Photo Credit: Adam Campbell

Will reveals to EJ that he knows he slept with Sami. He tries to leverage this information for money to leave town. EJ, however, turns the tables. He reveals he knows Will was the one who shot him years ago when he was marrying Samantha – Lucas took the fall for his son. Will is stunned. EJ doesn’t go into specifics about how he found this out, but he warns that if Will isn’t careful, he’ll expose this secret. EJ also reveals his awareness of Will’s conflicted sexuality. Will tries to back down, but EJ can’t just forget that he tried to blackmail him. EJ owns him now, and Will must do exactly what he says.

Hope and Bo struggle to come to terms with the difficult issues they discussed in marriage counseling with Marlena. Therapy is much more difficult than they realized it would be. They wonder if they can hack it, but know they must for the sake of their marriage. After so much heavy discussion, they lighten things up by going on a date to the empty Brady Pub. They both vow they won’t be intimidated by the therapy because their love will see them through. Jack overhears Daniel say that he can no longer operate. He observes as Jennifer bucks up Daniel and gives him the support he so desperately needs. Jack surprises them by saying if Daniel needs her support, he should have it. This competition they’ve been having hasn’t been healthy for any of them and he thinks they should end it. From now on, they’ll just see where life takes them. With Madison’s support, Brady breaks the news to Victor that he has decided to leave Titan to work with his father at Basic Black. Victor is outraged and thinks Brady is making a huge mistake. Brady explains he wants to strike out on his own – and, more importantly, he wants to repair his relationship with his father. Maggie finally helps Victor see that what Brady is doing is important. Victor grudgingly accepts his grandson’s resignation as CEO. Brady leaves to tell John the good news. Madison is about to leave, too, when Victor stops her. Now that Brady has stepped down and given back all his shares, Titan is going to need a new CEO. Victor thinks that person should be Madison. She is floored by the huge offer.

John presents Marlena with a romantic breakfast to celebrate her first day on the job at Salem U. Marlena is incredibly touched. They talk about the possibility of Brady partnering with John at Basic Black. John notes that he and Brady have always had a hard time relating and hopes this will signal a fresh start for them. He also hopes Marlena can get the same kind of chance with Sami. Marlena, knowing about Sami and EJ, isn’t sure that will happen. After Marlena leaves for work, John meets with Brady at the pub. Brady tells John he’s decided to work with him. John is delighted and overwhelmed with happiness. They are going to make a great team. Sonny and Chad are hanging out when Melanie shows up. It’s awkward as she and Chad fight their feelings. Sonny picks up on it and leaves. Chad and Melanie reiterate their resolve to take things slow when Abigail arrives and blasts them. Melanie asks Chad for a moment alone with her friend. She tries to clear the air with Abigail and explains that she and Chad never meant to hurt her; they never went behind her back. Abigail really lets Melanie have it. She asks Melanie to look her in the eye and swear nothing ever happened between her and Chad. Melanie remembers the kiss during the hostage situation and cannot deny.

Abigail storms off and runs into Marlena at school. She talks things out with Marlena but decides she still cannot forgive Melanie. Meanwhile, Chad confides to Sonny how much he cares for Melanie and how difficult this situation is. Later, Melanie arrives, still upset about Abigail. To Chad’s shock, she tells him they can never be together; she can’t keep hurting Abigail like this. Victor presses Madison to accept his offer to be Titan’s new CEO, but she’s reluctant. Maggie encourages her husband to give Madison some time to think and so Victor does. Later, Maggie worries that if Madison does take the job, she and Brady might find it difficult to spend time together. Madison runs into Brady and he tells her how excited he is to be working with his father. Madison is still upset to lose him at work, but knows it’s for the best. Brady tells her not to worry; they will still try to find time to see one another. Madison worries that might not be possible. She reveals Victor offered her the job of Titan CEO. Brady reassures her that whatever decision she makes, he will support her. Later, Madison makes another mysterious call and says she needs some advice.

