1989 (#9) - Margot's sights on Clark and the rapprochement between Mick and Kristen

Determined to leave no stone unturned to try to get Clarke's attention and love, for her sake and especially that of their son Mark, whom Clarke with difficulty and not without embarrassment recognizes, Margot tries in every way to put his marriage to Kristen in crisis. And digging into the woman's past, especially in the part of her life spent in New York, she finds the probable key that can solve all her problems. Looking through the Columbia University yearbook, in fact, Margot finds the traces of a possible ex-boyfriend of Kristen, Russell Tanner; and assisted by his great friend Bill, Margot discovers that Kristen in New York had an intense love affair. Intent on bringing to light the past of the woman to put in crisis her marriage, Margot then goes to the Big Apple in search of Russell, but that disappoints the expectations of Kristen revealing to have been a great friend of Kristen but not to have had any flirtation with her, unlike his former roommate, a photographer named Mick Savage. Intent on tracking the man down in every way and bringing him back into Kristen's life, Margot pays a visit to Kristen's former roommate, Bonnie Blaisdale, who confirms the whirlwind romance between Kristen and the elusive Mick. After a few twists and turns, Bill and Margot eventually track down Mick, and the woman makes him believe she's a writer intent on writing a biography on Kristen. And although Mick insists that nothing serious has happened between him and Kristen, the boy agrees to fly to Los Angeles, thanks to Bill's persuasive methods. In the meantime, Clarke, increasingly nervous and unable to keep his agreement with Sally hidden, reveals to Kristen all the background of the negotiations with Spectra and the fact that he is the mysterious Beau Rivage, emphasizing the fact that he acted in good faith and did not harm the Forrester refusing to steal their models. Kristen, however, while not compromising the position of the man and keeping these confidences for herself, shows more and more impatient by the lies of Clarke and tired of his petty and disrespectful behavior towards him, inviting him for this and the following nights to sleep on the couch. Finding herself alone and bitter to reflect on her marriage in front of a glass of tequila, Kristen is surprised to see and recognize Mick at the counter of the same room, intent on talking with a colleague. Showing as much surprise as she does at this chance encounter, Mick avoids telling Kristen the details of his visit to Los Angeles and his supposed biography that Margot is writing; rather, the topic quickly devolves to their happy times together in New York and the depressing current state of Kristen's marriage. The girl, who has always been a strongly independent woman with a rebellious soul, admits to finding herself in a situation that is not congenial to her, imprisoned in a relationship and a life that she does not feel is her own. Between the two, it is clear, there has been in the past a great attention that has never dissolved completely, just what Margot hoped, overjoyed that her plan is working to perfection.