Junior executive Ryan McNeil and sixteen-year-old Victoria Newman’s budding relationship troubled her powerful father, and Ryan’s boss, Victor. At first, Victoria had turned to Ryan just for comfort when her parents began to drift apart. When Ryan realized Victoria’s growing interest in him, he saw Vicki as the key to a spedy climb up the corporate ladder at Newman Enterprises. He was on his way, until Victor derailed him and tried to pay Ryan off and arrange a more appropriate suitor, Brandon, for his heiress daughter.

To irk Victor into believing her and Ryan were finished, Victoria set off for Chicago and a college-hunting venture with Brandon. Although, she had other intentions in mind. While in the windy city, Ryan and Victoria were married. Understandibly, the newlyweds kept their wedding underwraps. But even before their nuptials were announced, problems had already surfaced. Between Ryan's bold social and corporate climbing and Victoria's sexual inhibitions, the couples problems started even before the honeymoon had began. Eventually, Ryan left Victoria for his mistress Nina Webster.