"Not everything is as it seems."
Charles Westmoreland
Adam meets with the Newman board and is named COO of Newman Enterprises signing contracts. He tells them he is meeting with a buyer for The Newman Group to sell. Victor offers his office to Adam; Adam meets with Maxwell Stanton of Stanton Securities to sell The Newman Group for $3 billion. Adam signs the papers as Victor turns around in his chair and thanks Adam. Maxwell stands up and shakes Victor’s hand as Victor tells him to go back to the mailroom. Victor tells Adam Stanton Securities is a shell corporation owned by Newman Enterprises; Adam just sold The Newman Group to Newman Enterprises making Victor $10 billion richer. “I win. I always win. And don’t you forget it, boy.” Furious Adam tells him he’ll quit. Victor laughs stating the contract he signed states if he sabotages the company or quits before his two year obligation Newman Enterprises can sue Adam for punitive damages of $10 billion. Adam punches Victor before leaving. He realizes how he can get revenge on Victor.
Natalie mourns JT staying in their condo and not answering the door when people come over or her phone. Olivia and Sarge get the Building Manager to get into her condo. Natalie yells at them to leave, but Olivia doesn’t. Hilary and Tessa show up. Natalie breaks down that JT is the only one who will ever love her because Luca, Scott, and Tyler rejected her when she came out to them. Adam pulls out all the stops to romance Natalie, who at first resists him, but soon gives in.
On a date with Scotty, Abby sees Natalie and Adam together. She goes to Natalie and forewarns her that Adam is a troubled soul and details some of the things he did while in college (gaslighting his then-roommate’s girlfriend to where she fell down the stairs and lost her baby & lying to police that it was his roommate’s fault as the girlfriend has no memory). When Natalie questions how Abby got this info Abby stumbles; Natalie leaves and heads to Victor’s office asking if he put Abby up to bashing Adam. Victor tells Natalie to not fall for Adam and continue to mourn JT. She tells Victor JT would’ve wanted Natalie to be happy, but Victor states “NOT WITH ADAM! I FORBID IT!” Natalie tells Victor he’s NOT her father and leaves. Victor gets on the phone. Malcolm, Olivia, and Sarge show up at Natalie’s place and beg her not to see Adam. She tells Malcolm to stop worrying. Malcolm worries Adam is a rebound from JT, but Natalie tells him to butt out. Adam shows up as Malcolm punches him. Natalie defends Adam and tells everyone to leave. Olivia goes to Victor and begs him to help save her daughter; Victor puts in a phone call.