On the Friday, August 7 episode of “Beyond the Gates,” Andre (Sean Freeman) got interrupted trying to tell his truth – again, Eva (Ambyr Michelle) got an unexpected second opinion, and Hayley (Marquita Goings) got Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) to St. Bart’s…almost.
Kial Got The Exclusive
Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix) had Kial (Greg Vaughan) over to her house, where they briefly discussed their plans for the day until Nicole sat Kial down to talk about something more serious. When Nicole said she had seen Carlton and described what a dear friend he had always been, Kial assumed that Nicole had chosen Carlton, to the point Nicole actually had to tell Kial to stop talking.
Announcing that she considered Kial to be fun, sexy, and fresh, Nicole revealed that she was ready to go “all in” with him…if he was. Kial kissed his approval and clothes began coming off. After making love, Kial wondered how things would change now that he and Nicole were exclusive. Nicole’s only prediction was that Kial would have to be her plus-one at every Dupree event, and that her family would be sure to interrogate him regarding his intentions now that their relationship had become serious. “Bring it on,” Kial replied, saying he couldn’t wait to show Nicole’s loved ones how much he cared about her.
Count Me Out
At Orphey Gene’s, Ted (Keith D. Robinson) marveled at how quickly Eva had gotten caught up at his office. Eva seemed tired but happily discussed work until Ted asked her about her surgery scar, displeased that Leslie had finked. Ted remarked that Eva had passed out, had her liver removed and replaced with a portion of Kat’s, and woken up having to be told what had happened. Eva tried to play it off and said she was grateful to be alive, but when Ted pressed, she called the scar “a huge jagged reminder” that she had a part of the half-sister who hated her in her body.
When Ted said that they might be able to look into a procedure like laser resurfacing, but only after Eva’s incision had healed completely, Eva confessed that she had already heard that from Carlton, whom Ted was surprised Eva had gone to first. Eva had also read that her scar might fade over time – however, as Ted suggested she needed to focus on how she was handling things emotionally in the present, Eva balked at the idea of seeing a therapist, convinced it wasn’t going to help. Ted offered to ask Nicole for a reference to a psychiatrist who had experience in such topics and implored Eva to at least go in for one session. Eva agreed to think about it.
Outside Your Door
Across the diner, Smitty (Mike Manning) sat down with Andre, who wanted to get a reporter’s perspective. When Andre spoke about getting a text from someone he’d once known whom he didn’t want to hear from, Smitty suggested using an app to track the number – though it would involve the caller clicking a link. That was basically all that could be done, Smitty said…unless the person had committed a crime against Andre.
Smitty was even more concerned when Andre said there hadn’t been a crime “per se.” He could see that Andre was hiding something, but just as Andre was about to open up as to what that was, Ted came by the table, finding it odd that Andre and Smitty, two men who rarely hung out together, were in conference. Andre claimed he was simply getting advice from a journalist about how to handle himself with Dani’s big media interview coming up.
After Ted left, Smitty realized that whatever Andre had to say was huge, or he wouldn’t have just lied to his beloved uncle. When Smitty became worried that Andre’s problem could affect Martin’s campaign, Andre assured him that Martin wouldn’t be impacted; Andre simply wanted his mystery person to remain in the past.
I Got All My Sisters With Me
Randy (Maurice P. Kerry) came to Joey (Jon Lindstrom) at his casino and reported that Heather’s name had come up on the manifest of an arriving plane; he had followed Heather, but she had only gone to a coffee shop and a movie theatre. Joey concluded that Heather had known she was being tailed and therefore had led Randy into innocuous places – and even in those, she could meet with a contact, possibly one within Joey’s own business. Randy listened as Joey insisted that Heather was a problem that needed to be nipped in the bud…now.
Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli) was dining at Uptown with Dani (Karla Mosley), who couldn’t wait to gab about Hayley supposedly cheating on Bill. Dani knew she’d have to come up with definite proof to convince lawyer Bill, but Vanessa wondered why Dani even cared, not buying Dani’s assertion that she was looking out for Chelsea and Naomi. Just as Vanessa was telling Dani that her “elevator liaison” with Bill seemed to have meant more to her than she’d been letting on, Heather (Ashley Jones) entered and was so happy to meet supermodel Dani, she asked for a selfie with her. Vanessa looked uncomfortable even as Heather included her in the photo.
When Vanessa asked Heather if Joey knew she was in town, Heather assumed he probably did, then went on to revisit the subject of her, Vanessa, and Joey sitting down to dinner. Vanessa hedged, prompting Heather to smile that “JoJo” would probably grumble but ultimately agree to the get-together; Dani and Vanessa giggled at the pet name Heather had given to her brother. “I’ll suggest it,” Vanessa finally conceded before leaving for an appointment. Heather stuck around to guzzle mimosas with Dani, and the two found out they had several things in common.
Joey flamed a subordinate over the phone for letting Heather slip away. After he hung up, Vanessa sauntered in and called Joey “JoJo,” which irked him. Vanessa said that Heather was in town and was surprised that Heather hadn’t informed Joey, who wasn’t particularly interested in sitting down to dinner with his sister. Yet Vanessa recalled how pained Joey had seemed when he’d been reading the letter from the then-missing Heather, so Joey grudgingly accepted having a meal with her on the condition that he cook it.
Don’t Faint
Bill had breakfast ready for Hayley, hoping the night’s rest had made her feel better. Hayley sighed that she still needed to take off for St. Bart’s; being accused of cheating on Bill had been the last straw. Bill saw it as Hayley trying to run away, and Hayley became annoyed when Bill offered to talk Dani down, cracking that she hadn’t signed up to be in a throuple. When Bill railed at Hayley’s continuing insecurity, she protested that she needed the trip for her mental health – and decided that she was going with…or without Bill.
When Bill seemed worried that Hayley wouldn’t come back, Hayley laid it on thick and declared that her Caribbean stay would be open-ended. She was just about to go upstairs to pack when Bill stopped her, and Hayley smirked to herself. Bill finally said he would accompany Hayley to St. Bart’s, but only if he could stop by the office and get some work to take with him. Hayley consented and told Bill that she’d meet him at the airport.
With Bill gone, Hayley called Randy and gloated that she had manipulated Bill into going on the trip after all. “Next time we talk,” she bragged to her cousin, “I will be rich as hell.” Meanwhile, Bill arrived at his office and was confused when Caroline (Ellie Wang) had already cleared his schedule, even though he was just asking her to do so in that moment. Caroline wondered if Bill had gotten medical clearance to travel, but Bill scoffed that he was a grown man who knew his own body and went on his way.
Bill was barely beyond his office door when he became woozy, lost his balance, and collapsed in the hallway. Caroline came running and called 911 when she realized her boss was unconscious.
Watch a clip from “Beyond the Gates” below.
