Friday, April 07, 2006, Episode #4781

Eric tries to reassure Jackie.

Jackie arrives at Jackie M and finds Megan coming out of her office. Megan explains that she's in the promotions department at Forrester now and brought by some sales information for Jackie. Jackie thanks Megan, who tells Jackie to call if she sees anything in the materials she left that can help Jackie M's sales. Megan then leaves. Jackie starts to look through the folder Megan left and doesn't seem too pleased. Eric pops in and asks her what's wrong. Jackie tells him that she recently confronted Stephanie, thinking he was ready to divorce Stephanie. She knows things have been hard since Felicia's death, and she hopes her run-in with Stephanie didn't make things worse. Eric stops her and tells her that a miracle has occurred, and Felicia is alive! He explains to her how Stephanie brought Felicia to the clinic, where experimental treatments saved Felicia. Jackie is happy for him, but she can't believe that Stephanie would lie and let him think his daughter was dead, even holding a memorial service for her. The bottom line, Eric says, is that his little girl is back. Jackie now understands why Stephanie seemed so confident about Eric when they had their run-in. Eric tells her that he and Stephanie have yet to discuss their marriage, as she doesn't even know about their engagement. Jackie says that she does after their run-in, and she fears that Stephanie thinks that saving Felicia has also revived her marriage to Eric. She asks Eric if Stephanie is right.

Eric asks Jackie if she really thinks Stephanie would save Felicia just to hold onto him. A frustrated Jackie says she doesn't know what to think, especially since she's hearing him defend his wife right now like a loyal husband! Eric asks if this can wait, since he's been through so much lately. Jackie tells him to do what he has to, as she has her answer. Eric tries to assure her that no matter what happened with Felicia, he and Stephanie do not have a romantic marriage. It's just that things are so complicated in their family, and a divorce now won't help that. Jackie relents and tells Eric to take all the time he needs to resolve his problems. She tells him to get some rest and gives him a goodbye kiss before he leaves.

Ridge thinks Brooke is just confused.

At Brooke's house, she tells Ridge that their relationship is not the subject here. She says she shouldn't have to apologize for taking R.J. away overnight when in the past, weeks would go by without his even knowing where their son was. Ridge thinks she's just confused and tells her about his request that his mother turn Forrester over to the two of them to run again. Brooke bets Stephanie laughed at that idea. Ridge responds that his mother raised a strong-willed son who won't give up, and he thinks Brooke should know how persistent he can be. Brooke reminds him that he threw their life away, so he can't get it back. He says that his mother didn't say "No," but she is sure Stephanie will not grant that request. He isn't so sure, since his mother's yen to play mogul has waned since Felicia died. He thinks it's only a matter of time before Brooke runs out of reasons to say no to him. She promises to let him know if she takes R.J. out of town. Ridge doesn't think that will be necessary, since he'll be on the other side of her bed. She tells him again that her future is with Nick, but Ridge believes that he can change her mind and prove she can trust him. The problem, Brooke says, is that she doesn't change her mind when she commits to someone, even if he does. "You'll see," Ridge promises as he leaves.

Nick refuses to cave to his father's demands.

On the Marone jet, Massimo can't see why the idea of going to Vegas bothers Nick; he admits Vegas was disreputable once, but it improved. He then states that Ridge has "elected" to take Brooke back as his wife, which is why Nick MUST end his actions that disgrace their family. An angry Nick tells the pilot to take them back to Van Nuys. Mass can't believe Nick's attitude; he points out that Brooke is the mother of Nick's wife and of Nick's nephew R.J., so anything between them is disgraceful. He vows that Nick will be sorry if he doesn't end things with her. Nick is sorry Mass feels that way and feels the need to resort to threats like this. He asks if his happiness means anything to his pop. Mass counters that he used to be that idealistic, until he was betrayed by a woman he loved. Nick tells him not to bring Jackie into this, since he doesn't want to start an argument with his pop about who has betrayed whom. Mass says he can understand the simplicity of Brooke's loyalty to Nick now, but he wonders how long it will last. He won't let scandal eat through his family the way a weakling like Eric did to the Forrester clan. Nick reminds Mass that Ridge is the one who walked out on Brooke, Hope anR.J.RJ. That's a mistake Ridge wants to rectify, Mass says, and if Nick can't see that, then at least Mass will have one son and one set of grandchildren who will inherit his life's work. Nick refuses to cave to Mass's threats to cut him off if he doesn't toe the line. Mass knows this seems extreme, but sometimes hard decisions need to be made for the family. Then they're at a crossroads, Nick says, willing to live without his father's money or approval. He doesn't want to close the door between them, but he won't hold it open, either. He tells Mass to be sure he really wants him as an enemy.

Brooke is stunned by Nick's news.

Soon after, Nick arrives at Brooke. She tells him about Ridge being here when she came home. Nick thinks that's interesting, since he just met with Massimo. Brooke asks what Mass wanted; Nick asks in reply if she would love him if all he had was the shirt on his back. If she's eyeing on his shares of Marone Industries, he says, she might want to start considering life with Ridge, since Marone is all Ridge's now. Brooke worries about what he's saying, but Nick tells her not to; he got by without his father's money before and he will again. But he loves his job, Brooke states. Nick doesn't think that's true anymore. She can't believe that Massimo would threaten him, but he points out that men like his pop don't get to where they are by walking old ladies across the street. He gives Brooke a kiss and tells her that he has all he needs right here. They'll just have to ask his mom to babysit occasionally. Brooke says that Massimo seems so lonely, and she never could understand why he and Jackie couldn't work things out. Now she can, Nick says. Brooke quips that she never cost someone a billion dollars before. Nick asks how she can make that up to him; she says she has some ideas and kisses him.

Massimo puts his plan into motion.

On the Marone jet, Mass gets another mysterious call. He is pleased that his instructions have been followed and ends the call. He then turns on the stereo and puts on the aria he was listening to before Nick boarded earlier.

Meanwhile, at Jackie M, Jackie is confused over her encounter with Eric. She takes the chain with her engagement ring out and slips the ring off the chain and onto her finger. Meanwhile, two men come into the office behind her.