Nikolas, Lydia and Stefan are still in the drawing room. Nikolas’ hand is on his hip and then he reaches for and pours himself a drink.
Nikolas: Lydia didn't just see my face in a magazine and decide to stop by, did she?
Lydia: Well, as a matter of fact, I did.
Nikolas: Before or after my uncle asked you to visit?
Stefan: What possible motive could I have for bringing Lydia here?
Nikolas has a chuckle.
Nikolas: You -- my uncle has a motive for which side of the cup he sips from, so proceed with caution.
Lydia: Well, if you won't believe Stefan, then believe me. I did not show up here at your uncle's invitation.
Nikolas: But he made such a point of welcoming you and encouraging me to spend time with you. Could it be that he finds you appropriate?
Lydia laughs at Nikolas as they both sit down onto the couch. Stefan has a drink too.
Lydia: I'm sorry. That's just not something I often hear.
Nikolas: Are you trying to play matchmaker, Uncle? Throwing us together in hopes that I’ll fall madly in love with Lydia, or, more importantly, her inheritance?
Stefan: I know you better than that, Nikolas.
Stefan raises his drink to his lips.
Nikolas: I thought you did. Love can't be bought and emotions can't be manipulated -- mine or hers. Right?
Lydia: Don't worry. Nobody makes me do anything I don't want to.
Nikolas: Good. Now, I have a prior commitment. If you feel that we haven't been gracious hosts, why don't you take Lydia out to see the sights of Port Charles yourself.
Nikolas stands up and then leaves the room.
Lydia and Stefan are conversing in the Cassadine daring room. She was on the couch and then gets up to confront him.
Lydia: Do you even have a plan, or are you just winging it here?
Stefan: It is necessity for both of us that you marry Nikolas within the year and produce an heir within five or your grandfather's estate will go to charity.
Lydia: Yeah, well, any bright ideas on my next move?
Stefan: Persuade Nikolas to go into the city with you.
Lydia: Now? You just heard him. He doesn't want anything to --
Stefan: Just do it. I need him out of the house for a while.
Lydia: Why? What are you going to do?
Stefan: That's none of your concern. You just cooperate. Don't get in my way. People who do regret it.
Lydia: Why do I believe that?
Lydia leaves the room hurriedly. Stefan goes over to his desk and reaches for the phone. Dialing a number he speaks.
Stefan: I need a message delivered to Emily Quartermaine. It's urgent.
Nikolas and Lydia had come to Kelly’s as they approached the doors, Summer ran out and passed them.
Lydia: That's the woman that practically dragged your brother off to some private rendezvous. Wonder what went wrong.
Nikolas: Does it matter?
Lydia: No, not really. I mean, you know, your brother has a certain blue-collar charm, but he's not my type.
Just then, Lucky comes out.
Lucky: My, you work fast.
Lydia: If it's work, you're not doing it right.
Lucky: Hey, Nikolas, we need to talk in private.
Nikolas: Will you excuse us?
Lydia: Yeah. Don't be long.
Lydia goes into Kelly’s.
Lucky: Who is that woman?
Nikolas: Ooh, it's a long story. Unfortunately for my uncle, it's not going to have the ending he had in mind.
Emily appears in the doorway of the drawing room, Stefan is sitting in a chair looking through letters.
Emily: I got a message that Nikolas wanted to see me right away.
Stefan: Well, I didn't think you would come at my request.
Stefan rises and Emily goes to leave as Stefan starts to talk.
Emily: You were right. You know, a lie is a bad way to start any conversation.
Stefan: I owe you an apology.
Emily: Oh. And you're actually admitting it? That's a first.
Stefan: I'm not the enemy.
Emily: Let me guess. The family.
Stefan: The Cassadine finances are in serious trouble. Turning them around will require Nikolas' complete and undivided attention.
Emily: If you loved Nikolas at all, you would trust him to do what he thinks is best. But, you know, I guess that's just a concept you're never going to grasp.
Emily leaves and Stefan stops her with his voice, she turns around and stares at him.
Stefan: Emily -- I tried to be sympathetic. Now I'll be blunt. You stay away from Nikolas. I won't tell you again.
Emily looks scared but then turns around and leaves.
Nikolas and Lucky have a scene outside of Kelly’s talking about Summer and Luke.
Emily is walking through the gates and the fog at Wyndemere. She meets Nikolas just as he approaches.
Nikolas: Hey.
Emily: Hey
Nikolas: You all right?
Emily: Yeah. I'm nauseous enough without a wasted boat trip. Stefan tricked me into coming here.
Nikolas: What for?
Emily: He encouraged me to drop you.
Nikolas: How much encouragement did he offer? Did he threaten you?
Emily: Not in so many words.
Nikolas: Yeah, he's a master of getting his point across without actually coming out and saying it.
Emily: Yeah. He is convinced that I’m a threat to saving the Cassadine fortune. I guess you're supposed to be working at it 24/7 and I'm a distraction.
Nikolas: I'm sorry. Go home. Get some rest. All right, don't worry about this. I'll take care of him.
Nikolas gives Emily a kiss on the cheek and then a hair pat.
Emily: Okay.
Nikolas: Okay. Bye.
Stefan and Darius are in the drawing room. Stefan is formulating a plan.
Stefan: I'm running out of options. I can't buy Emily off. Can't scare her away. But there are other methods.