Brady and John are going over a business plan when Abe and Lexie arrive to participate in an interview John is giving. Basic Black’s stolen pensions are being replenished today and John will use the media attention as an opportunity to endorse Abe for mayor.

Nicole has caught wind of this endorsement as well as the fact that Abe Carver intends to introduce a jobs program. Nicole tells EJ she thinks they need to counter attack … do something to boost their campaign. EJ mysteriously says he’s already working on it. Will arrives and Nicole learns he’s now a part of their team. She is thrown, but accepts it and EJ gives Will a task he doesn’t want to do. Because EJ has him dead to rights, however, he has no choice. Will goes to the pub, where he steals some files from Abe’s computer. It kills him to do this. Meanwhile, EJ takes Nicole to lunch and promises his commitment to her. Later, Will returns to the mansion with the files and EJ tells him that the two of them aren’t very different. Sami has a brilliant idea to find the new face of Countess Wilhelmina and Kate wholeheartedly agrees. Later, Kate calls Sami on how over-attentive she’s been with Rafe and wonders if something’s up. Sami defends herself, but her guilt over having sex with EJ lingers.

Bo and Hope pursue the mystery of the key they found in the plaque and discover it belongs to safe deposit box Alice rented in Salem. They also catch a suspect sought after in a series of armed pharmacy robberies and talk about their relationship, vowing to continue seeing Marlena to strengthen and protect the love they share. Abigail bumps into Austin on his way to his new office. She helps him get there and lets it drop that she’s headed to financial aid about a work study job. Austin has a spur of the moment idea and asks if she’d like to be his assistant. He gets an okay and Abigail is so excited, she could jump for joy. Austin is glad; he’s unaware she has feelings for him. Carrie and Rafe are at their office where the thermostat is broken and the heat is off the charts. Rafe goes shirtless and Carrie wears only a camisole since they can’t leave on the first day they’ve opened up shop. Neither is aware of the sexual tension though it’s quite clear. Rafe pitches a case to Carrie that involves the son of a woman he knows. The son is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. The woman friend doesn’t have enough to pay them but Carrie agrees to rep the young man when she sees how much it matters to Rafe.

Will is with Sonny, who’s in the midst of plans for the new coffee house he’s opening with his parents’ support and blessing. Will is amazed by their relationship and talks to Adrienne, who explains she and Justin love their son for who he is and just want him to be happy. Will meets Matteo through Sonny and they hit it off. It looks like Will and Matteo may connect but Will catches himself and shuts down. He leaves abruptly and Sonny explains to thrown Matteo that Will is “just not there yet.”

EJ has another assignment for Will, who is wrestling with his guilt over stealing Abe’s jobs creation program. EJ informs Will he’s to take delivery of an envelope … and the rest will be self-explanatory. Will tries to get out of it but EJ is firm. He toys with Will a little, wondering if the young man didn’t get a secret rush out of the bit of espionage he conducted the other day. Will tries to cover but EJ is right. Will goes off on the mission and takes delivery of the envelope. The envelope contains keys to a brand new sports car and Will gets a further surprise when EJ presents him with the car as a gift. Will doesn’t get it. EJ explains that Will works for him now and image is everything. Drawn in, Will accepts the gift, and that’s when Sami arrives, getting the shock of a lifetime when she sees her son and EJ working together. Sami and Rafe manage to take a break from their busy schedules and catch up. Nicole spends the day at the spa, courtesy of EJ. After a training session with Quinn, she runs into Brady and Madison and catches up with them both. She confides in Madison about how great things are going with EJ. Brady and Madison take some much needed time to have a couples massage, but when the masseuses run late, they find a way to pass the time with a little romance.

Bo and Hope have the safe deposit key in hand. They learned that Alice did indeed take out a box at a local bank under the name “A. Grayson.” They explain to Jennifer and Abe that they believe opening this box will finally give them all the answers they’ve been seeking. When they get to the bank, however, they’re given a shock. The manager tells them there were two persons on the account and it is stipulated that the box could not be opened without both present. Bo and Hope are hit with yet another mystery … and a stonewall: who was Alice’s “partner?”