Paul’s lies unravel as Krista issues a game-changing ultimatum in Neighbours

But will Paul step back gracefully?

 16-22 AUGUST

Despite being overloaded with work and under enormous pressure to deliver two key events for Lassiters, Krista takes to the tasks like a duck to water.

Even with Annalise’s absence, the Worldly Gems expo is well on track and with Annalise scheduled to return soon, Krista tells Leo that although she’s got everything in hand, and feels like she and Annalise could work well together.

As Paul tries to dodge Lucy's insistence on seeing the quarterly reports, Terese clocks his evasiveness on the subject and calls him out.

She's appalled when Paul confesses he's "borrowed" funds from Lassiters to bail her out so she didn't have to sell Power Road. But when she points out he could go to jail for embezzlement, Paul stands by his actions, explaining how he did it because he loves her. Terese assures him she loves the way he protects her but points out it will kill her if he gets in trouble because of her.

Outside the Tram, she floats the idea of finding a quick buyer for Power Road to replace the Lassiters funds and with Lucy’s impending arrival scheduled to coincide with Annalise’s, Paul hopes that Lucy will be too distracted to realise what he’s done. Having heard everything, Leo emerges from the Tram, demanding to know what the hell is going on.

When Paul explains that he was always going to put the money back, Leo’s not satisfied and pulls out his phone. When Paul begs him not to tell Krista, Leo agrees, as long as he tells her himself.

Meanwhile, Annalise is back in town and she’s accompanied by Lucy, who has been brought up to speed on Paul’s antics. As Krista catches up with them, she gets an urgent text from Leo and is left in shock when Paul reveals the truth to her that he took $300,000 from company accounts. Despite Paul hoping Krista can see things from his perspective, she’s fed up and not sure she can.

When Krista is faced with an expectant Annalise, who is waiting to hear if she wants her for the manager position, Krista is clearly off sorts, revealing that yes, she does, but it’s dependent on one condition. Not for Annalise however, but for Paul.

Doing everything they can to keep her off their scent, Paul and Terese are both being evasive with Lucy. However, Paul's momentum is soon halted when Krista offers him an ultimatum. Annalise will come on board, and he can have his time off to go to New York, but he must step back entirely from the hotel.

As both Leo and Krista attempt to convince him that it may be for the best, Paul is shaken and when Lucy visits Krista, Leo and Annalise in the Penthouse later that night, she begins to suspect that they may be hiding something from her, as their stories don’t exactly line up.

Fed up, Lucy heads to the Willis House and confronts Paul and Terese, where they reluctantly reveal the truth. Speechless, Lucy declares that Paul is banned from the hotel and the expo. Effective immediately!

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