The Young and the Restless Recap for Tuesday, December 17, 2024: Claire starts her new job, Billy asks for help

On her first day of work at Chancellor, Claire shared with Nikki that she was worried about doing a good job. Nikki told her to get ready for an exciting new adventure and that she had no reason to be nervous. Claire wanted to prove to herself and to the family that she was really a good person with only the best intentions. Nikki told Claire that she had great faith and trust in her, and if she didn’t, she wouldn’t have hired her.

When Nikki and Claire walked into the office, Esther was there to greet them. She surprised Claire by showing her the bouquet of flowers that had been delivered. Claire was delighted when she read the card and realized it was Kyle who had sent the bouquet, congratulating her on the first day of her new career.

Nikki saw Claire’s face fall and wondered why. Claire shared that she was concerned about Victor’s warning and thought that Victor used Kyle to hurt Jack and could do it again. She said that Victor told her that he was just giving Kyle an opportunity, but Kyle believed that Victor used him. Nikki advised Claire to follow her heart and not worry about Victor’s opinion.

At Nate’s, he and Audra discussed her need to find a job. Amy came by and thanked them for Thanksgiving. Nate said half-heartedly that Audra didn’t love holidays. She told Audra that she should savor every special occasion that she was given because one day, she could wake up and wish that she could relive them again.

After Audra left, Nate shared that the private investigator had followed Damian to L.A. but had trouble keeping up as he had a long string of jobs. Amy lamented that she had wanted more for her son. Nate hoped that Damian stayed in L.A. so that the P.I. could pinpoint where he was. He clarified that the investigator was instructed not to speak to him but to call Nate immediately. He promised if that happened, he would drop everything and go talk to him in person himself.

In the Abbott dining room, Kyle saw Diane and asked if she wanted to discuss her latest passive-aggressive move against him. She didn’t know what he was talking about. Kyle explained that he had gone to his new office and had seen that she hadn’t moved out. He took that to mean that she had no intention of it.

Diane was taken aback and assured Kyle that she was just delayed by her new office not being ready and that she hadn’t realized how that would look to him. She told Kyle to call maintenance, and they would assure him that she had put in a request for a new carpet. Diane was upset and said she thought they had settled everything that happened before and put it behind them. “What happened?” Diane wondered. Kyle admitted that he and Jack had had a talk, and they discussed whether or not they could trust her.

Kyle apologized for jumping the gun, but Diane didn’t understand why trusting her was even a topic of conversation. She said everything she did was to gain back love and trust, and it broke her heart that he would second-guess her now.

Kyle explained that seeing her stuff in the office seemed like a red flag and he thought it was best to address it immediately. He pointed out that watching Diana pretend to be against them was too real and too raw to be fake. “So you’re saying you still think I’m the terrible person I pretended to be?” Diane asked.

Kyle admitted that Diane’s performance was too real and that maybe it was her subconscious talking. Diane wondered why he was backtracking on what she thought was a sincere reconciliation. She asked if Victor had put the thoughts in Kyle’s head. Kyle snapped that Victor had zero influence on him. He was just trying to be honest. He assured Diane that they had made progress, but he just needed to get over that last obstacle, but he wasn't sure how to.

Audra met with Sally, and they both dished about the men they don’t call boyfriends. Sally told Audra how she’d had a nice evening with Billy until Phyllis interrupted but said he came over later. Audra told Sally about her dinner with Nate’s family and that she’d gotten emotional. Sally couldn’t believe that Audra did something so out of character and asked if her tears were fake and part of some calculation.

Audra insisted the crying was real, but she didn’t know what had come over her. Sally wondered if Nate knew how to touch Audra’s feelings that she kept so close, and maybe it was indicative that the real thing had come along. Audra thought it was possible but admitted that thought scared the hell out of her.

“First tears, now fear?” Sally mocked. Just then, Billy texted and asked Sally to play hooky with him, but she said she had to work. Audra encouraged her to blow off work and not let the opportunity for spontaneous time with her guy slip away. Sally asked for the real Audra Charles to stand up. She pointed out that Audra actually told her to choose her personal relationship over working. “Maybe I’m evolving,” Audra mused.

Billy and Sally had breakfast at Society, and he told her he planned to pursue Victor. Sally balked, saying he would never win at that game, but Billy told her he had a plan to ensure his success. He said his new plan included Jack, who had just walked in. Sally left for work, and Jack took her spot.

It didn’t take long for Billy and Jack to squabble. Billy told Jack that he was tired of him telling him he was always wrong and that he was testing him when he’d come to him about a job at Jabot. Billy said it was a loyalty test, and he hoped that he was wrong, but Jack ended up proving that he was right.

Billy told Jack he wasn’t interested in working at Jabot but once again, Jack said he was sure he could find him something to do there. Billy snapped at how he was always so condescending and said he was working on something bigger. Jack hoped it wasn’t a revenge scheme. Billy admitted he was going ahead with his plan against Victor.

Billy told Jack he was going to get Chancellor back and put himself back on top by doing to Victor what he has done to Billy. He planned to ensure that Nikki failed at running Chancellor. Billy reminded Jack of all the things that Victor had done to deserve a revenge plot against him.

Jack said he wouldn’t help with anything that involved punishing Nikki more than Victor. Billy noted that Jack was fine with hurting Billy as part of his own revenge plot against Victor. He said that Jack’s loyalty was off, and he was putting him back on the list of people he couldn’t trust.

Billy told Jack how offensive he was by always cutting him down. Jack insisted he only pointed out Billy’s shortcomings in an effort to help him overcome them. Billy asked why he never pointed out his accomplishments and said he was sick and tired of it. “I’m done. This has gone far enough. There is no coming back,” Billy decided.

Jack asked why Billy has to always put a spin on things, but Billy said the fact that Jack does that is the issue. “You make it like I'm the only one who ever has a problem and that I have no redeeming qualities,” Billy told his brother. Jack said that Billy's bad choices put him in this predicament between Victor and Chancellor. He wondered if Billy was ever going to take responsibility for his actions.

Billy told Jack that he was taking responsibility and that what Jack and Jill thought no longer mattered. He said he would do what he wanted without having to answer to them, and it felt great. “I’m going to sleep great tonight, better than I have in years,” Billy said. “Are you disowning me?” Jack asked. “In a word? Exactly,” Billy replied.

Jack went home and found Diane upset about her conversation with Kyle. She noted that Victor warned her that a bomb had dropped on their family, and they couldn’t recover. Jack told Diane to give Kyle some time.

“For as long as we live, you don’t have to prove yourself to me. I know where your heart is,” Jack soothed. He told Diane not to let Victor worm his way into her head. Diane was happy that Jack believed in her but was upset that Kyle still had doubts. Jack was sure that Kyle would get over the hump. “In the meantime, never doubt that you have your husband’s full support, trust, and love,” Jack added.

After Jack left, Billy messaged Phyllis and asked if she had given any thought to his plans. While he waited for a response, he texted Sally and asked her to play hooky and come out with him. She called and said okay, asking where and when to meet him.

At Chancellor, Kyle dropped in to see Claire. She thanked him for the flowers, and he told her it was the least he could do. “I’m so proud of you,” Kyle told her. He asked her out to dinner to celebrate and gave her a kiss before leaving her smiling.

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