1993 (#14) - Victor's presumed death and the division of the Newman empire

The sudden absence of Victor is initially welcomed without too much surprise by the inhabitants of Genoa City; all of them, Jack, Victoria and Nikki in particular, are in fact aware that the man is living a very difficult and particular period as he has not been able to find, after the divorce with Ashley, a purpose and a balance in his life. A Victor who, according to Jack, has, in his own way, only caused pain to Nikki, who has lost her baby, and to Victoria, who has repeatedly shown signs of impatience and rebellion towards her father, especially regarding her relationship with Ryan. As time goes by, however, we begin to worry more and more about the lack of news until the Kansas authorities go to the Genoa City ranch informing everyone that they have found Victor's car burned down. The police officers explain, to everyone's amazement and dismay, that his Rolls Royce was involved in a fatal car accident in which, unfortunately, the man lost his life. In fact, the man found in the car, now unrecognizable due to the fire but with Victor's driver's license beside him, is not Victor at all, but the thief who stole his car. But this no one in Genoa City is aware of. In the general grief, it is Jack soon, on the business side, who takes matters into his own hands. At the top of his mind, in fact, is the fact that now, according to the agreement made with Victor himself, Jabot would be back in John's control. Victor's lawyer, Jerry Peters, is the one who opposes the takeover, and he tells everyone that Victor had already gone to court some time ago, in great secrecy, to cancel his consent to the agreement. In spite of this, Jack, John and Ashley managed to assert their rights and convinced Judge Aaron Wayne to grant them a favorable ruling. And that's not all; the Newman Enterprise itself is entrusted to the Abbotts, something that gets great media coverage. Jack, overjoyed by the victory, embraces an enthusiastic John, who after so many years can finally regain control of his company. John, as the new President, immediately appoints Jack as Managing Director, who lets himself go celebrating with his secretary Jennifer Qualls, while Ashley confirms that she will continue her work in purchasing. Blade is also confirmed as sales and marketing manager, as well as the company's official photographer, and finds himself working more and more closely with Ashley, with whom he starts a successful friendship. Blade himself, also, after Brad's rejection of his contract with Fenmore, advises Jack to appoint Neil, husband of his friend Drucilla, as assistant manager. Jack, wishing to repay Drucilla for the wrongs done to her by Jill in the past, agrees to promote Neil, who proves to be reliable and strong-willed.