The Young and the Restless Recap for Monday, January 6, 2025: Ian faces off with Victor and Nikki

Victoria found Cole sitting at the bar in the jazz club, and she inquired whether their New Year’s celebration was over for him. They kissed, and he proclaimed that it had been perfect with just the two of them. She gushed over the caviar, Champagne, and roses in his suite, and she called it exactly what she’d needed after being confined to a bed over the holidays. Victoria wondered why Cole needed a nightcap, and he explained that he hadn’t been able to sleep because he’d been up thinking. He requested some advice about the job her father had offered him.

Victoria wondered what was bothering Cole about the job. He explained that there was nothing wrong with it on paper since becoming head of Newman Publishing would be a great opportunity, and he was flattered that Victor had considered him. Victoria swore that it wasn’t nepotism by association since her father always picked the right person for the job, whether they were family or not. Cole conceded that it was his dream job in many ways, and Victoria asked why he was hesitant. He contemplated whether he was overthinking it, but she observed that something was keeping him up at night and clearly holding him back. Cole admitted that he was leaning toward turning it down.

Cole clarified that he hadn’t made a final decision yet, but his instincts were telling him to decline the offer. Victoria was confused because he’d just called it a wonderful opportunity and the perfect job. Cole recounted that they’d talked about the “whole corporate thing” before, and he’d never wanted to work in that world. Victoria agreed that it could be toxic, but it could also be challenging and rewarding.

Cole questioned whether he’d have time for his own writing. Victoria pointed out that he always made time because it was what he did and who he was. Cole worried that things might change if he was heading a publishing division of a major company, dealing with budgets and focus groups, but his voice trailed off. “My father,” Victoria guessed, and she sensed that Victor was the main reason Cole didn’t want to accept the job. Cole admitted that while he could deal with all the other stuff, he wasn’t sure he could work for her father.

Victoria reminded Cole that she understood the pressures of working with Victor Newman. Cole envisioned what it would be like to have to report to and argue with Victor, but Victoria reasoned that it would be that way with any boss. Victoria brightly pointed out that she and Cole would be working in the same building, so they’d be able to spend more time together during the day. He groaned that she wasn’t making it easy on him.

Victoria figured the job wouldn’t last forever, and Cole could walk away if it wasn’t a good fit. She added that she’d done that a few times herself, but he remarked that she’d paid the price. Victoria accepted that as Victor’s daughter, she was expected to be an extension of her father. Cole joked that he was just a boyfriend, but Victoria insisted that she felt more strongly about him than that – and Victor knew it. Victoria swore nothing would change her feelings for Cole.

Cole cited the way Victor turned on people. Cole refused to risk what he and Victoria had since it was still a miracle to him that he was living with her and their daughter. He continued that when he looked back at what his life used to be, he didn’t recognize it anymore, and he worried that working for Victor might spoil things. Cole referred to Victor’s long track record of interfering in other people’s lives.

Victoria recognized that it was her father’s way of being protective, but she sometimes had to push back to make him aware when he crossed a line. Cole complained that it sounded like a lot of work, but Victoria disagreed if it was over something worth fighting for. She explained that finding him and their baby had also been a miracle for her, and she would “fight like hell” against her father or anyone else who tried to threaten their family. Victoria advised him not to use her and Claire as an excuse because they were stronger than that.

Cole thanked Victoria for the reassurance, but he still wasn’t sure about the job. She encouraged him to make his own decision by looking at it from both sides and not just the negative one. He appreciated her listening to him, and she called them a team. They kissed and headed upstairs together.

Mariah and Tessa entered the cottage and were glad to find Faith there. Faith shared that the place was surrounded by guards, and she asked if there had been any word from her mom. Mariah indicated that she hadn’t heard anything yet, and Faith panicked that something had happened to Sharon. Mariah urged Faith not to jump to conclusions, but Faith compared the situation to when their mother had been taking tainted pills. Mariah pointed out that they’d just seen their mother, and Sharon had been fine. Faith wailed that it was the middle of the night, and she knew something was wrong.

Faith screeched that they should have listened to Nick about getting police protection, but Mariah had told him she’d had it handled. Faith scoffed at what a great job Mariah had done, but Tessa warned that it wouldn’t benefit anyone or help Sharon if they blamed one another. Faith apologized, and Mariah acknowledged that Faith wasn’t the only one on edge. Faith recognized that it hadn’t been easy for Mariah to see the creep who’d raised her, but Mariah stressed that Ian had groomed her.

Mariah was convinced that Ian had been part of the chaos involving Sharon since he was capable of tampering with medication or worse. A horrified Faith asked if Mariah meant murder. Mariah reiterated that Ian was a terrible person who was capable of anything, but she was confident Victor and Nick would find Sharon. Tessa marveled that a man like Ian was the last person she’d expect to be there just in time to save her life. Mariah called it a crazy coincidence, and she prompted Tessa to tell her every detail about what had happened.

