The Young and the Restless Performers of the Week: Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers and Billy Flynn as Cane Ashby

The Young and the Restless stars Michelle Stafford and Billy Flynn gave viewers a a greaty payoff as Phyllis and Cane's game of cat and mouse hit a surprising climax. For finally confessing to Cane, played by Billy Flynn, that she did indeed swipe his coveted AI program, Soap Central is bestowing Performers of the Week honors on Stafford and Flynn

The Young and the Restless, Performers of the Week,

Cane and Phyllis on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Cane (Billy Flynn) knew Phyllis had taken his Artificial Intelligence program, and she pretty much knew that he knew -- but Phyllis held her ground and then some! In fact, Phyllis was so adamant that she hadn't stolen the AI program, we even started to believe her and we knew she did it!

After weeks of verbal sparring and playing coy with one another, Cane and Phyllis had a show down at Crimson Lights. He hadn't gotten the truth out of her by having sex with Phyllis, but that didn't stop Cane from pushing and pushing until Phyllis began to crack.

"Do you want to take me on, Phyllis?" asked Cane, as Flynn brought his character to new heights in terms of dramatic strength. "Go ahead." Cane hastened to point out that he had created the dangerous software that has nearly everyone shaking.

"You didn't put the proper safefuard in to keep people like me out," Phyllis shot back, implying that Cane had no one but himself to blame for his downfall.

Flynn proved that Cane was done fooling around (so to speak), but hitting Phyllis where it hurt. "That's all you know how to do, Phyllis," Cane accused his lover. "Steal from others -- software, jobs, lovers. That is why you are never going to have anything of your own. That is why you'll always be riding someone else's coattails!"

Cane and Phyllis Kiss and Tell

Cane and Phyllis kiss on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Both actors were driven to show that their character was the one who was going to come out on top. "I'm dangerous now that I have nothing else to lose," Cane shouted.

"I'm dangerous now that I have nothing else to lose," Phyllis angrily replied. "You think you scare me?"

Both Stafford and Flynn took the material they were given made it clear that this wasn't about stolen software, but about personal betrayal.

"You slept me with me," Cane reminded Phyllis. "You slept with me," Phyllis countered.

The actors had brought the scene to such an intense level, we figured either a slap or a kiss was about to happen next. Indeed, Phyllis went to slap Cane, but he blocked her. Then, he kissed her, passionately. Phyllis responded by kissing back.