Want My Money

Charlie’s phone starts ringing. Stepmom points it out and Charlie reluctantly answers it. It’s Aria. She asks if he remembers what happened at the hotel and he hangs up on her. Gritting his teeth, he declares that he will definitely find out who erased the CCTV and ask them what they want. He leaves the room and Stepmom can’t hide a small smirk. So she’s not nice. She’s just playing the role for everyone, which is why he snapped at her.

Aria isn’t happy to be hung up on and Claire, after hearing that, calls Charlie a jerk and says that with that kind of man, Aria should threaten him with evidence. Even though they have no evidence. She will just pretend that she has some. Thieves are bound to get caught.

Oliver gets a call from Minion. She is an employee of their mall. As the pair marches through the mall – and Oliver reminds me of the evil principal at in the movie, ‘Matilda,’ – Minion tells him that Assemblyman Henry is leaving on a flight tonight. Emma will be transferred to another hospital, so they don't have a lot of time. After checking his huge watch, Oliver says they do have enough time. What they lack is confirmation as to whether this can work. Wow, that would impress me if I didn’t think he was evil.

Charlie gets back to his huge room. It looks like I’ve seen this place somewhere before, too. It’s really nicely furnished with a black and white theme going on. I wonder if that’s symbolic. He sits with a sigh. Text message.

Aria doesn’t want to believe what Claire is telling her. She protests that it's really not like that. Claire tells her to stop the habit of being optimistic. It’s the CEO's son. Would that kind of man pick up a random girl sleeping on the sidewalk and just nicely take her to a hotel? He would if he thought she was his fiancée, since they look alike. And, her money just coincidentally disappeared? Does that even make sense?! Does it make sense that someone *that* rich would steal the money?

Charlie – called ‘Dine and Dash’ on Aria’s phone – calls. Claire encourages her to act tough and come out strong! She makes the ‘I’m watching you’ motion with her fingers. Aria tries to act tough but Charlie asks who she is and demands that she say! Nice little yell. Aria can’t believe he’s the one who’s acting mad. She tries to sound tough but it’s pretty pathetic and Claire shakes her head. Aria says that they should meet. They’ll talk after they meet.

Charlie asks what she wants. Money? Does he think she’s trying to blackmail him? Claire mouths something like ‘stick it to him’ at Aria. Aria replies that if Charlie just gives her the money, she’ll move on. Charlie chuckles, disgusted. It does kind of sound like she’s trying to blackmail him. His voice thick with wrath, Charlie says that they should meet; they can talk quietly. She tells him 4 o’clock and warns him that he better not dare not to come.

As Aria leaves for the meeting, she walks by Oliver, who has just arrived. He can’t believe how much she looks like Emma – in fact, for a moment, he sees Emma instead. It makes him get weak in the knees. So, not just using Emma. Aria sees and helps him steady himself. She asks if he’s okay and all he can do is nod – after checking out her name tag. She leaves. After clenching his jaw, he tells Minion to follow her. See who she meets and where she goes.

Charlie has grabbed a bottle of water on his way to the car. As he gets in he says that he thinks it’s the paparazzi. She's definitely doing this on someone's orders. He’s got slightly crazy eyes going. Why of all times would they ask to meet now? He gasps – dramatically – and says that they could be related to the CCTV. That's right. There's no doubt. And he doesn’t sound nuts at all. He mutters that they have to get them on their side, no matter how much it costs. Again with the psycho eyes. I have been rolling.

Luca has been watching Charlie through the rearview mirror. Charlie’s eyes meet his and Luca jumps. Charlie – with a chip on his shoulder – asks if Luca thinks he’s crazy, too? Luca sputters that he was thinking the same thing. Not about Charlie being crazy, but that he's thinking the same thing. Then there’s a shot of Charlie’s water bottle as something finishes dissolving in it. And that explains so much. Why he’s acting unhinged: he’s being drugged. I bet it’s Oliver or Stepmom. But probably Oliver.

The loan shark stops by Aria’s house and has his goons trash it. Archie almost attacks Loan Shark, but Loan Shark's huge goon shoves him to the ground. And I would be pissed at my husband for getting me in this position. One of Oliver’s men takes pictures of it – at least he had sense enough to not use a flash with a zoom lens – and sends them to Oliver, who also checks out Aria’s application and resume.

Aria waits for Charlie at the mall. Claire calls to encourage her to have fierce eyes. Practice now! Minion – being the good minion that he is – has been watching her and he spots Charlie and Luca exiting the elevator. Quickly he calls Oliver, who puts two and two together, since he overheard Aria’s conversation and has her money. He yells at Minion to block them from meeting no matter what! Then he runs to do damage control. What is he planning?