The Young and the Restless Recap for Friday, December 27, 2024: Victor offers Cole a job

At the tack house, Cole made tea for Victoria, who was still sick in bed. He told Claire how proud he was of her for the way she insisted on being there for her new horse, Seeker’s arrival, and didn’t just hand the duties over to staff. Cole and Claire sat to visit and talked about the holidays. Claire said that Victor warming up to the idea of Cole and Victoria being together was the best present she could have gotten.

Cole said he and Victor found common ground in their desires to protect their families. He added that another thing he and Victor had in common was that they would fiercely defend the people they love. “And that’s one thing I admire about him,” Cole admitted.

Cole explained that Victor had his faults, but his priority was family. Claire agreed that even when she talked to Victor about her displeasure with the way he treated Kyle, he put the Newmans first. Cole assured Claire that he was equally committed to her and Victoria.

In L.A., Nate, Audra, and Amy met with Denise, who told them she had news about Damian. She said she found a pattern: the apartments he’s lived in were all managed by Danglars Properties. Additionally, all of his jobs have been affiliated with the same umbrella company: Monte Cristo Investments. Denise didn’t think it was a coincidence. Audra wondered why Damian would make lateral moves all within the same company. Nate thought he might know.

Nate referenced The Count of Monte Cristo book, which had a main character named Danglar. Amy remembered Damian reading the story when he was growing up. Nate said it was about a man who was unjustly imprisoned and came into a fortune. “He escapes, remakes himself as the main character, and sets out to avenge his wrongful incarceration,” Nate explained. Audra said it couldn’t be a coincidence, and if Damian was half as brilliant as Nate, he must have made the same connection.

Amy had a fuzzy memory of Damian’s #34 basketball jersey in school. Nate explained that in the book, the character was referred to as Number 34, the number on his prison cell. Amy said that Damian chose the number because he loved that book. She added that he read all the classics and would quote lines from the stories. “You couldn’t possibly listen to them all, but that book stood out because he liked it so much,” she concluded. Nate said to understand what all of it meant, they needed to contact Damian.

Denise texted Damian’s address and number. Nate asked her for all the information she had about Damian and where he worked and lived. Audra assured Amy that if Nate said he’s got this, then believe him. Nate shared that as a way to contact his half-brother, he would reach out to Damian and pretend to be looking for new hires for Winters, then tailor that request to someone with Damian’s experience. Nate added the details about how he’d find someone he used to work with to name-drop to Damian about a reference. Amy had Nate confirm that he wouldn’t mention her.

At the ranch house, Adam and Chelsea came in and bickered playfully about Chelsea’s scarf. Victor came in and observed their banter. He told them he’d just come from the pond, watching Connor playing hockey. Victor asked for a word alone with Chelsea.

Chelsea told Victor that she didn’t know what he heard when he walked in but not to assume that there was more to it. She said that she and Adam were in a better place for Connor’s sake, but there was nothing romantic going on between them, and she and Adam were not getting back together. “I’m sorry to hear that,” Victor mused.

Victor told Chelsea the same thing he had told Adam: that getting back together was the best thing for them and also for Connor. Victor blamed Sally Spectra for being apart but thought they should reconsider. He thought Chelsea had changed and that they had all gone through a lot together. Victor appreciated Chelsea’s perseverance through difficult times and thought that Adam would benefit greatly from being with her. Victor made it clear he wanted Chelsea back in the Newman family.

Victor wondered if Adam shared with Chelsea that he had offered for him to live in the new house. Victor thought it was a great place for Connor to grow up and said all of them could live there as a family. Chelsea said that she could see how it would be good for Connor, but there was too much negative history between her and Adam. Victor told her to let bygones be bygones. Chelsea told Victor that Adam still loved Sally. Regardless, she didn’t think living there would be best for her.

