The Aftermath – Episode 3 begins with Horace Bellaire (Julian Horton) revealing his identity as co-owner of Beauty In Black to Kimmie (Taylor Polidore Williams). He apparently is the business genius of the corporation whereas his brother is the chemist. After she admits to using the company’s cosmetics, he tells her to stop because the lye compound is causing cancer. Before their encounter is finished, he gives her a wad of cash, reveals having prostate cancer, and agrees to check on Rain Lattimore (Amber Reign Smith) for her. He also mentions that he would like to see Angel (Xavier Smalls) again but first, he wants his watch back. After taking the borrowed vehicle, Kimmie’s first visit is to Angel where she tells him everything. He returns the watch without hesitation and apologizes.

Jules (Charles Malik Whitfield) meets Norman (Richard Lawson) at the hospital to learn that it was Ina who Mallory (Crystle Stewart) hit. Norman is clearly in arrears over the incident and demands revenge. Jules plays ignorant but immediately after leaving, he calls Mallory to share the news. Mallory doesn’t admit to anything and treats the situation very crassly. She also tries to learn who it was Roy Bellaire (Julian Horton) was with but Jules remains tight-lipped on this as well.

Body (Tamera Kissen) and Daga (TS Madison) pay Kimmie another visit at the motel and although she is much more subdued and assures them she’s going to keep quiet, they spend several minutes beating her, as a bit of an added incentive. This later lands her in the hospital where she is treated suspiciously by Nurse Stevens (Sissi Kal).

Olivia Bellaire (Debbi Morgan) receives an unexpected visit from Norman at the church. Despite his calm disposition, he is clearly distressed about Ina and swears revenge against the Bellaire family after blaming them for Ina’s condition. For her part, Olivia never loses her cool and even appears genuinely concerned. Olivia sets out to learn more about the incident with an immediate visit to Charles Bellaire (Steven G. Norfleet). She is nowhere near as calm during this encounter and walking in on him during an intimate encounter with Cary Dean Jones doesn’t help. After Cary is gone, they end up in the garage where she surveys the damage to his vehicles. None of them appear to be damaged but at one point Charles says that it was Cary who was driving. Their encounter ends with her ordering him to get ready for a board meeting.

While Kimmie uses her time at the hospital to visit with Rain, Olivia and Charles pay a visit to Mallory and Roy at the Bellaire offices. Charles strategizes with Roy while Olivia meets with Mallory alone. Charles and Roy’s encounter suggests that the two brothers have very little in common, other than the fact that they will go to great lengths to retain their inheritances. This encounter is abruptly ended when Charles tells him about his earlier visit with Olivia. At the same time, Olivia shares her discovery about Ina with Mallory. Mallory never openly admits to anything and Olivia hasn’t put all the pieces together, but she claims that Norman’s vindictiveness was one of the reasons she stepped away from the company. It is at this point that Charles and Roy interrupt.

Once Roy and Mallory are alone in her office, she tells him everything she’s learned, including her earlier morning conversation with Jules. The brief argument that ensues leads to Roy learning that Kimmie set him up. This eventually leads to him arranging for another visit.

While all that takes place, Kimmie briefs Rain on everything that she’s discovered and admits to being terrified. Her subsequent encounter with Jules and Roy now searching for her suggests that her fears are justified. Norman begins investigating Ina’s accident and discovers one of her running shoes at the accident site.

The Bellaire board meeting is just wrapping up and once the non-essential personnel are dismissed, Varney (Terrell Cater) updates the family on the lawsuit. Once the bickering comes to an end, Varney only makes matters worse when he tells them about the 43 new women who have joined the lawsuit. Although a settlement is on the table and the insurance company will cover a good portion of the suit, paying the remainder will literally bankrupt the company. Varney ultimately suggests not settling and is in the process of unveiling his strategy when Norman bursts in, demoing to know who hit his wife.

 

Beauty In Black Review

I don’t think the episode was much better than the previous one, but I did enjoy it a lot more. So, there is likely some hope for the series. I actually felt the suspense in this episode. At times, I might even say I was on the edge of my seat. For that, I’d have to give the episode a 5.1.

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