Amid Questions about Housewife's Stripper Past, Major Drama Looms

“The Real Housewives of New Jersey” aired the first part of its season finale on Sunday night after explosive months of capital-D Drama.

As the episode opens, Melissa Gorga is preparing for a meeting with a vice president of a New York music company with her makeup artist George Mibuel when the mysterious Kim D. calls her.

Who is Kim D? For reasons never quite made clear on the show, the owner of Posche Boutique in Wayne and the infamous Kim G.’s sister-in-law has appeared in every season of “The Real Housewives.”

Her annual Posche Fashion Show caused drama in 2009, when former Housewife Danielle Staub was famously attacked by Jacqueline Laurita’s daughter Ashlee, and 2010, when Teresa Giudice and cousin Kathy Wakile got into a shouting match.

Most recently, she's been portrayed as a close friend of Giudice’s, although the audience had not seen much of her since the beginning of the season.

Evidently, Kim D. had been talking about Joe Gorga’s business off camera, and Melissa was none too happy to hear from her.

“A couple of things happened in the past month or two and I got involved in gossip and I stuck my nose where it didn’t belong and I apologize,” Kim D. said.

She then invited Gorga, who modeled in last year’s fashion show, to come this year as a guest.

“I’ll definitely think about it and I’m glad that you called because I’m not going to lie, I was really pissed at you,” Gorga said.

She then discussed the possible outcomes of her attending with her makeup artist.

“I have no idea what her motive would be to invite me to the fashion show. Maybe I’m the biggest celebrity she knows,” she said.

Later, she and Joe went to meet with Jason Knapa, a recording executive.

“We didn’t go for a label right away, so I just want someone who can help me out independently until we get to that.”

Knapa said he was impressed that the Gorgas weren’t looking for a major label, but that he could break their product down to a place where recording executives could understand it.

“I’m more than happy to take you from an artist just starting out to a star,” Knapa said.

“I’m happy where I’m at,” she said. “I’m just going to continue trying to sing what I believe in and maybe it will stick.”

Manzo and Laurita went to Posche to pick out clothing for the fashion show. Kim D. asked if they were OK sitting with Teresa, Kathy and Melissa.

“Here’s my issue: We are going into a fashion show that historically has never ended well,” Manzo said. “But now we’re going on the heels of a massive blowout. The recipe is not a good one.”

Yet for some reason, she agreed.

Meanwhile, Teresa Giudice and husband Joe tried to teach their four daughters, ages 11, 6, 5 and 2, to speak Italian, with mixed results. Eldest daughter Gia appeared to do a better job with classroom management when she took over.

Kim D. showed up to invite Teresa to the show and tell her that she has invited the rest of the Housewives as well. Giudice mentioned that Caroline Manzo said she didn't want to be friends with her anymore, which they laughed about.

“In Italian we say, ‘In my eyes, you’re dead,’” Teresa said.

While the fashion show was the main plot line of the evening, the show sought to wrap up some minor plot lines that have run throughout the season. Manzo seemed unconcerned about her former friendship as she visited her sons Albie and Christopher as well as Albie’s recently-moved-in girlfriend Lindsay with her daughter Lauren and husband Albert.

“When I was growing up, that was absolutely taboo to move in with your boyfriend,” she said. “Times are changing, although I must say, I hope it doesn’t distract Albie with his work schedule or in every way imaginable.”

The brunch went well, however, and Lauren Manzo announced that she had gotten her space for her new Franklin Lakes store, Cafface.

Later, she and Caroline went to check out the space and celebrate.

“Lauren has had a rough year and this is the push she needs because Lauren Manzo doesn’t know how spectacular she is,” Manzo said. “One day I’m going to introduce her to Lauren Manzo.”

Kathy Wakile seemed to be making progress on her business venture, as she and Rich had a meeting with Giocomo Beretta and Attilio Bindi at Bindi Sweet Shop.

She had a poster to propose for her line of desserts in partnership with Bindi, called “Dolci della Dea,” or god of sweets.

While Rich promised not to take over the conversation, he made it very awkward as usual, thanking Bindi for "not showing up” to their dessert tasting and making fun of Kathy for getting rid of 700 pieces free dessert.

“To be honest with you, my favorite dessert is Kathy,” he said, although thankfully he relegated his sexual jokes during the actual meeting to jokes about “happy endings.”

Beretta said they would be “very pleased” to work with Wakile on mass marketing Bindi quality products with her recipes.

“We shake hands and we start working,” Bindi said.

“I could pinch myself,” Wakile said. “I’m going to be in business with a major company? I might get that nose job yet!”

To Bindi, she said, “OK, where’s my apron? Let’s get to work!”

Back at the Giudice house, Laurita and Gorga arrived with their children for a play date with Giudice’s children.

“So it’s a little awkward,” Laurita said.

She added to the awkward by keeping to herself with her son on a swing. Although the fact that 3-year-old Nicholas is autistic may have contributed to her decision to remove him from the group, when was asked by Melissa to join the group, Laurita weakly said: “I thought you might want some time together. Alone.”

“Jacqueline’s being a little weird right now,” Giudice said. “She’s being cold and distant and I don’t have time to babysit other people.”

Gorga decided not to be involved due to her vastly improved relationship with her sister-in-law.

“We just had an amazing time in California,” Gorga said while getting ready for the Posche Fashion Show with Kathy Wakile. “My husband could not be happier. He has his wife and his sister happy and I just can’t imagine any of us ever doing anything to hurt our relationship again.”

Words like these never mean good things in the world of “Housewives.”

Even though Teresa always gets her hair and makeup done at home, Kim D. asked her to go to a salon called Allure with her. There, they met public relations manager, Angelo, who told Teresa he used to know Melissa when she worked for him at a gentlemen’s club in Elizabeth. While he never made it clear that she was a stripper, he did say that she “danced.”

“I’m feeling a little bit uncomfortable right now, that’s my sister-in-law,” Teresa immediately said. “I don’t want to talk about my family.”

“Oops,” said Kim D. in an extremely unconvincing tone. She maintained that she thought Gorga was a bartender.

Even though Giudice asked him to leave and not to speak anymore, Kim simply couldn't stop asking questions. While she pressed Angelo for information, Giudice got up and walked out of the room.

“Maybe that’s when she went from porn again to born again,” Kim said. “With the [crossing herself] and the ‘Thank you, Jesus,’ maybe that’s why she acts like that.

Giudice refused to discuss it and appeared to try to focus on the night ahead. She arrived at the venue with Kim D, where they were soon joined by Melissa and Kathy. Later, Caroline and Lauren Manzo and Jacqueline Laurita joined them at their table. Everyone made small talk and seemed pleasant, although Kathy was annoyed to see Joe Giudice’s brother Pete there.

“I’m a little pissed because I see a lot of guys there [and] Rich woulda came,” she said. “It’s pretty much a club. I don’t usually go to nightclubs without my husband... it was kind of odd. I mean, when did Pete Giudice get into fashion?”

As she and Giudice discuss tanning, Angelo magically appeared to say hi to Melissa. A vague look of recognition crosses her face as she was polite to him but looked a tad uncomfortable.

“I don’t remember where I know him from, but I know him,” she said. "I know him... I know his face.”

Giudice looked genuinely uncomfortable as she said, “My heart is racing 500 [miles per hour] again.”

“Did you have a lot of coffee today?” Wakile asked.

And then the screen flashed “To Be Continued.”

Next week on the season finale, it appears all of the bonds forged this season will fall apart, and Watch What Happens Live has hinted at a very emotional and entertaining reunion to follow.

The show airs Sundays at 10 on Bravo.

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