Connor and Adam came in. Connor told Victor that he wished he could come to the ranch every day, and Victor said he bet that he would like to live there. Chelsea interrupted and made a quick exit with Connor before Victor could say more. Adam hung back a moment to ask Victor what he had talked to Chelsea about. Victor told him he was trying to convince her that Connor should live there. Adam reminded Victor that Connor lived with Chelsea but said he would move into the other ranch house right after the new year. Victor fist-pumped him and said he loved it.

Cole and Claire came in, and Adam had to go. Victoria told them that Adam was moving into the ranch house. Claire thanked Victor again for the horse. They were on their way to have lunch with Nikki and Lauren at Society, and Claire invited Victor to join them. He declined but asked for a word with Cole before they left.

Cole said he’d meet Claire at Society, so she went on ahead. Alone with Victor, Cole thanked him again for his acceptance and respect for his relationship with Victoria. “You have earned that, Cole,” Victor told him.

Cole hoped Victor hadn't asked to talk to him alone because he had done something to upset him. Victor handed Cole a drink and said nothing had changed, and he was happy to have him in the family. “Would you like to be part of the business? How would you like to join Newman Enterprises?” Victor asked to Cole's surprise. He said he wanted Cole to run their publishing division.

At Crimson Lights, Chelsea, Adam, and Connor had hot chocolate. While Connor had gone to get food, Chelsea told Adam that Victor wanted Connor to spend more time at the ranch. Adam added that Victor wanted to see them back together as a family. Chelsea noted that Victor had said the same to her, but she had told him it wasn’t going to happen.

Adam wondered why Chelsea kept denying the inevitable. He thought that what happened in Baltimore meant more and could have been love. Chelsea disagreed and said it was just dealing with pain. Adam said she looked scared. Chelsea was worried that what happened could happen again. She noted that they had lost Sally and Billy, and that made them feel pain again, so he was clinging on to her to feel better.

Adam insisted it was not what was happening. “You think I’m conflicted, but when I look into my heart, I only see one thing,” Adam said. He told her if she looked past the pain and desperation, she’d see that one weak moment shouldn’t prevent them from being happy for the rest of their lives. “What is it that you want me to do?” Chelsea wondered. “I’ve accepted my father’s offer to come live on the ranch. Come live with me, Chelsea. Let’s make a new home for our son. Will you please try again?” Adam asked.

At Society, Nikki and Lauren met for coffee and noted that they were ready to kick 2024 out the door and start fresh. Lauren asked what was on Nikki’s mind. Nikki said that as hard as the year had been, her family seemed together. Lauren wondered if Nikki felt like life was going too well and was worried that the other shoe would drop.

Nikki was determined to keep her perspective focused on the positive. She said she hit rock bottom a year ago because of Jordan. A year later, she never thought she would be running a major conglomerate. Nikki admitted to manifesting her destiny and keeping a gratitude journal.

Nikki said one example of something she was grateful about was that Adam was taking Newman Media to new heights. She added that Victor offered Adam the chance to move into the other ranch house, and she was trying to prepare herself for that possibility. Lauren thought that sounded like the other shoe dropping. She reminded Nikki that everything would be okay because she had friends to lean on and lift her up. “We’re okay no matter what life throws at us,” Lauren added.

Claire arrived and told Nikki and Lauren how much she loved her new horse and how great life was. She wondered if they knew what it was like to think that life was so good that you just wanted to freeze time. Nikki assured her that she could relate. Nikki wondered where Cole was as he loved beautiful words and was missing Claire’s. Claire said that he stayed behind to talk to Victor.

Claire hoped that Victor wasn’t going to recant welcoming Cole into the family. Lauren wondered if that was the shoe. Nikki dismissed all negative thoughts.

Next week on The Young and the Restless:

Victor raises a glass to a toast to Nikki and Claire, “To the Newmans, near and far. May this year be the best of all.”

At the jazz club, Danny puts his hands over Christine’s eyes after rushing up behind her. She gasps in delight as he says, “Happy New Year, gorgeous.” “You made it!” she exclaims.

Outside of Society, Ian turns and says, “Oh, there you are. I forgot to ask you where–” but as Tessa comes out the front door, she is wheezing and says she can’t breathe, then she falls into his arms.

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