Tessa didn’t know how much she could remember because it was a blur. She recalled she’d started feeling dizzy during the dinner rush, and she’d chalked it up to not eating much. She recounted that Ian had been at Society earlier to get a dinner reservation for two, but she’d told him they were booked and put him on a waitlist. Mariah wondered who Ian had been planning to dine with, but Tessa replied that he hadn’t mentioned any names. Tessa continued that he’d written his number down, she’d said she’d call, and he’d left.

Faith thought the exchange seemed harmless, and Tessa confirmed that Ian had been friendly and cordial. Tessa recalled that eating hadn’t helped, so Abby had told her to go home. Tessa had opted to go outside for air, and Ian had happened to be there. She remembered collapsing, gasping for air, and finding Ian next to her on the window ledge, applying an inhaler to help her breathe again. Faith voiced surprise that he’d been carrying around an inhaler, and Tessa divulged that he’d said he’d developed asthma in prison. “Lucky for Tessa,” Faith commented. “Yeah, lucky,” Mariah sarcastically muttered.

Mariah contemplated what could have caused Tessa to have trouble breathing. Tessa recalled having occasional panic attacks before she performed. Faith noted that it sounded like Ian had saved Tessa’s life. Mariah doubted it was a random kind act since Ian didn’t “give a damn” about other people and only did things that benefited him. Mariah considered it possible that he’d done it for her to prove he was a changed man.

Tessa reflected on how Ian could have known she’d pass out at that moment or that Mariah would be there. Mariah warned that Ian always had an agenda, and it was usually a bad one. Mariah cautioned that Ian was always one step ahead of what anyone thought he’d do, and by the time they figured it out, it was too late. Faith asked if Mariah thought he’d hurt their mom. Mariah reiterated that they didn’t know anything yet other than that Ian was there and Sharon was gone, but she worried Sharon would be in real trouble if Ian was involved.

Jordan entered her seedy motel room and told Ian that Sharon was hidden in the car. Ian trusted that Jordan hadn’t been followed, and she was offended that he considered her an amateur. She was confident that no one had seen or followed her, and she asked if he was satisfied. Ian replied that he would be once they disposed of Sharon, and he inquired whether Jordan was clear on what she needed to do. He stressed that it had to look like Sharon had been run off the road into a watery grave in the same river where Sharon had dumped Heather’s dead body. Ian crowed that it was the poetic justice they needed to sell Phyllis’ guilt.

Jordan asserted that she’d fulfilled her end of the bargain, and it was Ian’s turn. “In time,” he replied. She objected to doing any more jobs for him unless he reciprocated. He reminded her that he’d gotten her out of prison without the world knowing, and he snapped that she was starting to irritate him with her lack of gratitude. Jordan insisted that she was extremely grateful, but all she was getting from him were words when he was supposed to be helping her with Claire. Ian said he would, but Jordan questioned how many bodies would pile up before it was her turn.

Ian ordered Jordan to have patience and faith since he’d felt things falling into place when he’d seen Mariah for the first time after being apart. Jordan echoed that she’d felt the same way when she’d seen Claire again, describing the feeling as a mixture of longing, hurt, love, and pure hatred. Ian hoped he and Jordan would be able to win back Mariah and Claire’s affection, but Jordan wondered what would happen if they couldn’t. Ian intended to punish Mariah and Claire for the pain they’d caused him and Jordan. Jordan implored Ian to remember their arrangement. “Criss-cross, Ian. Criss-cross,” she clucked.

At the Newman ranch, Victor showed a photo of Ian to one of his security officers. Nick mentioned that Ian had been calling himself Warren Masters, and Victor anticipated that Ian probably also went by a half-dozen other aliases. Nick reported that no one had been able to contact Sharon, and he doubted that it was a coincidence. Victor vowed to get to the bottom of it, no matter how many men it took. He instructed his security officer to find and bring Ian to him.

Nick preferred to be out working with Victor’s security team to find Ian, but Victor insisted that they find out what Ian was up to first. Nick assumed Ian had had something to do with Sharon’s poisoned medication, and he was convinced she was in danger or worse. Victor thought there was nothing more they could do until they learned more about Ian’s motive. Victor inquired about Ian’s demeanor when Nick had seen him. Nick recalled that Ian had been cocky, but Ian had disguised it as repentance of a man of cloth looking for forgiveness. Victor called Ian a first-class conman, and he pledged to stop him.

Victor asked if Nick thought Ian had killed Heather or perhaps had someone else do it. Nick figured it lined up with Ian’s other crimes, and Victor pondered how to stop Ian. Nick angrily suggested giving him five minutes alone with Ian to get all the answers they needed. Victor cautioned that Ian was waiting for them to lose their cool, but they wouldn’t give it to him. Victor wondered why Ian had chosen to step out of the shadows right then.

