Stephanie encounters Jake Sanders while out riding. Jilly announces she is moving out of Eden after overhearing Dennis badmouthing her to Stephanie. Jilly reveals to Jake she intends to take down Dennis by setting him and Stephanie against one another. Jake makes an appearance at Harper Mining and offers to sell back his shares in the company but Stephanie refuses to make him rich and sends him on his way.

Jilly manipulates Philip, her ex-husband, into getting her friend, Olive, released early from prison intending to use her in her scheme to bring down Stephanie. Stephanie asks Dennis to make a decision about his future at Harper Mining when she sees him getting distracted by Angelo's boxing career. Working for Jake, Harper Mining employee Cassie agrees to dig up dirt on Dennis.

Stephanie gets her daughter, Sarah, a job at Tara's Fashion House. Dennis asks Dan to lend him $25,000 so he can buy into Angelo's boxing career but refuses Dan's reasonable terms. Dennis encounters Cassie at the office late at night where she is going through his personel file but he is there on his own neferious task — forging Joanna Randall's signature. Bill's son, Tom McMaster, returns from America after studying at Harvard and Stephanie offers him a job on the spot.

Jilly and Jake set up Dennis to get caught in a compromising position with a young woman but he creates a public spectacle in a nightclub all on his own. With Dennis on the ropes, Jake tries to reach an understanding with him the next morning but Stephanie's arrival puts a stop to that, although her insults only add to Jake's determination to bring down Harper Mining.

Jilly is upset with Jake for backing out of their deal to bring down Dennis. He states his focus now is entirely on Stephanie — both personally and professionally. Stephanie is haunted by dreams of her crocodile attack. Jilly meets with Olive to cash in her favour and gives her a gun to kill Stephanie. While Stephanie is out riding, she is shot at and is thrown from her horse.

After dancing with Jake at the fashion show the night before, Stephanie reassures Dan that their relationship is strickly professional. Stephanie narrowly escapes the snapping jaws of the crocodile in the pool before Dan, responding to her screams, shoots it. However, the traumatic experience gives Stephanie flashbacks to her previous attack.

Cassie tells Jake they've spent their last night together. In her view she's become expendable given his growing relationship with Stephanie. Jilly has no alibi for the most recent attack on Stephanie but despite her protestations, the police like her for the crime.

Dennis holds a press conference to address his temporary advancement into his mother's job. His actions don't sit well with Harper Mining General Manger Bill McMaster who vows to oppose him. Tom's eagerness to see Stephanie back at work doesn't sit well with Dennis yet he still suggests they work together to strengthen the company. Angelo is taken aback when his manager tells him to take a dive in his first professional fight and he's not given the option to refuse.

Dan brings a psychiatrist to see Stephanie at the house. Stephanie is convinced she is disfigured and confuses recent events with those of the attack at the hands of her former husband, Greg Marsden. Angelo's father opposes his son's boxing career, warning him no one is looking out for his well-being. They are interrupted by Tony Taylor and his goons who threaten the pair. Stephanie gathers the courage to face her demons pool-side but Jilly's arrival causes a relapse.

At Harper Mining, Dennis tries to fire Tom but Tom informs him his employment is based on a personal contract with his mother, not the company, and he's not leaving unless she tells him to. Jake arrives for a meeting with Dennis and boldly asks for the minutes from the last board meeting, informing Dennis he will have a seat on the board soon enough. Dennis has him thrown out of the building but their encounter leaves Dennis pensive.

Not content to rely on Angelo throwning the match, Tony tries to rig the fight by drugging his opponent. The arrival of Angelo's father spurs him on to victory despite a slow start. Unfortunately, his opponent in rushed to hospital with a severe brain injury which turns out to be fatal. Tom and Sarah's relationship continues to take shape and Stephanie continues to be haunted by visions of her disfigured face.