Younger – It’s All about the Money, Honey

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

After spending the night with Zane (Charles Michael Davis), Kelsey (Hilary Duff) gets ready to fly to Chicago for her investor meeting. She’s nervous. Zane assures her that she’d be great and asks her to accentuate her assets. Charles (Peter Hermann) is on his way to Chicago too. After seeing him off, Liza (Sutton Foster) is now on her way to the office and spots the newest Infinitely 21 ad with her and Josh. She is flabbergasted.

At the airport Kelsey shares that their potential investor, Mr. Jeffrey Jacobs (William Ragsdale), has primarily invested in specialty medals, alloys etc. and is brand new to the publishing world. Charles is glad because it means that he won’t be as nosy as Quinn or Bryce. Just then, Liza calls Kelsey to inform her about the ad disaster and to prevent Charles from spotting one. Stunned, Kelsey spots the ad right around the corner and takes Charles on a detour immediately.

While strolling Gemma around the city with Josh (Nico Tortorella), Clare (Phoebe Dynevor) reveals that Google has offered her a job and that Gemma’s top priority daycare is secured. Josh is thrilled. She next reveals the job location to be in LA, which means Gemma could only see her dad during the summers. Josh is not ready for this. Clare promises that they’ll figure something out.

Liza goes to Lauren (Molly Bernard) to seek help regarding the ad. She wants it taken down as she cannot have a photo of her and Josh giggling away all over the city. Lauren, who is helping Diana (Miriam Shor) purchase her wedding gown, feels that there’s very less chance it’ll happen as it’s doing so well. She asks Liza to not think of it as Josh and her but two random individuals having a good time. Diana understands Liza’s concern and what Charles would think of it. Lauren has nothing to say.  While Liza tries to figure out how Infinitely 21 couldn’t choose any other photo from the hundreds that were taken at the photoshoot, Lauren informs the company that the photo needs to be swapped as Liza is feeling misled and uncomfortable. As Diana checks out gowns, both her and Lisa reminisce about their own wedding dress selection from their respective failed marriages. Liza feels that the biggest moment is when you realize that you’ve gotten it right. Diana concurs. Interrupting their conversation, Lauren reveals Infinitely 21 has shared the ad in pan-America given how well it has been received. Worried, Liza leaves for Chicago immediately.

At the investor meeting Jeffrey mentions how they’re new to the publishing world and demands a strong reason to have them interested. Charles states that they run back to six decades of operation and have managed to tackle immense competition through dedication and hard work. Kelsey continues that as soon as she became publisher she immediately hired a social media strategist who continues to help them in covering every aspect of Millenial online and thereby boosting demographics. When Jeffrey asks how a good social media presence translates to good business she states that people feel more connected via social media engagements which translates into transparency and honesty. This attracts more number of authors. Finally, in the spirit of transparency, she blurts out that Millennial needs their money making everyone in the room burst out into laughter. She manages to win their hearts.

Josh goes to meet Maggie (Debi Mazar) and shares Clare’s plans of moving to LA. He is disturbed. Maggie asks him to try ways of preventing Clare from needing to earn more and suggests earning from Infinitely 21, just like they’re earning from him.

Charles and Kelsey are celebrating because they’ve nearly secured a yes. Liza shows up as she apparently had nothing to do the whole weekend. Charles couldn’t be happier. When he goes to order drinks Kelsey asks her the real reason why she’s here. Liza reveals she’s got to explain Charles about the ad before he finds out. Kelsey asks her to wait as they’re in a celebratory mood. As the evening continues Liza and Charles start to makeout and Kelsey retires to her hotel room. Zane texts her how it went and she films a video of herself flashing her cleavage, saying that “it’s all about the money.” She hits “Send” and crashes for the night. Lauren, who is surfing Instagram, finds that video on Kelsey’s Instastory and is furious. The next morning Kelsey wakes up to a phone bombarded with lewd texts. She is doomed.

Lisa wakes up in Charles’ room and finds him reading the newspaper, which has the ad covering an entire page. Luckily the page is facing her. She snatches it and explains Charles how it was just an ad and changed nothing for her. Charles looks ticked off. Just then Kelsey barges in revealing about her Instastory disaster and how it’d ruin their shot with the investors. Charles says he hasn’t heard anything about the meeting being called off and they should just go and sign – that’s it. He dumps the newspaper in the trash can and gets ready for the day.

Josh meets Shelly (Annaleigh Ashford) and pitches his idea about franchising Inkburg with Infinitely 21. They could set up shop opposite to Broadway to garner tourist attention, his tattoo chair would only take up a corner in Infinitely 21’s store front window and together as “Infinitely 21 presents Inkburg Midtown” they could start a clothing line of selected flashes completed with a tattoo that customers could only get in that store. Shelly loves the exclusivity of the idea and says yes. They hug upon closing the deal.

At the investor meeting Kelsey apologizes for her embarrassing accidental stunt on Instagram. Jeffrey states that they are uncomfortable with the whole thing and though they’re still interested they’d only invest if Charles returned back to being publisher. Charles fights for Kelsey and goes all out to defend her, but Kelsey realizes the gravity of the situation. She wishes good luck to the whole team and leaves the room in tears as she has just resigned as head of Millenial.

After the meeting Charles finds Liza waiting outside. She asks how it went and how is Kelsey now. He asks her to go back to New York with Kelsey as she needs her now and that he has to stay back to finalize some dates with the investors. Lisa stresses that the ad photo meant nothing and promises she will not get back with Josh again. Charles thinks the problem isn’t the ad, but more that she hid it. She soon joins Kelsey at the airport and is descending down an escalator with her. Kelsey doesn’t want to go home. Neither does Liza who suggests one more round on the escalator. Kelsey says yes. They get back on the escalator as they stare at the huge Infinitely 21 ad that they are both rising past by.