decision because it had "needed to happen." Billy disagreed and asked Devon if he thought there would be "blowback" because Lily had fired two executives for "personal reasons." Devon and Billy continued to argue. Lily stood and asked them both to stop.
Lily asked Chance and Devon to leave the room. Lily told Billy that firing Daniel and Heather had been her call, and Billy didn't have to agree with everything Lily did. Lily told Billy she had just been telling Devon that Billy had a purpose and place at the company. Billy thanked her but said that he didn't need Lily's support if Devon wanted to "badmouth me." Lily said that not everything had been "Devon's fault." Lily said that because she had returned, there needed to be "a clear chain of command." Lily asked Billy what he wanted to accomplish and if she could count on Billy to "put the company first."
At the Abbott mansion, Traci left a voicemail for Ashley, asking her to return home to get to the bottom of things. Jack and Nikki walked in. Jack asked Traci if there had been "any changes" with Ashley. Traci confirmed that Ashley had returned the night before. Traci told Jack they would discuss Ashley later, and she left. Nikki told Jack that Traci had not told him something, and it had been because Nikki had been there.
Jack changed the subject and said he and Nikki needed to talk about the stranger who had sent Nikki vodka at Society. Nikki rhetorically asked, "Who was that? And why would he do something like that?" Nikki insisted Jordan "was behind it" and speculated that Jordan had "other partners in crime" trying to get to Nikki.
Jack said it could be possible that the man had just seen a beautiful woman and had wanted to buy her a drink. Nikki skeptically asked, "Who buys a stranger a drink and then leaves?" Jack said that the trip Nikki had been planning would be perfect because Nikki could use the time away. Nikki replied that she had been having "second thoughts" about the trip with Victor. Nikki said she felt that leaving town would just make Jordan think she had really gotten to Nikki. Nikki said she would not give Jordan the satisfaction.
Jack said he understood Nikki's concerns, but Jack's concern was Nikki and her safety. Nikki thanked Jack for his concern and asked Jack not to worry about her. Diane walked in. Nikki said she needed to get home to tell Victor that she didn't want to go on the trip. Diane questioned why Nikki would turn down such a "romantic getaway." Nikki retorted that she had her reasons. Nikki hugged Jack and said Jordan would not beat her.
After Nikki left, Diane huffed and said she hoped Nikki had been all right. Jack said Nikki's fight was "not over yet." Diane said it was "too bad" Nikki was "still struggling." Jack asked Diane if something was bothering her. Diane replied that she didn't think Jack would really want to hear what had been troubling her.
Jack assured Diane that he could "handle" whatever had been bothering her. Diane relented and admitted she had been having an issue with how much time Jack had been spending with Nikki. Jack said he had thought Diane had understood. Diane agreed and said she had just been feeling insecure. Jack said he needed to show Diane how much he loved her.
Nikki returned to the Newman ranch and took a bottle of vodka out of her purse. Nikki took a small sip, breathed, and then took another.
At the jazz lounge, Tucker said that he "didn't want to waste any more time," and he held the engagement ring out to Audra. Audra asked Tucker to wait and reminded him that she had not said yes. Tucker assumed Audra wanted him to get down on one knee, but Audra told him to stop. Audra said she didn't have an answer, but she did have questions. "Why now? Why this?" She asked Tucker said it was because he had realized his life would not be complete without Audra. Tucker said he had known "for a while" that Audra was who he had wanted to be with. Audra, annoyed, asked "What's the catch?"
Audra told Tucker they had barely been together as a couple. Tucker said that even though they hadn't been a couple long, they had shared virtually everything else for years. Audra questioned if the proposal had been a reaction to Ashley. Tucker yelled, "No!" Tucker argued that he loved Audra and wanted to be with her forever.
Tucker said other people hadn't taken him "at my word" but that Audra had known him better than that. Audra asked who else had not believed him. Tucker replied that he had run into Devon earlier, and it had not gone well. Audra asked if the run-in with Devon had "provoked this proposal." Tucker recounted that Devon had said, "Look at you, Tucker. You're all alone, and you'll always be alone." Tucker, growing emotional, told Audra that Devon had been wrong because Tucker still had Audra. Tucker put the ring back in his pocket.
Audra apologized but insisted that the proposal had "come out of nowhere." Audra admitted that they had chemistry, spoke their own language, and understood how each other thought. Audra argued that what had made their relationship different was that it had not been bound by "anyone else's rules." Audra said marriage didn't fit them. Tucker said that everything had changed when he had realized Audra was all that mattered. Tucker asked, "If not now, when?"
Audra told Tucker she was "just not there." Tucker laughed and said that was "fair enough." Tucker said he might propose again the next day. Audra asked Tucker if he was sure he hadn't been just trying to "prove something" to Ashley or Devon -- or to Tucker himself.
Tucker told Audra he would consider her questions. Tucker asked that Audra consider his proposal. Audra said she would "try." Audra commented about how lovely the setup at the jazz lounge had been. Smiling, Audra raised her champagne glass and said, "To us, the world's most unconventional couple."
Tucker and Audra danced and discussed their special "connection." Audra hypothesized that their connection might be so special because they were not married. They kissed. Shortly after, their kissing continued in Tucker's bed.
• Lily reminds Daniel that she owns his game
• Traci tells Jack she is scared to death for Ashley
• Nikki tells Victor that no one can spoil their 40th anniversary