On the Pier
Nicole meets Jill, the girl she called from Dr. Baker’s office. She is floored to see that Jill is pregnant and questions if Dr. Baker did it to her. Jill insists that Dr. Baker’s not the one who got her pregnant. She wonders who Nicole is and what she wants from her. Nicole insists that she wants to help Jill and suggests that they go grab some hot chocolate. Jill refuses to go anywhere with Nicole, recalling how Nicole called and threatened her and now suddenly she wants to be friends. Nicole reveals that she got her name from Dr. Baker’s cell phone. Jill begins to leave and Nicole begs her not to go. The young girl then realizes that Nicole is “pregnant” too. She assumes that Nicole is thinking about giving up her baby. Nicole plays along in an effort to get information out of the young woman. Jill shares that her little girl will go to a home where the parents are completely screened. Nicole tries to assure Jill that she can give her baby a wonderful home as well, but Jill laments that she’s broke and has no job or no husband, and hasn’t even finished school. She believes she has no choice but to let Dr. Baker take her baby.
Nicole wonders who else Dr. Baker is helping to find a home for a baby. Jill asks Nicole how much Dr. Baker is paying her. Nicole claims they haven’t discussed a price yet. Jill reveals that Dr. Baker is giving her $10,000 for her baby. Nicole is bewildered to hear that the doctor is selling babies to the highest bidder. She offers to help Jill and asks when she’s due. “Any day now,” replies Jill. Nicole says it won’t work. Jill gets teary-eyed as she expresses how her baby will belong to someone else completely. An emotional Nicole wishes there was more she could do for Jill and urges her to take some money. Jill thanks her. Nicole refers to her as brave. Jill hopes that everything works out for Nicole, believing that Nicole has decided to keep her baby. After Jill walks off, Nicole makes a phone call.
Titan
Brady has just met Melanie and asks what she does around there. She boasts that she owns the rights to the fuel project which Titan is working on. She coyly asks about having a business casual dress attire so Philip stops giving her a hard time about the length of her skirt. Brady states that he’s not the boss. A flirtatious Melanie invites him to lunch. He questions what she’s even doing there on the holidays. She claims she’s a go-getter and suggests putting their heads together on the project. “Forget it Melanie. Brady has other plans....that don’t include you,” interjects Philip, who suggests getting some work done. Melanie innocently claims she was just informing Brady about the project. Brady takes a rain check on lunch with Melanie. Philip tells Melanie to take the rest of the day off, claiming they don’t really need her there. Melanie says she’ll just work at home and insists to Philip that she needs a secretary, since she’s in charge of his biggest project at Titan. “You own the patents. You’re not in charge of anything,” refutes Philip. Brady tries to assure Melanie that they’ll nail down the specifics of her job shortly and will come up with something which makes them all happy. Melanie vows to prove to both of them that she’s an invaluable asset to the company.
After Melanie walks out, Philip warns Brady that he’s in over his head already. “No, no Philip, that would be you,” counters Brady. Philip cautions Brady not to make promises to Melanie, since she will never be happy with any arrangement they work out. Brady suggests that Melanie just wants a little respect and wants someone to treat her like a human being. Philip quips how Brady’s a real prince. “Well at least I didn’t act like a jerk the minute a beautiful woman’s in the room,” implies Brady, who notes Philip’s animosity towards Melanie. Philip complains how Victor favors Brady over him. Brady begins to leave, but Philip reminds him that they have work to do. Brady says it’s important and he’ll be back later.
On Melanie’s way out, she vows to teach Philip a lesson.
Brady Pub
Chloe arrives and asks Steph if her grandma’s around. Steph tells her that Caroline’s upstairs getting Allie ready. Chloe notes how busy she looks. Steph congratulates Chloe on her engagement to Lucas. She commends Chloe on what she did for Kate, relaying how Philip said that Kate’s been doing well since the transplant and that the latest test results are very encouraging. Chloe notes how she seems to have a lot of info on Kate and realizes that Steph and Philip are seeing each other. “We should talk,” suggests Chloe.
Chloe refers to Philip as a great guy and reveals that he was her first love. Steph wasn’t aware of this, but tells Chloe that she and Philip have never discussed her. Chloe suggests that Steph and Philip are each other’s rebounds. “Or maybe you still have feelings for him and you wanna spoil it for us?” suggests Steph. Chloe insists that she just doesn’t want either one of them to get their hearts broken the way she did. Steph suspects a little phoniness going on with Chloe, then apologizes for being defensive. Chloe shares how Philip’s not the same guy she fell in love with, rehashing how she dumped him for Brady. She warns Steph to just be careful.
Steph admits that she couldn’t help but notice that Chloe wasn’t all that excited about her engagement to Lucas. Chloe refers to this as ridiculous. Steph suggests that it’s because she still has feelings for Philip. “I am in love with Lucas, okay?” That is the man that I’m gonna marry and I am thrilled about it,” insists a defensive Chloe.
After Chloe excuses herself, Melanie enters the pub, to Steph’s chagrin. She asks Steph if she has a half hour to spare for a project, but Steph insists that she has an exam to study for. Melanie sits at another table and is soon joined by Julie, who asks her “What’s shakin?” Melanie claims she’s just trying to get some work done.
