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SPOILER ALERT: Cookie Lyon attempts a hostile takeover as she teams up with investor played by Marisa Tomei on Empire season premiere

Published: 02:48 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 03:32 EST, 24 September 2015

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Cookie Lyon took a tumble from glory on Wednesday's season premiere of Empire when she was double crossed in her bid for a hostile takeover.

The feisty protagonist played by Taraji P. Henson was outwitted by the cunning lesbian businesswoman Mimi Whiteman played by Oscar-winning actress Marisa Tomei.

The glitzy ultra diva was also forced to beg her malevolent ex-husband Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) for help after she received a severed head in a box after a particularly serious 'old beef' reignited.

Hostile takeover: Cook Lyon, played by Taraji P. Henson, attempted a hostile takeover on Wednesday season premiere of Empire on Fox

In a rare show of familial love Lucious confessed that he still adores 'his queen' and sent her enemy, a cannibalistic drug lord played by Chris Rock, to a bloody grave.

Cookie had been planning an aggressive takeover of the business while Lucious was in jail.

Her plans were thwarted when Mimi sided with Lucious and his gay son Jamal who Lucious had decided to entrust with the Empire legacy.

Big surprise: Cookie was betrayed by investor Mimi Whiteman played by Marisa Tomei

The show opened with a Free Lucious protest concert that was organised by Cookie even though she was aware that Lucious did kill Bunkie, her cousin, in cold blood.

But according to the banners 'innocent' Lucious had been held for three months without bail.

Cookie had staged the demonstration concert as part of her master plan to wage a hostile takeover of the Empire label.

Second season: The second season of Empire began three months after Lucious Lyon was arrested and opened with a demonstration concert on his behalf

In a symbolic gesture she dressed in a gorilla outfit and descended in a cage from the rigging of the stage.

She tore off the costume and emerged righteous in a Gucci mesh peacock-style ensemble, with her usual killer heels.

The dress, titled 'Heaven's Bird' by the Italian designer, was once worn by Jennifer Lopez on the cover of W magazine.

Grand entrance: A gorilla in a cage was lowered into the concert

Passionate speech: Cookie delivered a speech about the criminal justice system

'How much longer are they going to treat us like animals?' Cookie yelled to the crowd.

'The American correctional system is built on the backs of our brothers, our fathers and our sons. How much longer?' she bellowed.

Civil rights activist Al Sharpton, 60, then made a cameo.

Cameo appearance: Al Sharpton made a cameo appearance on the show

'I love you Cookie I really love you, mass incarceration is such an important issue,' he said before telling her that he still refused to support the drive to #FreeLucious.

'Word is it's not right, I can't get behind that,' he told her as she swished off.

Jamal [Jussie Smollett] and his brother hit the stage in innocent white to sing for their father's release.

Color symbolism: Jamal [Jussie Smollett] performed in white at the concert

Little brother: Hakeem {Bryshere Y. Gray] also wore white

Lucious, who is no longer dying of ALS, was watching proudly from prison and looking healthy and fresh in his orange jumpsuit.

Desperate to seize the business Cookie met with Mimi so she could groom her for the deal.

'Let me introduce you to your future investments,' she purred as she showed off her sons.

Huge investor: Mimi was prepared to invest millions to help Cookie take over Empire

Getting cozy: Lucious watched from jail as Cookie and Mimi got cozy with each other

As the two women plotted and schemed Lucious watched from his prison TV, his fury palpably building.

Adding to the penal drama was Frank Gathers [Chris Rock] who was relocated to the same unit as Lucious.

They met in the corridor.

Not happy: The inmate was resolved to keep Empire

'He used to work for me, him and his old lady,' said Frank.

'Yeah that was 20 years ago fool,' smirked Lucious as they hugged in greeting.

'You know, we inspirational figures you and me,' said Frank.

Former associates: Lucious caught up with notorious Frank Gathers in a corridor

Dangerous man: Inmates cleared the way for Frank as he made his way through the prison

In a particularly unprofessional move the cleavage-bearing case prosecutor, Roxanne [Tyra Ferrell], met with Lucious in prison.

'What you should call me is your worst nightmare because that's exactly what I'm going to be,' she told him.

'Plead guilty,' urged the sexy prosecutor, who was wearing a skintight black suit with a plunging neckline.

