I think Nikolas is playing Esme

[demoslider]

I was on the fence about it, but after the way he spoke to both Esme and Ava, now I'm pretty sure, especially when he told Esme he will get Ava on the same page as he is regarding her. I think this is Nikolas' own plan to trip up Esme and he hasn't told anyone else about it yet.

[aimee321]

Nikolas being in on it and playing her is the only real logical explanation for his behavior and attitude towards her. There is really no reason he'd be so loyal to her.

[griffin12]

I have been on the fence teetering back and forth on Nik but I am also leading towards him playing Esme.

[nykarenb]

I’m sorry, but I don’t think he is at all. I think he has really fallen for her act.

[crosbpa]

At one point he indicated he was in on the plot to expose Esme but lately it seems she is getting to him. He's a man who's wife has cut him off and here is an attractive young women throwing herself at him. Who knows for sure what's going on.

[taramartin]

Yes, I can't remember details but I thought Nicholas indicated he was trying to find out the truth about Esme.

[tlarha]

I also thought I remembered an episode/scene where he indicated he was playing her. I was beginning to think I imagined it because it seems to have all been lost. I sure hope he is playing her.

[mauimama11]

JMHO, but at this point, Nik ain't thinking with his head--- he's thinking with his 'rejected by Ava man parts!" LOL

[DayRose]

I keep hoping that Nikolas is playing Esme but I'm afraid Esme is playing Nik.

[ZanneMarie]

I think Nik is playing the Spencer game. He's playing Esme and keeping his cards tight which in turn is making Ava turn on him. Ultimately though, I think Esme will drug Nik to enable her to have Ava find them together (Ryan's goal) and because Spencer didn't warn Nik about the drugs, he won't have a clue what's coming.

[NolaAnn]

You hit the nail on the head! Nic might be playing Esme but she'll get the best of him just as you said. Drug him and make it look like something happened.

[1sbkmcfan]

Spencer is playing Esme and I do believe Nicholas is too. I just can't tell if they are actually working together. There are times when they exchange looks when she is in the room that leads me to believe they are working together.

[Ribbonette]

I haven't noticed that! I'll have to start paying more attention when they are in the same room with Esme.

[Ribbonette]

I go back and forth, and today made me think he is playing her too. There were a few things he said, and has said, that could be a double entendre, but the one with Ava stood out. I really hope he is because otherwise he is going the way of AJ.

[desertfox]

What are the possibilities Nikolas working with Spencer to expose Easme?

[LBD12]

I would be more inclined to think he was playing Esme if he hadn’t picked a fight with Sonny over her last week. Neither Esme or Spencer was around. He had nothing to gain if that was part of his plan.

I do NOT however think Nikolas wants to sleep with Esme or would do so willingly. I think it’s a combination of stubbornness, feeling rejected and ridiculous plot driven writing.

[griffin12]

You have hit the nail on the head. Nik's being stubborn which he has shown quite a lot of through his marriage to Ava and yes his feelings of being rejected by Ava.

[Gemini298979]

Nikolas calling wyndemere “his house” when he was speaking to Ava was definitely about pride. He’s already told her how insulting it is that she’s “watching” him for his mother because he’s so naive. Her coming in making demands about throwing Esme out just made him want to do the opposite in order to assert some authority over the situation.

[parker joe]

I want to believe he's playing Esme. As Sam said, Cassadines are full of lies. There are times he seems to be stringing her along, seeing how far she's willing to go in her scheme. But then, even when Esme's not around, he'll insist to Laura that he's not convinced Esme was behind the tape.

So either he's playing a deep, deep game (much more effectively than Spencer), or he's getting suckered by a teen. I could even understand him keeping this from Ava, because he needs Ava's anger to be absolutely genuine, and he's using it to gain Esme's trust. But if he is, he needs to confide in someone soon.

[varnish7]

If Nikolas is playing Esme, then he must realize that she's trying to seduce him. Does anyone else think that Nikolas has a responsibility to shut this down ASAP, instead of playing along? Not just for the sake of his relationships with Ava and Spencer, but also for Esme's sake? Regardless of everything she's done, Esme is still just a teenage girl.

[tollyfan35]

hello no she is a freaking adult who knows what she is doing and cam joss and trina are just teenagers and esme didn't care about destroying their lives especially trina who have this arrested haning around her for the rest of her life

[OLTLBoomer]

I really want to believe that Nik is playing Esme. The problem is he may lose his marriage in the process.

[Eve S Dropper]

To me it is stupid of him not to bring Ava in on his scheme. Does he really think he is more capable at scheming and trapping than Ava? Please. Ava could tell both Nik and Spencer "hold my beer" in the scheming department. They should bring her in along with Britt, and the fallout on Esme would be epic!