Tuesday, November 01, 2005, Episode #4672

Katherine answers Stephanie's questions.

At the Forrester mansion, Stephanie asks Katherine Chancellor if she did anything as trustee of the Stephanie Douglas Trust against Stephanie's father's wishes. Of course not, Katherine says. Stephanie asks what her father instructed Katherine, who recalls being called to the Douglas home in Lake Forrest. She remembers being both in awe of and intimidated by the handsome John, since she was so young at the time. It was rare for someone so young to be a trustee. Stephanie guesses that her father had reasons for his choice. Katherine remembers John asking her how she was and giving her some advice about life. What about the trust? Stephanie asks. In that regard, Katherine says, John instructed her that the trust was complete as is, so she was to do nothing, other than to file the annual tax report with the Forrester attorney. Hearing that, Stephanie asks if the lawyer's name was Jonathan Young. It was, Katherine recalls. And as for the trust, she did just what Stephanie's father asked. So the trust is still intact? Stephanie asks. It is, Katherine says; even though she never paid it much attention, nothing has changed, so Forrester Creations belongs, lock, stock and barrel, to Stephanie.

Stephanie won't believe that Eric has fooled her for years.

Stephanie is in shock; she thinks about the years of heartache that could have been avoided had she known that she was sole owner of Forrester. Now she knows, Katherine states. After all these years, Stephanie says. Katherine guesses that John Douglas worked in mysterious ways to protect his daughter, the light of his life. Stephanie agrees, but she still wonders why her father never told her. Katherine explains that John feared that Stephanie would be hurt to learn that he didn't trust Eric, since he knew how much his daughter loved her husband. He did it to protect her? Stephanie asks. Katherine reminds Stephanie that she was young and in love at the time. And apparently, John's instincts were right. Stephanie is silent; Katherine asks why she's not happy about this good news. Stephanie explains that she just found these documents today, by accident, in Eric's safe. That makes her wonder if Eric somehow knew about the trust. Katherine isn't sure, as she thought Stephanie knew already. Stephanie considers the possibility that in all the years that she thought she and Eric owned the company jointly, Eric knew that they didn't. She recalls that her father died shortly after Forrester started up; maybe he just never got the chance to tell her about the trust? Then why was this document in Eric's safe? Katherine asks. There must be an explanation, Stephanie says, as Eric isn't a liar or a cheat. But he's a man, Katherine points out. Still, Stephanie can't believe that Eric would betray her that way and play her for a fool all these years.

Eric and Jonathan realize that someone has been in the safe.

Eric is in his office, piecing together the "Forrester Reunited" poster that Stephanie tore, when Jonathan stops by. Eric explains that he's cleaning up Stephanie's last mess before she leaves for Florida. Jonathan hands Eric some papers; Eric looks though them and asks if these guarantee that his divorce is legal. They do, Jonathan confirms. Eric's glad; he can't wait until Stephanie is on the other side of the continent, where she can't hurt him and Brooke. Jonathan agrees that the distance will do them some good, but he still wonders if it was wise to use Stephanie's power of attorney to get the divorce; he thinks the marriage could have been salvaged, and Stephanie will be furious that they went behind her back. Eric says that he doesn't want what Stephanie has to offer. He's married to Brooke now, so he doesn't want Jonathan to give it another thought. Still, Jonathan thinks about the way they took advantage of Stephanie. They've never done that, Eric says, and they're not now. As Jonathan turns to leave, Eric goes to put the papers in the safe; he notices something amiss and asks Jonathan if he's been in the safe recently, as they're the only ones with the combination. His first anniversary with Brooke, Jonathan recalls. Eric opens the safe and looks through the contents, and he finds that Stephanie's trust document is missing! Jonathan asks if he's sure. Eric recalls that it's been in there since they moved into this building, and he and Jonathan are the only ones who even knew it exists. He wonders if he misplaced it somehow. Jonathan urges him to find it, as no one can know about it. Especially not Stephanie, Eric agrees.

After Jonathan leaves, Eric searches his desk for the trust document, to no avail. He sits down and remembers how Stephanie told him that he won't get away with betraying her TRUST. As the word TRUST rings in his ears, Eric looks frightened. He then gets buzzed on the intercom that someone is here; he hands up and gets up from his desk as Stephanie comes in. She closes the door behind her and asks if he has lied to her all these years. He says that he thought she left for Florida and asks what she wants. She approaches him slowly; Eric sees her stance and asks if something is wrong.

Brooke tries to duck Nick's questions.

In Brooke's office, Nick looks into her eyes and asks if she's had sex with Eric, or is this just some kind of sales campaign? Brooke tells him that Eric is her husband. "And I'm the Pope!" Nick sarcastically replies, pointing out that some quickie vows in Vegas don't make a marriage. This marriage is just for show, he insists. Brooke says she made a commitment to Eric. But did they have sex? Nick asks. She turns away from him to avoid answering, but he reminds her of her honeymoon night, where he found her outside while Eric was inside. He thinks she didn't want to be inside. She says she was tired, but she's been with Eric ever since. She's lying, Nick accuses. Brooke tries to tell him he's wrong, but he grabs her arm and tells her to admit the truth. She finally admits that he hasn't slept with Eric. He asks how she can live with a man she doesn't want to touch. She says there's more to life than that. Her being on a poster doesn't change anything. Eric loves her, she insists, and she intends to make this a real marriage. Nick thinks Eric is lying to himself if he thinks this marriage is real. He urges Brooke to see that this isn't good for any of them. Brooke tells him to just accept that they have to make this sacrifice, so he can have a life with Bridget. Nick thinks that she's the one who has to accept things and pulls her out with him. Brooke resists; if she wants to do something good for her daughter, he says, she'll come with him. Brooke hesitates; she asks what she's afraid of. She's not afraid of anything, she says. "Then let's go," he says, pulling her out the door against her protests.