There was a knock at Ian’s motel room door, and Ian peered out the peephole. Victor’s security officer called out for Warren Masters.

Later, Victor’s security officer escorted Ian into the ranch. “Hello, Ian Ward. We’ve been expecting you,” Victor greeted. “Praise be, my prayers have been answered,” Ian proclaimed. Victor told Ian to try his baloney on his parish because it wouldn’t work on him. Ian swore it wasn’t an act, and he’d truly been praying for the opportunity to make amends. Victor instructed his security officer to stay close by, and he invited Ian to sit.

Ian confirmed that he’d served his time, paid his debt to society, and repented for his crimes. Nick inquired about Ian’s alias. Ian explained that his real name carried a lot of baggage, and he’d thought he could do more of God’s work if people weren’t instantly on guard. Victor demanded to know why Ian was back in town. Ian expressed his desire to make amends to Victor, Nikki, their family, and, most importantly, Mariah. Victor pretended he was touched.

Ian regretted that he’d almost destroyed Mariah’s life, and he reiterated that he’d atoned for his sins by finding a brighter path through scripture. Victor remarked that Ian almost sounded convincing. Nick demanded to know where Sharon was, but Ian claimed to have no idea what Nick was talking about. Nick reminded Ian that Sharon was Mariah’s mother and the woman whose baby Ian had bought. Ian recalled that the woman hadn’t had any intention of being a mother at the time.

Nick refused to allow Ian to leave until he told them where Sharon was. Ian maintained that he’d had nothing to do with Sharon being missing, and he’d been at Society that night waiting to celebrate when the Lord had called upon him to save a young woman’s life. Ian pretended not to remember Tessa’s name. He proclaimed that miracles were real, and all they had to do was believe. Victor believed Ian was the same “B.S. artist” he always had been. Ian resolved to keep trying.

Victor ordered Ian to leave immediately and permanently, or he would hunt Ian down like an animal and make him disappear. Ian scoffed at the idea that Victor had that kind of power. Victor stood up, advanced toward Ian, and asked if Ian dared to try him. Ian also stood and faced Victor directly. “No. But you’re not going to do that, are you?” Ian responded.

Victor questioned whether Ian was forgetting who he was dealing with. Ian said he was fully aware — and so were the police. Ian revealed that the police knew he was back in town, thanks to Nick and Faith, and they also knew Nick had made threats against him that evening. Ian continued that he had a letter that pointed the finger at the Newmans if anything dire happened to him, although he still wanted to prove his intentions were honorable and win their forgiveness. He asked if he was free to go.

Nikki sleepily called out to ask what was going on, and she gasped when she saw Ian. “What the hell is he doing here?” she asked. Ian called Nikki as beautiful as ever, but Nick led Nikki to the opposite side of the room, as Victor escorted Ian to the door. Victor warned that a letter to the police wouldn’t intimidate him, but Ian taunted him, saying that it should be if Victor was interested in protecting his son and family.

Ian defended that he was just trying to protect himself. Victor indicated that he’d never forgive Ian, and he told Ian to get out. Ian cooed that it had been a pleasure, adding that he’d pray for Victor, who warned him not to press his luck. After Ian ducked out, Victor instructed his security officer to follow Ian and not lose sight of him.

Nikki didn’t understand how Ian had been released. Nick relayed that Ian’s story about being a free man had checked out and that Ian had claimed to want to make amends. Nikki didn’t believe it. Victor promised that Ian wouldn’t be free for long because he’d soon make a mistake, and once he did, Victor would bury him.

Jordan handcuffed and chained an unconscious Sharon to some pipes in a dark, dank underground room. Jordan hissed that Sharon should be grateful she wasn’t at the bottom of the river. “At least not yet,” Jordan ominously added. Jordan set down some bagged snacks and bottled water and bellowed that Sharon was lucky she wasn’t getting Brussels sprouts and vodka. “That’s reserved for you, Nikki Newman!” Jordan growled. Jordan mused that she wasn’t quite ready to prepare Sharon’s watery grave because Sharon would be her insurance policy until Jordan got what she needed from her partner.

Jordan returned to the motel and was disturbed when Ian wasn’t there. She thanked God when he returned since she’d thought maybe he’d skipped town and left her holding the bag. He declared that their work had just begun since he’d just been personally invited to go see Victor at the ranch. Jordan voiced surprise Ian was still breathing.

Ian reported that the visit had gone as expected, but he was concerned about Sharon. He asked if Jordan had done what he’d asked and if Sharon was lying peacefully at the bottom of the river. “Sharon is exactly where she’s supposed to be,” Jordan cryptically replied. Ian grinned evilly.

Sharon awakened and found herself chained to the pipe. She desperately cried out for help.

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