Judge Robert Barnes is just a few weeks away from a Supreme Court nomination. He and his wife, Patricia, are spending the weekend at Grayson Manor before an annual benefit. Judge Barnes once dismissed the only juror who believed David Clarke may have been innocent during his trial. The courtroom clerk, James Palmer, knew the judge did so because of his ties to the Graysons. Emily believes the clerk wrote an unsigned letter to her father letting him know of the conspiracy. Palmer ended up dead a few days later.

Emily hopes to trip up the judge into revealing something, so it’s fortunate that she forms an alliance with Victoria to persuade Daniel to give up his interests in the family company. She stages a bogus break-up with Aiden (Nolan calls it a fake-up) for the benefit of her ex. Victoria convinces Daniel to attend a dinner at the house with Judge Barnes and his wife after letting him know that a suddenly single Emily will also be in attendance. Sounds like all the makings of a fun, truly awkward dinner date.