In Empire Season 2 episode 12, which airs at 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Hakeem takes his place as CEO of Empire Entertainment and everyone is anxious to see how he will lead the company. We already know he and Lucious are at odds. At the end of episode 11, Lucious threatens Hakeem’s life after Hakeem refuses to kill him on his own direction. But how does the rest of the Lyon family feel about Hakeem being CEO?
In an episode 12 promo, Andre says the family must stick together, while Jamal tells Hakeem he must prove himself to the rest of the family. Since Hakeem is working with Camilla Marks Whiteman, who helped Mimi Whiteman take over Empire Entertainment, it’s been hard for the other Lyons to tell where his loyalties lie. However, Hakeem tells his family that he made a sex tape with Camilla and sent it to Mimi, which could indicate he is on board with keeping his family together. But he could also just want Camilla for himself.
But Camilla isn’t the only woman Hakeem has to worry about. Anika tells the family she’s pregnant with Hakeem’s baby and the news spreads like wildfire. Cookie is disappointed in the news, as is Hakeem’s girlfriend Laura, who slaps him and walks away in the episode 12 promo. In the previous episode, the two slept together for the first time, which was also Laura’s first time.
Andre is still struggling after the death his son with Rhonda and may also struggling with his mental health issues, as he anxiously asks Rhonda if she is cheating on him in the promo. Andre and Rhonda will visit the grave of his grandmother Leah Walker, Lucious’ mother. We know that Leah also struggled with mental illness when Lucious was a child. It is part of the reason Lucious remains distant and apprehensive with Andre.
Meanwhile, Cookie and Lucious will have a special evening together. Anika will suffer a medical emergency and Cookie will be by her side, despite the two being adversaries. Lucious will threaten Camilla’s life. Camilla is certain Hakeem would never forgive him he if did kill her.
The rest of the story unfolds Wednesday, when Empire airs at 9 p.m. EST on Fox.