Friday, July 21, 2006, Episode #4856

Dante tells Bridget to focus on her family.

At Dante's beach house, Bridget listens as Dante talks to his father on the phone. He tells his dad that there will be a change of plans since Thorne's wife was killed. He promises to look after Felicia and ends the call. Dante approaches Bridget and says that his dad sent his sympathies. For Felicia, Bridget guesses. For the family, Dante corrects her. Bridget points out that his dad is fond of Felicia. That's because his father is a traditional guy who thinks a child should be with both its parents, Dante states. He tells Bridget that his dad will love her once they get to spend time together. Bridget is glad Dino has both parents, unlike Alexandria now. Dante tells her to forget about his family and focus on hers.

Bridget considers Dante's idea.

Bridget says she's trying, but she keeps thinking about Nicole; she feels funny about that since her brother's wife just died. Dante thinks it's normal to think of the one you love at times like this, just like he finds himself wanting to spend more than two days a week with Dino. Bridget suggests he work out a new arrangement with Felicia, but Dante has a better idea: he suggests to Bridget that they have a baby of their own. Bridget reminds him that they're not married yet, and now isn't the time for a wedding. Dante agrees, but he thinks they can still start on a baby now, since he's not the traditional type of guy his father is. Besides, he thinks the wedding would just be a formality, Bridget mulls over the idea of having the baby first and responds with a kiss. Dante then picks her up and carries her to the bedroom.

Brooke and Nick tell Donna that he understands what Forrester means to Brooke.

At Brooke's house, Donna looks at the Brooke's Bedroom magazine ad again. She feels like space aliens abducted her sister, since the Brooke Logan she knows would never give up something she was so passionate about just because her new husband freaked out over this ad. Brooke reminds Donna that she's not quitting as Forrester's CEO; she's just not going to model anymore. Donna feels like Brooke is passing up the chance to show that a successful woman who's older than twenty-three can still look hot, just to wind up a paper-pushing wife of a sailor. Just then, Nick comes downstairs and overhears Donna tell Brooke not to compromise herself for an insecure husband. Nick makes his presence known; he tells Donna that he knows she just got to town, but hearing her talk this way makes him ask when she's leaving. Donna says she's staying as long as Brooke needs her. Nick asks if that means she's leaving after the funeral. Donna retorts that her sister might be dealing with another loss besides Darla. Brooke tries to intervene, but Nick realizes Donna is talking about the Brooke's Bedroom ad. Donna admits she thinks Nick has a problem with Brooke's career. Nick says he's fine with her career; what he's not fine with is the way the Forresters abuse his wife. Stephanie invited Brooke into their family and company, Donna argues. Just to out “Humpty Dumpty” back together again, Nick suggests. Brooke steps over to Nick and assures him that Ridge and Stephanie know that her life is with him now. But Forrester is part of that life, Donna argues. Brooke tells Donna that Nick understands how important Forrester is to her. Nick agrees that Brooke is the best CEO that company ever had, which is why she deserves some respect.

Donna asks Nick why he feels threatened.

Speaking of Forrester, Brooke has to get to work. She stresses that she's not modeling anymore, so she suggests that Nick and Donna table this discussion and get to know each other while she's gone. After Brooke leaves, Nick asks Donna if she has something to say. Donna admits that Brooke sounds really happy about her new marriage, but she knows the Bedroom line also makes Brooke happy. The line should make Brooke happy, Nick says, since it's selling great. Because of the ad campaign, Donna insists; she tells Nick that she's worked in the media, so she knows that an ad like that is a “perfect storm.” The thing with storms, Nick says, is that they blow over. And that's it? Donna asks. Nick tells her that this was Brooke's decision, but Donna still feels like he's not proud of Brooke. He is, Nick explains. He just doesn't trust Ridge or Stephanie, especially with the way they ignore Brooke's wishes and manipulate her, and he doesn't think Donna should trust them, either. Donna says she knows the Forresters. She doesn't know anything, Nick retorts. Donna thinks he's talking about the runway kiss, but he says that's just the tip of the iceberg. And that's why he's threatened by Ridge? Donna asks. Nick says he isn't threatened; he's just protecting his wife, because Ridge and Stephanie don't know the meaning of the word “no.” But his wife doesn't need to be protected, Donna argues. Nick calls her naive; she says she's not, as she knows things weren't always perfect for Brooke and Ridge. Nick says things won't always be perfect for him and Brooke, either, but they will be better, and he invites Donna to stay and see for herself. And what about her regard for the Forresters? she asks. Nick chuckles that they already have something in common, since she's not perfect, either.

Eric tells Stephanie that she can't just force Brooke out.

At the Forrester mansion, Eric and Stephanie discuss the letters of condolences that have come in about Darla. They still can't believe that Darla is gone, and they agree that Thorne will need their help after losing his wife. Unfortunately, Eric points out, they're swamped after the success of the Brooke's Bedroom line. Stephanie suggests that they ask Felicia to help out, rather than her fretting over a wedding that never happened. Eric says that he's already asked some of the department heads to pick up the slack but agrees to run Stephanie's idea by Brooke. Why should they? Stephanie asks. Eric points out that Brooke IS their CEO, but Stephanie thinks Brooke forfeited any right to run this company when she became Mrs. Dominick Marone. Eric reminds her that she gave that stock to Brooke with “no strings attached” and no stipulations made regarding Brooke being with Ridge. And while he would have loved to have seen Brooke back with Ridge, she was always up front about her feelings for Nick. Stephanie can't believe that she offered Brooke everything she ever wanted, but Brooke still turned it down. And now she feels like she has egg on her face for doing it? Eric asks. Yes, Stephanie admits, which is why she hopes Brooke will make the right decision rather than face the consequences. Eric tells her that she can't force Brooke out. Stephanie disagrees; she may not be able to raise Darla from the dead or mend Thorne's broken heart, but she can make sure Mrs. Marone isn't running their family business!

Stephanie asks Brooke to leave Forrester.

Soon after, Brooke enters the CEO's office and finds Stephanie behind the desk, keeping her seat warm. Stephanie points out that Brooke married Nick and asks how Brooke how she calmed Nick down about the nude photo. What he needed to be calmed about, Brooke says, is that his wife was again being manipulated by her ex-mother-in-law. She suggests that Stephanie accept her relationship with Nick, like Ridge has. Stephanie thinks she has a way to make that happen and gives Brooke a document; Brooke is stunned to see that the document calls for her to resign as CEO and return all Forrester stock to Stephanie! Stephanie feels that's only fair, since the stock was a gift to show how much she valued Brooke. It was a show of appreciation for her accomplishments, Brooke argues. Stephanie insists that the gift came with the understanding that Brooke would marry Ridge and return to the family business. Since Brooke is now a Marone, she thinks Brooke should step down. Brooke argues that she earned that stock. But the company should be run by a Forrester, Stephanie states. Brooke points out that she wasn't a Forrester when she got the stock. Stephanie points out that she expected Brooke to be one - and now that she isn't going to be one, she thinks she and Brooke should just admit they had a missed opportunity and end things. Brooke argues that she was always up front about her feelings for Nick. Stephanie admits that she underestimated how important Nick was to Brooke. Now that she sees what Nick means to Brooke, she wants to end this.