Ever since Jack strong-armed Kyle into leaving Marchetti, explaining that it was Summer’s baby and it was no longer prudent for them to work side-by-side, the Abbott heir has been offside. Flatly refusing to take any position he felt was beneath him, Kyle spent months holding his family at arm’s length while he canoodled with the calculating Audra Charles.

His cutthroat lover hired him at Newman Media, only to fire him on Nikki’s orders, proving she only looks out for number one as many had warned. Kyle and Audra’s relationship flailed and then failed entirely, leaving Kyle with no career or romantic prospects. It’s fair to say that at this point he had become flat-out bitter.

In the meantime, Jack had installed his brother Billy as co-CEO of Jabot, the only position Kyle would accept. Indeed, he angled to have Billy removed so he could be reinstated, but Jack balked at doing his brother that way, particularly in light of Kyle’s entitled behavior.

Billy got wind of his nephew angling for his job and confronted him, letting him know how spoiled he was coming across. Although Kyle still appeared as cocky as ever during the conversation, a strange thing happened afterward. Kyle went to his parents and declared that Billy’s tough love had made him see the error of his ways. He would love to return to the family business in some capacity. Chuffed, Jack instantly installed him as COO (what happened to the existing COO is anyone’s guess — sorry about your luck), and Diane and Ashley joined in the celebration — Billy not so much.

Kyle’s uncle saw his change of heart as too abrupt, and therefore worthy of suspicion. What Billy doesn’t know is that he was right to be concerned. Up to the point that he confessed to Diane, Kyle had been colluding with Audra and Tucker to take down Jabot on the condition that he would run the business with Audra after a successful takeover.

Diane, of course, saw an opportunity, not only for her son to redeem himself, but to foil Tucker’s plans. As Kyle perhaps knew she would, she suggested that he let Tucker and Audra believe he was back on their team, so as to get the details of their plot and “save” the company. This, of course, would thrill Jack, who is not in the loop on the scheme.

But upon closer examination, it seems Kyle has set himself up in what could be a win/win situation and is, effectively, playing both sides against the middle.

What does that mean? Kyle has Tucker and Audra believing that he’s back on their team and willing to throw his family under the bus in order to regain the co-CEO position at Jabot. He demonstrated his loyalty by giving Tucker a recording of Ashley plotting to undermine him. Kyle also has his family believing he’s back on their team, contrite and affable, and Diane convinced that he’ll toss Tucker to the wolves once he gets the deets on his plan to grab Jabot.

Kyle, as the man in the middle, potentially wins big no matter what happens. If Tucker successfully snatches Jabot, Kyle will end up as co-CEO. If the Abbotts prevail thanks to him giving them dirt on McCall, chances are excellent that Jack will re-install Kyle as co-CEO and oust Billy for casting suspicion on his son.

It seems like no matter what goes down, Kyle can’t lose. So, is this genius? We think it’s actually foolishly dangerous.

Why? Kyle is playing two powerful men against each other — Tucker and Jack — and thinks that he can outsmart both of them. He also has to outsmart Uncle Billy. What are the chances of him pulling this off?

Well, after watching the last episode of Young & Restless, we’re gonna say, “Not good.”

As Billy was planting a seed of doubt in Jack’s mind about his son, Kyle was paying Tucker a clandestine visit in his suite at the GCAC. Should Jack make his way over to confront McCall and find Kyle in his suite, or Billy — who is determined to keep digging — spots Kyle with Tucker, all bets would be off. Should this happen, Jack might let Tucker have it, but he’d also cut Kyle loose from Jabot, presuming he’s conspiring with the enemy.

Diane might be able to convince Jack that Kyle was working an angle at her behest, but he’ll suspect she’s just trying to save her son from himself and the damage will be done. Additionally, Kyle’s leverage with Tucker would be gone if he no longer has insider access to Jabot. Which means Kyle will have burned both bridges and will be left with zero prospects in Genoa City.

Do you think Kyle is playing both sides against the middle? Is it genius… or foolish? Let us know in the comments.