Legal problems: A sexy prosecutor made a jailhouse visit with Lucious

Lucious called her a 'black b**** in cheap shoes'.

She corrected that they were actually Tom Ford shoes as she threatened to strike him with them.

Hakeem [Bryshere Gray] and Jamal meanwhile were fighting about the running of Empire, which was also causing Jamal's career to take a nosedive.

'I should be touring by now,' he told his father in the clink, while lamenting that his album sales had dropped and he didn't have time to write any new songs.

Jailhouse visit: Jamal went to visit Lucious in jail and received some marching orders

'Well get me the hell out of here and you can tour the world,' his father demanded.

'You know your mamma ain't even seen me, not once,' he complained, somewhat ironically considering Cookie did 17 years in jail to protect him.

At home the religious son Andre [Trai Byers] woke in a sweaty panic after a flashback dream about burying Vernon.

Bad dream: Andre woke up in a panic after a flashback dream about burying Vernon

'We need this hostile takeover thing to happen before he gets out,' he told his pregnant girlfriend Rhonda [Kaitlin Doubleday]

She was confident Mimi would buy the business.

'Babe you need to relax,' she told him.

Calm down: Rhonda urged Andre to relax

'There's no way anyone in their right mind would leave a half a billion dollar investment to Cookie and Hakeem,' she jeered.

'I still can't believe he gave it to Jamal,' griped the scorned brother.

To oil the cogs of the business interaction Cookie threw a kinky party for Mimi complete with semi-nude lesbians and lashings of booze.

Fun party: Cookie organized a party with scantily clad women for Mimi

'Why do you want to depose Lucious?' asked Mimi.

'He's destroying the business,' explained Cookie, who later forced Anika to dance erotically with Mimi.

'Why don't you take your little sweater off so she can see your sexy body,' taunted Cookie as the women grinded away.

Little sweater: Anika was urged by Cookie to take off her sweater to help win over Mimi

Just as the takeover seemed imminent Mimi pulled the rug out from under her.

Cookie barged into the boardroom to announce her triumph to Jamal – only to see Mimi spin in her chair like a true comic book villain.

'I met with Lucious this morning and he made a better deal,' Mimi announced, beaming with wickedness.

Feeling confident: Hakeem and Cookie announced they were taking over Empire

Not so fast: Mimi surprised everyone when she turned around and said she struck a deal with Lucious

'I thought I told you to sleep with her,' Cookie growled to Anika.

'I did,' she whimpered.

Jamal accused his mother of 'backstabbing' while she protested that she was only trying to protect his interests.

'You turning into your daddy, I'm watching it happen,' she sighed.

Deal over: Hakeem and Cookie reacted as Mimi delivered the bad news

To rub salt in the wound Jamal had a video recording of Lucious giggling maniacally from jail.

'Game over b****es, bye bye,' he chuckled.

Back in the clink Frank sat down to eat some raw meat that appeared to be human, while trying to discover who snitched on him.

Last laugh: Lucious was shown in a video feed from jail laughing at Cookie's attempt

After he discovered that it was Cookie, she received a severed head in a box.

Unnerved she visited Lucious and begged for help.

'Why you looking like Mr T?' he asked her before softening.

In the box: Cookie became alarmed after receiving a severed head in a box

Jail visit: Lucious proclaimed his love for Cookie when she came to prison seeking his help

'For whatever reason I still love you,' he added.

'I'm sorry I didn't visit you…this place is hell,' he said.

'You been in here three months,' she scoffed, before telling him the issue.

Too late: Lucious apologized for not visiting Cookie when she was in prison

'They messing with us…that skinny, Hannibal, Idi Amin,' she said.

'Frankie?' he asked

'I need you to fix it,' she told him.

Fix it: Cookie demanded that her ex-husband fix her threatening situation

When it came to the crunch Frank's goons wouldn't stand up for him in jail.

They'd all been paid off by Lucious who instructed them to 'kill him'.

'Make it loud and make it long,' he told his collection of thugs.

Kill order: Lucious got a bunch of thugs to kill Frank

Back at the mansion Cookie's sister Carol explained the situation to the sons: 'There is this guy that we used to move drugs for back in the day and he was really dangerous,' she said.

'It was an old beef with a very dangerous man,' Cookie added.

'He took care of it from prison?' asked Hakeem.