Tell Me A Story – Family Business

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

Kyle (Casey Thomas Brown) is baking cookies whilst listening to Ashley’s (Natalie Alyn Lind) hit single. He later burns his arm on the heating coils, on purpose. Susie (Kathryn Prescott) helps Ashley with her physiotherapy and informs her about how she declined about thirty PR requests for TV appearances. Soon, the news shows an interview with Ashley’s rescuer, Charlie Mayfield (David Vaughn). When asked if she met him in person, Charlie acknowledges the flowers that he received. Ashley feels guilty and depressed. Susie asks her to count her blessings. Rebecca (Carrie-Anne Moss) is worried about Ashley’s security which needs tightening; Ken (Evan Parke) concurs. Beau (Eka Darville) lets Ashley know that a creepy fan sent her blue velvet chocolate chip cookies and an ominous note which screams the fact that he or she was behind the accident. It is none other than Kyle.

After spending a night with Jackson (Matt Lauria), Simone (Ashley Madekwe) gets ready for the reading of Frank’s will. She discloses about losing her dad now after having lost her mom when she was six years old and having an estranged step-family. The bracelet that Jackson returned to Simone is apparently her mom’s. Jackson feels sorry for her as he helps her wear the jewelry. He reveals about losing his alcoholic father at fifteen years old. After a passionate peck, Simone leaves for the day.

Olivia (Danielle Campbell) freaks out upon realizing that she’s been drugged and kidnapped by Tucker (Paul Wesley) who planted her pet cat as bait. She asks him to release her as her friends and family would come looking for her. Tucker, who’s now past his writer’s block, disagrees as he knows everything about her lonely unimpactful life. After getting her food, he assures her that she’ll be safe here and how she’s the subject of his manuscript. Tucker stresses that he researches his subjects extensively and his one rule, as always, is that the subject mustn’t try to escape. He brings Reba in to give Olivia company. The detectives arrive at Ashley’s for the ongoing accident investigation as the cupcakes and the note could point them at a few possible leads. While Detective Chapman (Jeff Benninghofen) pokes fun at Beau’s “babysitting a pop star” job, Detective Gwen Roberts (Felisha Terrell) – who had a thing with Beau in the past – wishes that he didn’t have to suffer this way for standing by his principles. Ashley spots the exes together.

While signing autographs on behalf of Ashley, Susie receives a call from Kyle regarding a date at her favorite bar! The detectives investigate the delivery and decide to work on it. Beau is pissed at their sloppy pace, but Chapman asks him to let the real police do their job. Ashley checks out an illustrative “We hate Ashley Rose” folder that Rebecca was hiding. She realizes that she’s got plenty of haters, too. Later Beau finds Ashley at the garage struggling to turn on the car without remembering the horrid experience. To lighten her mood he takes her for ice cream. Kyle follows. Beau reveals how not supporting corruption at the Nashville police force got him fired. Ashley focuses on her life and realizes how her fans and the label only care about her music – not her as a person. While strolling, Beau spots Kyle’s car and takes its picture for circling in on leads. On their way back Ashley meets Charlie Mayfield and thanks him for saving her life. Kyle can’t follow them this time as Susie pings him for their date.

Brendan (Harry Shum Jr.) is getting ready for a will reading. Maddie (Odette Annable) helps him. He concludes that things are grim between Maddie and Tucker, but it won’t stop her from attending the company party that night. The will reading turns out to be Frank’s. Veronica (Garcelle Beauvais), Derek (Christopher Meyer) and Ron (Caleb Castille) are in attendance and Simone joins shortly. Brendan reads the will. It turns out the company assets have been entirely given to Veronica and her sons while  Simone has been left with a mere $25,000. Sensing foul play, Simone wants to contest the will, which could risk her entitlement all together but she’s willing to take that chance. Veronica isn’t surprised. Maddie meets Tucker. Even though he claims to have gotten all of his issues sorted and wants to be by her side at the party, Maddie desperately needs a breather and doesn’t want him accompanying her.

Jackson has come to meet Ashley but she’s out. Rebecca behaves curtly with him. Jackson confronts her and wants to know why she despises him so much- is it because he reminds her of dad? Rebecca shoots back at him calling him just as drunk, irresponsible and a waste of life as her husband. Despite Maddie’s wishes, Tucker attends the company party and socializes well. The couple presents itself in such a way as if nothing has ever been wrong between them. Maddie is pleasantly surprised. Kyle and Susie have a date-night playing pool. He gets her heavily intoxicated. Susie reveals that she’s Ashley Rose’s assistant and hopes that it doesn’t steal the spotlight away from her as always. Kyle assures her that it won’t happen this time. On their way back they make out, but Kyle grimaces when touched on one of his scars. Susie invites him into her home.

Ron and Derek go to Simone’s motel room with her mother’s jewelry and $50,000 – twice the amount she was entitled to get. They suggest her leaving town for safety, but Simone neither wants their pity money nor their unsolicited advice. She rips the check apart and punches Ron in the face. Derek warns Simone that if she doesn’t leave, things would worsen and get unmanageable.

Tucker is in the restroom. He secretly checks Olivia on his mobile, which is connected to the CCTV. Though she looks relaxed on camera, she’s actually trying to unlock her hand cuffs with the help of Reba’s neck strap. On his way out Tucker is confronted by Brendan who wants him to get his issues sorted as Maggie deserves better than him. Tucker asks him to mind his own business and gets back to Maggie. They ditch the party and have sex at a nearby deserted hut. Apparently, it’s where they made love on their second date. After having sex, while Maggie gets back into her gown and heels, Tucker is dumbfounded upon checking his phone – Olivia is trying to escape! He claims to be going home and writing as Maddie just inspired him, but in reality he is rushing to stop Olivia from running away. Maggie returns to the party for bidding goodbye to her colleagues.

Jackson is home. Rebecca hurt him with her words. He cries while watching some old guitar tutorial videos of his dad, Robbie Pruitt (Charles Esten). Just then, Simone knocks on his door. She has nowhere to go. They have a drink. Ashley and Beau get home and it’s late. Ken, who’s unimpressed by Beau allowing the trespassing, learns that he spotted a suspicious car which apparently followed them on their little trip. Ashley is elated that she got a day to unwind and she expresses her happiness to Ken. Beau lets her know that this meant a lot to him.

Tucker rushes to his basement. A scared Olivia promises to not escape, but gets dragged to his special rose garden which explicitly looks like two graves standing next to each other. Olivia is told that if she disobeys Tucker, her fate would be like those two unfortunate women!