Patrick. Helena resurfaces very much alive, and Nikolas is shocked to learn that Helena's new henchman "Jake Doe" is actually Jason Morgan, Emily's brother who was presumed dead. However, he keeps Jason's identity a secret so he can take over ELQ, the Quartermaine family business, to rebuild Cassadine Industries, as Helena's schemes had fleeced the Cassadines out of their fortune. Nikolas begins an affair with con artist Hayden Barnes, who has been posing as Jake Doe's wife. When Hayden's scheme is exposed during the Nurses' Ball, Nikolas informs Elizabeth that "Jake" is really Jason. Elizabeth chooses to keep the secret, wanting to be with Jason. Hayden overhears this, and blackmails Nikolas into taking her in. With the help of Lucy Coe, Nikolas gains control of ELQ. When Hayden decides to reveal Jake's identity, Nikolas sends a hitman to kill her. Hayden is shot, and ends up in a coma. Hayden wakes up with amnesia. and Nikolas moves her back into Wyndemere, and hires her at ELQ to keep an eye on her. The two continue their romance. Jason eventually learns his true identity, and breaks up with Elizabeth for covering it up. He also realizes Nikolas knew the truth, sparking a feud between the two. Nikolas and Hayden elope to Las Vegas. However, Nikolas discovers Hayden is actually Rachel Berlin, the daughter of a businessman in prison for a massive Ponzi scheme. Nikolas demands Hayden give him a divorce, but Hayden blackmails him into staying married, revealing she knows Nikolas had her shot. Jason and his wife, Sam, also figure out Nikolas had Hayden shot, and they blackmail him into selling ELQ back to Jason. Nikolas, meanwhile, finds Hayden in possession of diamonds that belonged to her father, which she stole before the IRS could seize. He tries to use the diamonds to make Hayden miserable enough to ask for a divorce. Nikolas pawns one of Hayden's diamonds to make a donation to the Nurses' Ball. Hayden is furious, and decides to turn Nikolas in at the Nurses' Ball, but he stalls her. He goes home with the diamonds and, hours later, is on the cliffs beneath Wyndemere, having apparently fallen out of the window. His body is never recovered, and he is presumed dead. Jason is arrested for his murder, but goes on the run and figures out Nikolas faked his death and tried to frame Hayden. Nikolas, meanwhile,