Episode 6 of The Other Black Girl commences with a late-arriving Nella, greeted with anxious faces of Owen and Malaika. She confesses to have met Shani, who inexplicably failed to show up. Despite her doubts about Hazel's trustworthiness, Nella recognizes the need to maintain professionalism at work. As the night deepens, Nella struggles with insomnia, her fingers dancing aimlessly on the keyboard, searching vainly for traces of Eva online.
Determined to make her mark, Nella dives into her new role as assistant editor, brimming with ideas to share with Richard. Unexpectedly, Richard inquiries about Jesse Watson, who Nella knows had cancelled Wagner online. Surprised, she listens as Richard tasks her with convincing Jesse, whose literary prowess could seal the deal for Diana's imprint. Nella is skeptical, but Richard assures her that Jesse's talents are invaluable, and with her backing, the imprint will thrive.
Diana Gordon's arrival at the office is met with a scrutiny of book covers, none of which she finds satisfactory. Nella's attention wanders during the meeting, leaving Diana to declare that Hazel and she will finalize the cover. Hazel, noticing Nella's discomfort, reassures her that she is deserving of her position.
Hazel makes a surprise visit to Owen's school, inquiring about a charity called Young, Black, and Lit and suggesting the school as a potential partner. However, her true agenda is to inquire about Nella's recent erratic behavior. She urges Owen to check on his friend, ensuring her well-being.
Back home, the subject of Hazel's visit triggers an argument between Nella and Owen. Before tensions escalate, a knock interrupts them, revealing a messenger with an unsigned package for Nella. Inside, she discovers an original manuscript of 'Burning Heart,' shocking her to the core. Assuming Diana's generosity, Nella spends the night immersed in the manuscript, even dozing off on the subway ride to work.
Meanwhile, Owen and Malaika embark on an investigative journey into Hazel's background. Her absence from the charity's website and her sparse Instagram posts raise suspicions. Malaika notices a recurring tag in Hazel's posts, leading them to a barbershop where they hope to uncover the truth.
The following day, Nella expresses her gratitude to Diana for entrusting her with the manuscript, suggesting that the original ending could breathe new life into the rerelease. Diana listens intently, promising to consider Nella's suggestion.
As Malaika and Owen entered the barbershop, Nella encountered Jesse Watson in a chance meeting. Rejecting Wagner's offer, Jesse, recognizing Nella's untapped potential, offered her a position at his podcast. Jesse knew Nella had orchestrated the meeting, even though she anticipated a refusal. He questioned her readiness to compromise her integrity for a paycheck, challenging her to call him once she had escaped Wagner's clutches and found her voice.
Meanwhile, Manny signaled to Owen that he was prepared for their encounter. Malaika inquired about Manny's romantic life, and he disclosed they had been an item for a year. However, Malaika's mention of Boston sent a chill through him, causing him to stammer and deny ever residing there. He hastily inquired if they were accompanying Shani and urged them to leave.
During her lunch break, Nella showed Diana the note she had discovered earlier and pressed for answers about its implications. Diana remained reluctant to discuss it, but Nella persisted. Diana confessed that she had written the original ending long before "Burning Heart" gained publication. Kendra and Diana had favored the original, but Richard disagreed, deeming it too dark for white audiences. Kendra was displeased with the alteration, but Diana convinced herself she was paving the way for future black writers. Kendra's resentment towards Richard for changing the ending had lessened after witnessing the book's success.
Nella argued for a return to authenticity, urging Diana to re-release "Burning Heart" with a more genuine and complex conclusion. While Nella expressed her faith in Wagner, she believed in books that made a profound impact. Diana concurred and informed Richard of their decision.
Later, Malaika and Owen reached out to Nella, sharing their discovery of Hazel's boyfriend and his reaction to Boston. Malaika advocated for Nella to confront Hazel with her lie and urge her to flee to a new city, but Nella remained skeptical until she confronted Hazel directly.
Nella posed the question to Hazel, inquiring if she had ever been known as Eva. Hazel's reaction was one of panic and distress. She accused Shani, her former Boston colleague who harbored hatred for her, of being the source of the revelation. Terrified that Shani had tracked her down despite her relocation and name change, Hazel was enraged at Nella for not informing her sooner.
The episode concluded with Hazel returning home, her demeanor a stark contrast to her earlier self. She ascended the stairs to a room where Shani was imprisoned, handcuffed to a metal pole. Hazel coldly admonished Shani, telling her she should have left her alone.
