Days of our Lives Traitor Revealed! Rita Steals Gabi’s Designs for a Counterfeit Empire
When Gabi Hernandez discovers that her signature line, Gabi Chic, is being targeted by an international counterfeiting ring, her immediate anger zeroes in on Xander Cook and Philip Kuryakis.
However, suspicion rapidly shifts toward DiMera Enterprises—the only entity with the vast global resources needed to execute a fraud of this scale. While EJ DiMera seems like the obvious culprit given his bitter grudge against Gabi for saving Titan with Stefan’s inheritance, evidence increasingly points to his long-time henchwoman, Rita Leslie.
Played by Maggie Carney, Rita is far more than a background assistant. Having served Stefano DiMera for decades, she possesses unmatched knowledge of corporate espionage, offshore money laundering, and illegal supply chains.
She has direct, unmonitored access to the office where Gabi’s daughter, Arianna, interns. Rita could easily snap photos of pristine handbag designs right out of Arianna’s unattended purse and transfer them to overseas manufacturing plants.
While EJ may have initially ordered the knockoffs to destroy Gabi Chic out of petty revenge, recent developments suggest Rita might be going rogue.
Decades of covering up DiMera chaos—from hostage situations to memory-wiping drugs—give her ample motivation to secure a lucrative retirement fund by quietly running a black-market fashion empire on the side. Alternatively, her fierce loyalty to the family legacy could drive her to punish Gabi independently for rejecting Tony DiMera’s offer and disrespecting the family name.
Uncovering the truth becomes a chaotic endeavor. Gabi spots Gwen Rizczech carrying a counterfeit bag and enlists both Gwen and insider-gossip journalist Leo Stark to investigate.
Although Gwen is suddenly kidnapped by Dimitri von Leuschner in Allemanya, forcing Rafe Hernandez to fly overseas, Leo continues digging into the DiMera supply chain. Following the paper trail of confidential payments, Leo’s reporting threatens to expose Rita’s operation.
This dangerous web puts Arianna directly in harm’s way. Already snooping around DiMera Enterprises for evidence regarding EJ’s tainted Corozal pills, Arianna faces severe risk if Rita catches her prying. Rita has tased authority figures and administered memory drugs before; she would not hesitate to silence an inquisitive intern to protect her secret.
Meanwhile, Gabi’s personal life remains in complete disarray. Distressed over Arianna moving out and facing Titan’s financial crisis, Gabi enters a fake engagement with Philip Kuryakis to access a high-stakes casino in Monte Carlo, hoping to win a $200 million gamble.
Yet, back in Salem, the impending exposure of Rita Leslie promises an explosive showdown. Whether acting on EJ’s orders or amassing her own secret fortune, Rita’s quiet efficiency has set off a high-stakes corporate scandal that interconnects Salem’s most powerful families.
