Wednesday, November 16, 2005, Episode #4683

Nick and Dante face off.

At the beach house, Nick tells the still shirtless Dante that he wants to see Bridget, but Dante says that Bridget doesn't want to see him. Nick scoffs at Dante acting as a bodyguard and doctor. Dante says that he's looking after Bridget and the baby, but Nick points out that this baby is his, too! Dante tells Nick to leave Bridget alone until after the baby is born, but Nick won't hear of it! Dante jabs that Bridget doesn't want or trust Nick anymore - and that Bridget knows that he [Dante] is in love with her! Nick seems surprised; Dante asks why that is, since Bridget is an amazing woman who deserves to be appreciated, but Nick couldn't see that while he was chasing her mother! Nick tells Dante to lose the knight in shining armor act; "Her future is with me!" Nick insists. Dante says he's not going anywhere. Nick wonders if he should say it in Italian to make sure Dante gets the point, but Dante insists that Bridget has moved on. She deserves a man who wants her, not the baby she's carrying. Nick says he doesn't have to justify himself to Dante. Dante agrees, and adds that Nick doesn't have to justify himself to Bridget, either, as his lies will do it for him some day! But that day won't be today, as he's telling Nick to leave. Nick says he'll be back - and when he does, he expects Dante to be gone!

Bridget laughs at Nick's talk with the baby.

Once he leaves, Nick slips around back and climbs in Bridget's window, stumbling around the room like a bull in a china shop. The sound wakes Bridget up. She asks why he's here, as she thought they said everything they had to last night. Nick says that he didn't, as he has something else to say - to their child. He walks over to the bed and puts himself at eye level with her belly. He tells the baby to stay inside as long as it can, since the waters are kind of choppy with mom and dad right now. But he doesn't think the baby needs to worry, since those things will all be worked out by the time she makes her grand entrance into the world. Bridget laughs; Nick tells her that he's having a conversation here and then goes back to talking to the baby, going on about how he'll deliver her on his boat, the Shady Marlin. It'll just be the three of them, he says. Bridget laughs again, as he talks about the three of them being together. He kisses her tummy. Bridget lays her hand on his head, almost stroking his hair as he tells the baby that the three of them being together is all that matters.

Taylor lends an ear to her father in law.

Eric stops by to see Taylor at Forrester; he knows he shouldn't even be in the building, but he had to vent. Taylor tells him not to worry, as Stephanie is in a meeting. Saying who knows what to their clients, he laments, fuming over the way his ex-wife has commandeered his business and office. Taylor reminds him that it's been stressful for all of them. He and Brooke shouldn't be, he says, since they're newlyweds, and he doesn't think Taylor and Ridge should be, either. Actually, Taylor says, she and Ridge are doing better these days, even if he isn't happy about her working here. She thinks things are easier since she and Ridge don't have to worry about Brooke being with Ridge. Eric is glad to hear things are well for her and Ridge. Taylor asks how things are with Brooke; he admits that things have been dicey because of the circumstances around their marriage, but he thinks he and Brooke can get on track now that Nick has recommitted himself to Bridget, and now that Taylor and Ridge are on solid ground. Taylor asks if he sees Ridge as a threat. He says he doesn't. It's just that he and Brooke are in a fragile place, so he's paranoid about anything that will interfere with their getting their marriage to where Taylor's and Ridge's is.

Back at Forrester, Ridge lays it on the line to Stephanie: if she doesn't put him in charge here, then he and Brooke will start their own business. Brooke points out what a team she and Ridge make: when Ridge comments that they'll give Forrester a run for their money, Brooke says they'll enjoy every minute of it.

Stephanie reminds Ridge what this will do to his marriage. She thinks about it and guesses that he's bluffing, since she knows that nothing less than control of Forrester will satisfy him. And he's earned it, he says. What about what she deserves? she asks. Ridge says she'll always have a place here, but he should be running the company. She reminds him of her offer to let him be co-president with Thorne in time. And the company will be a mess by then, he taunts, under her leadership, with Thorne and Taylor by her side. That's why he wants this now, or he's gone. He warns that he's not bluffing. Stephanie asks Brooke and Ridge what their spouses think about this. She especially wonders if Brooke has even brought Eric into the loop about this new venture. Ridge says that Eric will be part of this new company, except he [Ridge] will be in charge. And they'll return to the "Reunited" campaign and the Bedroom line? Stephanie asks. Ridge sees no reason to mess with success. A success that came from Brooke's influence, Stephanie says, something she will never accept in this company. So he'll never run Forrester while he works with Brooke? Ridge asks. Yes, Stephanie says. Ridge guesses that's why she chose Thorne as President, since Thorne will go along with this little was against Brooke. Stephanie says it's a war against the smut that has tarnished their name. Ridge reminds her that wars cost money. Stephanie says she can raise that money by selling the BeLieF patent. Brooke says she can't do that, but Stephanie says she can do whatever she wants with her business. In that case, Ridge says, Destiny Designs is a go. As he turns to leave, Stephanie asks Ridge if he really wants to do this to his family. He says it's too late. He knows what he has to do. He and Brooke leave.

Stephanie pushes Eric's buttons.

Eric stops by his old office, seeing Stephanie's name on the door as CEO. He walks in and asks for his things. She says that Megan has them. He says he saw Taylor, who mentioned she [Stephanie] was in a meeting. He wonders if she and her lawyers are cooking anything else up. Actually, she says, that meeting might be valuable to him; it lets her give him a warning, although he shouldn't need one. She asks where that vixen of a wife of his is; is she home trying on some underwear for their next conjugal visit. After all, they are sleeping together, aren't they? Or has she kneed another sensitive spot? Eric says he and Brooke are fine. They must be if he's OK with Brooke's new venture. He asks what she means, so she shows him the "Destiny Designs" logo and tells him all about the visit she just had from Brooke and Ridge. She thinks about the possibilities and imagines the long nights Ridge and Brooke will be spending together on this new business, in the Executive Suite, meeting with the press... and maybe even on the office floors, where they'll find their true "destiny." Eric says that won't happen, but Stephanie reminds him that it has before. In fact, she bets Brooke might be "conquering" Ridge, his latest conquest, right now. Eric says he won't listen to this and turns to leave. "Make sure you knock before you barge in! You old fool!" she taunts as he leaves.

Ridge and Brooke return to his office at Marone, fuming that Stephanie wants to sell BeLieF to wage this war. Ridge says that it's done now; he knows he proposed this as a bluff, but what if they really try to make a go at it? Brooke reminds him that they've tried before. But this time, he says, they can start from the ground up. She frets about how Taylor and Eric will react, since he and Taylor are just finding their footing, and she and Eric are just beginning. He tells her not to sound like his mother. For one thing, he thinks they both know she shouldn't be married to Eric, as Eric's can't make her happy, any more than Nick can. Brooke says it's complicated. It always is when they're apart, he says. She says it's always complicated when they're together. She fears that they'll fall back into their old patterns. Ridge says he won't let that happen. He reminds her of the chemistry they've always had. Brooke thinks it's too dangerous and stressful. Ridge guesses she's right: they have to talk to Taylor and Eric first, and then they have to decide if they can do this. Brooke isn't sure she can; she's had so much going on with her arm injury, and the business and the kids. She even missed a play of Hope's last week. There's just too much going on.

Ridge and Brooke are surprised when an angry Eric walks in.

Brooke starts to wobble; Ridge catches her and tries to steady her, just as Eric walks in. Eric orders Ridge, "Let her go, Ridge. I said get your hands off my wife!"