Scenes From a Soap Opera

Victor's Master Plan

Victor Newman knew that his daughter, Victoria, killed Ashland Locke. The only thing that angered him about this was that he didn't get to pull the trigger himself. The mustache was simply happy that the bastard was dead. His major concern now was making sure that Victoria didn't pay for her crime. He and Nikki could see that their daughter was slowly losing her grip on reality. The events of the past few years were catching up to her.

"Victoria, I really think it's best if you get out of town for a little while. Clear your head." Nikki tried to explain to her daughter. "Your father and I are very worried about you." 

"Yes, sweetheart we are." Victor backed up his wife. "You're not sleeping, hardly eating, snapping at your family all the time; it's not healthy." 

Victoria sighed in frustration. Her parents and Nick had been on her to take a vacation for weeks now. They didn't understand that a vacation was the last thing she needed. She needed to keep busy, her mind distracted. "A vacation isn't going to help me. I need to work, work is an excellent distraction. Besides what about my kids?" 

"Don't your kids have a father?" Nikki asked, shoving her personal feelings towards Billy aside. Her daughter getting help was more important than her dislike of Billy Abbott. Victor was wisely staying quiet. 

"Yes" Victoria answered sounding like a petulant child. 

"They can stay with him then. I think Billy can manage parenting his children until you're better."  Nikki responded. 

"Your mother is right. Billy Boy can step up for once and parent his own children." Victor backed up his wife with a pained expression. It was clearly very difficult for him to say anything remotely kind where Billy was concerned. "You're not going to win this argument, so I would stop trying."

Victoria groaned, "Fine. I will go on this trip. Anything to get you and mom off my back." She stormed out of the room to go home so she could start packing. 

Nikki turned to her husband, "Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" Victoria's behavior was really starting to alarm her. 

"I know we are my baby." Victor answered, kissing the side of her head. Another thought occurred to the mustache. "How would you like to go with her?" 

Nikki's eyes snapped up to look at Victor. This wasn't part of the plan. Why was he trying to get rid of her? "Victor, where did this come from?" 

"It would be a girl's trip. Plus if you're there you can keep an eye on her, make sure she's actually resting." Victor explained. Nikki eyed him suspiciously, but agreed. She was in desperate need of a spa and relaxation. They were startled by the sound of the front door slamming. Bracing themselves for what they assumed was Victoria coming back to argue, they were pleasantly surprised to see their son Nicholas instead. 

"Hey Mom. Dad." Nick greeted his parents walking over to hug his mother. 

"Nicholas darling wonderful to see you." Nikki returned his greetings and hug. "I was just going upstairs to pack for my trip, but I'd love to see you before I leave so stick around okay?" 

"Yeah, I can stick around." Nick answered. "I didn't know you were going on a trip"

"It was a last minute thing." Nikki looked at her husband, which Nick noticed. "I'll fill you in when I get back." The blonde went upstairs to start her packing. Her son turned to his father for answers. 

"Why are you forcing Mom to go on a trip?" He asked. 

Victor angrily huffed, "I'm not forcing your mother. She's accompanying your sister to Europe so she can relax and regroup." 

Nick was concerned. "Dad, she's still the number one suspect in Locke's murder. Wouldn't it look suspicious if she suddenly left town?" 

The old man narrowed his eyes. "Victoria hasn't been charged with anything. And that murder was over a month ago. Paul and his police force can't expect her to keep her life on hold while those idiots bumble their way through the investigation." Nick nodded his head in understanding; something Victor appreciated. "Besides you've seen her, how on edge she's been lately. For God sake's she yelled at Adam for eating the last blueberry muffin the other day. She needs this trip." 

Nick didn't know how bad his older sister was suffering. While her being angry at Adam wasn't new, the fact that she would lose her temper over a muffin was extreme. "I've noticed how stressed she's seemed lately. Billy's worried too." 

Victor was confused about the random mention of Billy Boy Abbott. "Billy Boy? When did you talk to him?" 

"I ran into him at Chancellor Park the other day. I had just finished talking to Victoria and Billy noticed how strange she was acting. He's concerned both about her and the kids." 

"How nice for him to think of his children for once." Victor scoffed. 

"Dad." Nick said in a warning tone. "He's seriously worried about her. He said he would do anything to help Victoria and to reach out if we needed him. He meant it Dad" 

A light bulb went off over Victor's head. Billy Abbott would finally be useful. He had the exact same motivation as Victoria for wanting Ashland Locke dead. He was the perfect fall guy. 

Victor grinned as he thanked Nick for filling him in. Nick was confused at both his father's lack of reaction and the look on his face. He chose not to comment on it though, idiot. Victor just had to make sure that Victoria was already out of the country before he had Billy arrested. If she were still in town, she would want to stay and defend her children's father. He had to wait for the right moment to strike, soon this nightmare would all be over.