"Selling advertising space isn't an easy task. Take it from someone who is avidly seeking advertisers for this web site. Ryan somehow managed to increase ad revenue in every area during his first few months at WRCW. He presented Liza with a profit report and remarked that his outstanding work warranted a bonus. Liza casually glanced over the numbers and tossed the paper on her desk. The numbers, she said, might be good enough anywhere else but at WRCW the numbers weren't gonna cut it. Liza instructed Ryan to head to the Human Resources department to pick up his final check. He was fired. Ryan's mouth dropped. He tried his best to insinuate that the real reason Liza was dumping him was because of the fiasco at the fertility clinic. Liza argued that Ryan was nothing more than a "crook" who had tried to bilk the station's advertisers out of thousands of dollars. Ryan didn't attempt to hide that fact that he was guilty of accepting kickbacks, but he swore that his thievery was behind him. Liza didn't budge and showed Ryan to the door. Ryan bowed his head and let out a deep breath. He told Liza that he was sorry it "had to come to this." Liza's neck snapped back as she asked Ryan what he meant. Ryan announced that if his employment was terminated, he would sue Liza for sexual harassment. He had the entire scenario laid out in his mind. In his version of the situation, Liza was a lonely, desperate woman yearning for a child. She had begged and pleaded for Ryan to be the father of her child, but when he refused--she fired him. Liza couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew that she had been the one who'd turned down Ryan, not the other way around. Ryan offered Liza a chance to avoid all the negative publicity by saying that he'd forgo the court case if she gave him his job back. Ryan walked slowly towards the door, stopping on several occasions to look over his shoulder at Liza. Liza had returned to her work and could easily have forgotten that Ryan was even in the room. Ryan left and closed the door behind him. He popped back only a split-second later to ask Liza if she was sure that she wanted to do battle in a court of law. Stone-faced Liza didn't flinch. "I don't do blackmail," Liza sneered. "Been there, done it, done it way better than you." Ryan nearly fell to his knees. He done such a good job at keeping his poker face that he was frazzled that Liza could see through to the truth. Ryan admitted that he never planned on taking Liza to court. Instead he opted for a more direct---and honest---approach. He told Liza that he needs his job at WRCW to pay off the bills that Gillian's racks up on a daily basis. He pledged never to tell anyone about Liza's trip to the fertility clinic or how close they come to parenting a child together. Liza knew that she'd probably want to kick herself later, but she agreed to give Ryan his job back. She wasn't doing it just because Ryan needed the money. She was doing it because Ryan does a bang-up job selling airtime to advertisers. Ryan praised Liza as the "sultan of swindle" for seeing through his scheme and the "guru of great." The flattery set off an alarm and Liza asked Ryan what else he wanted. Ryan was again amazed that Liza could read him so well. He told Liza that it would make him very happy if Gillian were given the weathergirl job. Liza had no intention of hiring an inexperienced and indiscernible woman for the part. Ryan tried to make Liza see that Gillian would be a hit with the male viewers, but his argument carried little weight. Smiling slightly, Liza ordered Ryan to scram before she re-fired him!
At Chandler Mansion, Adam tore into Jack for his inability to track down Camille. Jack explained that he had no reason to haul Camille into the police station because there was no proof that she'd committed any crime. Adam was furious and tossed Jack out of his house. Stuart popped up out of nowhere and assured his brother that he didn't have to worry about Camille. Adam really wasn't in the mood to hear Stuart laud Camille's goodness. Stuart again stated that Camille was not responsible for the accidents that had been plaguing their family. He also added that Camille was leaving town. Adam was stunned to know that Stuart had seen Camille and said nothing about it to him. Stuart smiled innocently and told Adam that not only had he seen Camille---but he'd been hiding her! Needless to say, that didn't sit well with Adam. Adam was prepared to descend upon the cabin until Stuart told him that Camille had already boarded up the windows and left town. Adam called Stuart's decision to harbor Camille "the stupidest thing" he'd ever done. Hayley appeared from behind and scolded her father for telling at Stuart. Adam was only just beginning. He blasted Stuart for first falling in love with "the busiest tramp" in town and then become the "best friend [of] a psychopath." Somehow Scott also managed to appear without warning. He ordered Adam to stop badmouthing his father. His defense of his father only infuriated Adam more. Adam thought that Scott's remarks showed that he lacked respect for his elders. Surprisingly, Stuart wasn't upset by his brother's angry remarks. "Ranting and raving is the only way Adam has to deal with his anger," Stuart said calmly. Adam announced that he was leaving town to head to Pigeon Hollow. Adam hoped that his trip to West Virginia would bring two positive results: returning his sister, Lottie, to her final resting place and bringing Adam Junior back to Pine Valley. Hayley knew that Adam's blood pressure was through the roof and she worried that the stress would cause him to have another mini-stroke. She encouraged her father to travel to Pigeon Hollow, but asked that when he returned home he would attend Holidays' grand re-opening celebration. The entire family would be gathered together along with friends and loved ones. Adam's face turned a bright shade of red. He asked Hayley if she had "been in a coma along with Mateo." Adam explained, or rather yelled, that any gathering of Chandlers would result in tragedy. The stalker, whom he still believed to be Camille even though he didn't mention her name, would revel at an opportunity to take the entire clan out in one swoop. Hayley urged her father to calm down, but Adam was too riled up to think logically. He insisted that he would be the one to save his family---even if it killed him. Adam stormed out of the mansion and headed for his car. Hayley and Scott offered to take Stuart out for a bite to eat or a walk in the park, but Stuart declined. He knew that the pair was trying to make him feel better after Adam's insinuation that he was stupid. Stuart admitted that he wasn't as smart as Adam---but only in the financial arena. In other areas, Stuart stated that he was a lot smarter than his twin. Stuart knew that a wild turkey has gold feathers on its back that are only visible when the bird is in flight. It was these distinct areas of expertise that allowed them to compliment each other so well. Hayley was moved to tears by her uncle's ability to see the positive side of any situation. They shared a hug, with Stuart promising to join Hayley at Holidays for its grand re-opening.
