1981-84
Victor (Eric Braeden) met Nikki Reed (Melody Thomas Scott), who was a stripper at the Bayou, through his fussy friend, Douglas Austin. Immediately smitten, Victor invited her to stay at his ranch, where he made her over into the "perfect woman." Nikki, however, developed romantic feelings for her Henry Higgins. He turned her down (though he did sleep with her), then became involved with Lorie Brooks and set Nikki up with Kevin Bancroft, whom she eventually wed. Soon, Nikki learned she was pregnant with Vic's child, but after she gave birth to their daughter, Victoria Nicole, she went back to stripping. A fed-up Kevin divorced her. His manipulative mother, Alison, faked a porn movie of Nikki so that her son could get full custody of the child, and then took off with the baby. Victoria was found and returned to Nikki by Rick Daros.

Nikki wed mobster Tony DiSalvo in order to get the copies of the forged filthy flick, but he was killed by Paul Williams and Andy Richards, who were investigating him. She then moved in with Rick. Victor discovered that Rick was a murderer and rescued her (but was shot in the groin in the process — ouch!). Finally, the pair declared their love for one another and wed in a lavish ceremony in 1984.

1985-87
Victor began to bond with Ashley Abbott, who was recovering from the trauma of learning the truth about her true parentage. Meanwhile, lonely Nikki began spending time with Ash's brother — and Victor's bitter rival — Jack Abbott, and ended up having an affair with him. She and Vic separated, but he returned to her after learning that Ashley had gotten an abortion without consulting him. Nikki then contracted a supposedly incurable disease, but kept mum about her subsequent remission so she could hold on to her marriage. When Vic finally found out, he angrily filed for divorce. He tried to reunite with Ashley, but she was now engaged to Steven Lassiter.

1988-89
Jack (then-Terry Lester) hired Leanna Love (Barbara Crampton) to write a tell-all book about Victor called Ruthless: The Story Of Victor Newman. Meanwhile, Nikki became pregnant with Victor's second child, but put off telling him after he announced that they had no future together. Soon, Nikki befriended Leanna and opened up to her about Victor and Ashley. When the scathing bio was released, a furious Victor blamed Nikki and finalized their divorce. He tied the knot with Leanna, unaware that she was the poison-pen author.

Nikki soon informed Victor about his newborn son, Nicholas, and also mentioned that his marriage to Leanna was invalid because their divorce wasn't legally final. Ashley and Nikki teamed up to take down Leanna. Once Vic learned that Leanna wrote Ruthless, he kicked her out.

1990-92
Nikki planned to wed Jim Grainger, whom neither Victor nor Jack (Peter Bergman) approved of. Vic was confident that Nikki would eventually reunite with him, but Jack wooed and wed her instead. Victor had an offer for Jack: Vic would return Jabot to the Abbotts if Jack split from Nikki. Jack jumped at the deal, but when Nikki got wind of it, she left Jack. They made up after he rescued a drowning Victoria.

Nikki realized she didn't care for Jack the way she did for Victor, but tried to make the relationship work because she was now pregnant with Jack's child. She tragically lost the baby after a horseback riding accident; the resulting back injury got her hooked on painkillers and booze. Victor moved on by marrying Ashley (then-Brenda Epperson), but when he learned of Nikki's addiction, he blamed Jack and threw out her stash. Nikki told Victor that she'd gone riding that day to sort out her feelings for him. She hit rock-bottom when she got doped up, went out for a walk and collapsed.

Meanwhile, Jack and Brad plotted to take over Newman Enterprises, which Victor discovered after bugging Abbott's office. A fight ensued between the men and Victor collapsed. At the hospital, Nikki declared her love for him. Jack and Ashley became fed up with their spouses' obsession with each other and left Nikki and Victor, respectively. Nikki, however, learned that she again pregnant with Jack's child.