Tuesday, November 15, 2005, Episode #4682

Nick confides in Jackie.

On the Shady Marlin, Nick confides in Jackie that he has given up on any thought of he and Brooke being together. He intends to focus on Bridget and their baby. Jackie is proud of her son's sacrifice, but Nick tells her not to use that word to describe him. She says that he's always been a man of integrity, but he thinks he's just a man who made a decision and stuck to it. Jackie can't help but wonder if he could really get over Brooke. Nick explains that he's seeing a therapist to deal with his "addiction." Things must be serious if he would see a therapist, Jackie surmises. Nick says that he will do anything to win back Bridget's trust, no matter what certain people might tell her not to trust him. Certain people? she asks. Nick tells her that he's referring to Dante, who not only can't stand him, but also is in love with Bridget, too. Jackie admits that it's hard to regain someone's trust, as she learned from her marriage to Massimo. However, she thinks her son and Bridget can do it, since they share something special. Nick agrees, and he thinks Bridget will, too. That's why he's going to find Bridget to make sure she sees things that way.

Dante takes care of Bridget.

Bridget returns to the beach house after working all night to find that a shirtless Dante has his famous Italian breakfast pizza ready for her. As he serves, he asks if she got his message last night. She says she didn't, as she went straight to the hospital from her mom's house. He asks if things went as she'd hoped with her parents and Nick, with her mom and Nick giving up on their denying their feelings for each other. Actually, she says, her mom and Nick claimed that they didn't want each other any more. Dante hopes she didn't believe them. She says there was something about what they said, especially Nick claiming to only want her and the baby. Of course Nick would say that, Dante says; that's why she can't risk letting Nick back in her life to break her heart again. He doesn't think she can trust Nick, who fell hard for her mom. Dante adds that he would never be interested in her mother that way, ever. He tells her that she's been the only woman for him since they first met, and he can't see why any man would prefer her mother over her.

Bridget thanks Dante for everything.

Bridget thanks Dante for everything, especially all this food. It could be this way for the rest of their lives if she gives the word, he says. She smiles, but yawns; although that's not the reaction he hoped for, he laughs, he can see she's tired. He scoops her up in his arms, carries her to bed and tucks her in. After kissing a sleeping Bridget on the forehead, Dante goes to clean up the dishes. Just then, Nick arrives and asks the shirtless artist where Bridget is. Dante says she's sleeping; he then informs Nick, so there are no misconceptions, that he's living here in the guest room, so he can take care of Bridget the way she deserves to be cared for. Nick spots Dante's shirt and tosses it to the artist; he tells Dante that he'll need that to keep from catching cold and opens the door for the artist. "So you can feed her more lies about how the baby and Bridget are the center of your world, and not her mother?" Dante asks. Answering his own question, Dante tells Nick that he can't just sail back into Bridget's life that way: Dante refuses to let that happen!

Massimo tells Ridge he has a plan.

At Marone Industries, Massimo meets with Ridge in Ridge's old office; Mass apologizes to his older son for opening a can of worms by helping Stephanie reclaim Forrester. He admits that his hope, when he helped Stephanie, was that she would turn control of Forrester over to Ridge. Ridge states that his mother obviously had other plans, and that angers him; he thinks he's done more than Eric, Thorne and Rick combined toward Forrester's success, earning him the right to run the company. Massimo agrees, which is why he's had a document drawn up to rectify that mistake. Ridge asks what's in the document; Mass asks Ridge to trust him. Ridge thanks Massimo but tells him he has a few ideas of his own about how to deal with the changes his mother made at Forrester. He wonders if his and Massimo's plans combined could serve as the "one-two" punch he needs to convince his mother to put him in charge at Forrester like he belongs.

Soon after, Brooke comes by to see Ridge at Marone. He thanks her for coming so quickly, as he has something to show her. He holds up a card with a logo for "Destiny Designs" on it. Brooke looks at it and says he can't be serious, but he says that he is. He has no place at Forrester as long as his mother is in charge, he explains. At the same time, he has no intention of just sitting around doing nothing, and he doesn't think Brooke wants to do that easier. That's why he came up with the idea for the two of them to start their own fashion house. Brooke smiles; she thinks it would be worth it just to see how Stephanie reacts to the two of them working those late nights together. She thinks it would be Stephanie's worst nightmare. Ridge, however, thinks his mother's worst nightmare would be to see him and Brooke recapture the spark they once had. So this is a bluff, Brooke realizes. Ridge thinks it makes perfect sense. What about Taylor? Brooke asks. Ridge thinks that his relationship with Taylor is so solid now that she'll understand if he explains later what his motives are. With that out of the way, he asks Brooke if she's in. She says that she is, even if it's just to see Stephanie's reaction to this news.

Stephanie can't believe what Massimo proposes.

Massimo goes to Stephanie with a contract that he wants her to sign; she is stunned when she realizes that the document puts Ridge in control of Forrester. Mass argues that their son deserves his rightful place in the company, but Stephanie refuses to sign it. She fears that Ridge may bring Brooke back and she won't allow that. But Brooke is the mother of Ridge's child, Mass argues. And Taylor is the mother of three of Ridge's children, Stephanie counters. She refuses to leave any in-roads for Brooke to get back into this company, especially since she fears Brooke would use R.J. to worm her way back. Mass points out to Stephanie that she'll be running this company solo without Ridge. She says that she has Thorne and Taylor. A lightweight and a shrink, he counters; what an endorsement for her vision for Forrester! And she's committed to that vision, she says, to make their clothes available to all women. Even if she has a point about that, Mass argues, it's a risk to go with a totally new direction for a successful company. That's why she needs Ridge and his fashion sense at the helm. Stephanie defends her decisions, as she's willing to do anything to keep Brooke from getting her hooks into Ridge again.

Ridge and Brooke tell Stephanie their plans.

Shortly after, Ridge and Brooke stop by to see Stephanie. Stephanie reminds him that Brooke is not welcome in the building, but Ridge thought she would want to know about their plans. He tells Stephanie about Destiny Designs and shows her the new logo. Destiny Designs? Stephanie asks. For the unforgettable woman, Brooke adds. Stephanie glares at them in disbelief. Ridge and Brooke lay it on thick with her, pointing out the long hours they'll be putting in together to start this new company. Ridge thinks it will be just like it was when they tested her BeLieF formula years ago. A furious Stephanie asks Ridge if he's considered how his wife will react to his working late hours with this slut, who will surely jump his bones the first chance she gets. Ridge tells his mother to stop: that's not what this is about. This is about his waiting patiently on the sidelines for years, watching everyone but him have a shot at running this company, a company he's earned the right to run. And now, she's handed over to Thorne: can't she see what a slap in his face that is? If she won't give him his rightful role here, then he'll start his own company, with Brooke as his spokesperson, model and inspiration. But he wants Stephanie that it's not too late for him to change his mind: he tells his mother all she has to do is put him in charge at Forrester! So what's it going to be? he asks. Will it be her? Or Brooke? It's her choice.