Mateo received a frantic call from Albert about how much food and drink to have on hand for the re-opening. Mateo coldly told Albert that the restaurant was now his business and hung up the phone. Gillian strolled onto the patio and apologized to Mateo once again for the way that Ryan carries on around Hayley. Mateo saw no need for an apology. He also didn't see Ryan as a threat to his relationship with Hayley. In fact, Ryan actually strengthened Mateo and Hayley's bond, if that's possible. Mateo said that whenever he and Hayley hit a rough patch, they just look at Ryan and Gillian's sham of a marriage and realize how lucky they really are. Lee, who was still known as John Lee to Mateo and Hayley, appeared in the doorway with a elegantly wrapped package in his hands. He handed the gift to Mateo and said that it was intended for Hayley. Mateo told Lee that he didn't have to buy Hayley a thank you present. Lee felt it was necessary to show his thanks to Mateo and Hayley for the way that they'd befriended him in the hospital and also for getting him a job. In a mildly humorous comment, Lee stated that he'd probably be living in a cabin in the woods if he hadn't landed the job at Holidays. Something about the offering or perhaps something that Lee said caused Mateo to drift off into a far-away place. Lee left the present on the table and headed off to work. Gillian could see that Mateo was definitely somewhere else and asked him what was wrong. She never received an answer. Later, on his way to the airport, Adam told Mateo that Hayley was planning on attending the re-opening of Holidays. Adam ordered Matt to prevent Hayley from attending. Mateo was in complete agreement: Hayley must not attend the celebration.
At the gym, Allie worked out on an exercise bike. It was a good thing she was sitting down because Jake was about to hit her with the news of his decision to father Liza's baby. Jake started off by telling Allie that it would be nice of them to be able to repay Liza for all her help. First she'd help get David Hayward out of their hair and then she paid off Allie's sizeable student loan debt. Allie smiled and said that being godparents to Liza's child would be a great way to show their thanks. Jake said that he had more than being a godfather in mind---he wanted to help Liza conceive her child. Allie was stunned. Up until this point she'd been pedaling like crazy on the machine. Now, she came to a dead stop. "I don't know what to say," Allie replied. Like Tad, she commented that most sperm donations are usually done anonymously. She wondered if it would be possible for Jake to help create a life---and then have no emotional attachments to the child. Jake again used the word "clinical" in defense of his ability to give up his paternal rights. The process was little more than "a biological thing" if you were to listen to Jake. "When I hear daddy," said Jake, "it will be from our child." Allie was caught off guard by the apparent amount of thought Jake had put into the matter. Jake asked his ringless fiancée if she was willing to back his decision. "If it's okay with you," Allie said weakly. Jake pulled Allie close and gave her a big hug. He was unable to see the tears that were streaming down Allie's cheek.
Erica toted two bouquets of flowers to Mike's hospital room. She commented that a hospital bed was no way to recuperate from surgery because the sheets aren't of a high thread count. Mike said that he hadn't had time to worry about the substandard bedding because he'd been planning a skydiving trip for the two of them. Sometime in their past, Erica must have told Mike that she wanted to go skydiving before she died. Mike remembered the remark and was willing to fulfill the fantasy---and probably more. Erica told Mike that she'd have to run the idea past Jack before she made any plans. Mike blinked several times and reminded Erica that Jack had broken off their engagement. Erica nodded in agreement, but explained that Jack just needed some time to cool off before he was ready to resume their relationship. If Jack needed to cool off, Mike suggested that the district attorney spend the next ten years in an igloo. Mike then pointed out that Erica couldn't possibly love Jack because she hadn't stabbed him yet! Erica did her best not to crack a smile while insisting that Jack was the only man for her. Mike offered to return to Linden with Erica so that they could devise a plan to win Jack back. Erica walked towards the door and motioned to someone. She told Mike that he was never going to be returning to Linden. She'd made arrangements to have all of his belongings packed up and shipped to the hospital so that when he was released from the hospital he could leave town---alive this time. "I am not the mindless, vulnerable ninny you thought I am," Erica purred. Erica waltzed out the door. After she'd left, Adrian slipped inside and asked Mike what was going on. Mike told Adrian that, in addition to two pints of blood, he'd lost Erica. Mike asked Adrian for his help in winning Erica back and keeping her. Adrian didn't understand why Mike would go to such lengths for one woman. Surely there was someone else. "I have an itch only Erica can scratch," Mike said with a slight coo. Neither man knew that Erica was listening from the other side of the door. Mike told Adrian that Erica was acting peculiarly and hinted that she might be up to something. Erica burst into the room to halt the conversation. She immediately recognized Adrian as the "kidnapper" and apologized to him for stomping on his foot. Adrian smiled broadly and assured Erica that she hadn't hurt him. Mike introduced Erica and Adrian. Jack entered the room and asked Erica why she'd left a message for him to meet her in Mike's room. Mike looked nervously towards Adrian and then to Erica. Erica told Jack that she wanted him to arrest her for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder!
Liza continued working at her desk. Allie appeared at the door and Liza motioned her into the office. Allie closed the door behind her. Liza asked Allie if she had gotten the new about Jake's decision to help her conceive a child. Allie masked her anger with a smile. "Oh I got it," Allie said, rolling her tongue around the inside of her mouth, "you bitch.""
- Soap Central