1983 (#9) - Nikki's relationship with Rick and the problems with Kevin

Kevin's forgiveness of Nikki, if on the one hand strengthens the marriage between the two, on the other causes a deep split between Kevin and Allison. The man's mother, in fact, cannot understand how Kevin could have forgiven the woman, which Kevin defends fiercely, convinced, after the explanations and the sincere request for forgiveness, his wife will no longer disappoint him. Allison, meanwhile, promises herself that she will end Kevin and Nikki's marriage at any cost, even if it is the last thing she does. With this in mind, Allison contacts through Leroy the young and handsome Rick Daros, a loyal client of the Bayou and an admirer of Nikki's performance, with the sole purpose of driving Nikki away from Kevin. In fact, Allison's plan, in agreement with Leroy, is to get the man to convince Nikki to return to his job and, at the same time, to get Nikki and Rick to get emotionally involved. Just as Allison had planned, Nikki soon gave in to Leroy and Rick's new pressures and secretly resumed working at the strip club. More and more frequent are the fleeting but passionate encounters between Nikki and Rick, who always finds himself enthusiastic about the woman's performances and whom he meets frequently after the shows in the dressing room. This is how Rick and Nikki's relationship soon begins. Rick's feelings for the woman, however, are so sincere that Rick defends Nikki by not confessing anything to Allison about his relationship with Nikki and their romantic outings from time to time. It is, however, increasingly clear to Nikki's eyes that her marriage to Kevin is destined to be short-lived; the woman wishes she could love Kevin, but is forced to admit that she doesn't love him at all, despite the fact that she considers her marriage fundamental to give little Victoria a future, her one and only priority.