Monday, July 24, 2006, Episode #4857

Stephanie tells Brooke to return the Forrester stock.

In the Forrester CEO's office, a stunned Brooke realizes that Stephanie only accepted her as long as she did things Stephanie's way, to make Ridge happy. Now that she isn't doing things the way Stephanie wants, she's the same old slut from the Valley. “You said it, I didn't,” Stephanie quips. Brooke can't believe that Stephanie's change of heart was just a ploy to get her to reunite with Ridge. Stephanie retorts that she really had a change of heart; she would never have let Brooke near Ridge otherwise. She still can't believe that she gave Brooke everything she ever wanted and accepted Brooke into the company and the family, but Brooke still couldn't accept it. She feels that Brooke walked away from the family by marrying Nick, so Brooke has no business owning or running their company. She waves the legal document she had drawn up in Brooke's face. Brooke argues that she's not going anywhere, because she belongs here! Stephanie counters that she thought Brooke belonged with Nick, since that's who she married. She tells Brooke that she can't have it both ways, especially since Brooke walked away from a man who truly loved her for who she is and never tried to change or control her. Brooke thinks that Stephanie is the one who is trying to control her and insists that this company needs her. And what about Nick's concerns? Stephanie asks. Brooke tells Stephanie to spare her the false concern, because she's earned her place here and isn't going anywhere! She tears up Stephanie's document and storms out. Alone, Stephanie says to herself, “Well, if you won't give it back, I guess I'll just have to find a way to take it back, won't I, Missy?”

Jackie gives Nick some advice.

Jackie drops by Nick's office at Marone to see how he is, since he didn't even have time for one little call to his mother while he was away. Nick tells her that he wasn't going to call his mother on his honeymoon. Jackie understands that he and Brooke needed some privacy; that that was hard to find with Brooke's naked photo plastered all over the place, Nick admits. Jackie admits that Stephanie went all out with that campaign, but it didn't work. She thinks all the naysayers will just have to clam up, just as Ridge has, now that Brooke is Mrs. Marone. Nick tells his mom not to count on that now that Brooke's sister Donna is in town. He tells Jackie that Donna is a real beauty, but she has a hard time accepting his objecting to Brooke's modeling and thinks Brooke should instead be with Ridge. But Donna is not Brooke's husband, Jackie states. And if it were up to Donna, Nick comments, he wouldn't be Brooke's husband, either. He explains that Donna is sure that Ridge would approve of Brooke's modeling. Jackie agrees that Ridge probably would approve, since Ridge is a Forrester, and the ad campaign is making their company millions. She adds that she even understands, since the Brooke's Bedroom line is flying off the shelves at Jackie M. That's because of Brooke's ability as CEO, Nick says. Jackie thinks he is proud of Brooke and wants her to succeed. She already has, Nick says, so the two of them have nothing to prove. Jackie thinks that Donna will see that after having a chance to spend more time with him.

Nick offers Stephanie his thanks.

Nick sits alone, thinking back to his argument with Brooke about the semi-nude photos on their wedding day. As the memory ends, he sees Stephanie there, asking to have a word with him. Nick says that he has a few choice words for her, but he'll hold back on those in light of her recent family tragedy. Stephanie thanks him for respecting Darla; he counters that he always respected Darla for standing up to the Forresters. Stephanie tells Nick that she respected Darla, too, just as she respects him. Nick feels a sales pitch coming on, but Stephanie insists there's no pitch. Nick is glad, since that last Forrester ad campaign wasn't a hit for him, especially since Stephanie didn't have Brooke's permission to use those photos. He credits the photos and their use to Stephanie, who was trying to push him to the edge. But it didn't work; he supposes he should be thanking Stephanie for bringing him and Brooke closer than ever. Truthfully, though, he can't believe that Stephanie is here worrying about his marriage when Stephanie's younger son just lost his wife. Stephanie says that she learned from Darla's death not to leave any loose ends untied. Nick insists that Brooke is not one of her loose ends, and neither is he. Stephanie says she offered the Forrester stock to Brooke to welcome Brooke into their family, so she thinks the ethical thing for Brooke to do, having married Nick, would be to return the stock to the Forresters. Nick laughs at how convenient it is for her to talk about ethics when she's the one who handed her company over to Brooke. Stephanie suggests that Brooke subconsciously is staying at Forrester to be close to Ridge. She warns Nick that if he wants to keep his wife, he will keep Brooke away from Ridge.

Donna tells Ridge not to give up on Brooke.

Donna drops by Ridge's office to say hi and to offer her condolences over Darla's death. Ridge greets her warmly and thanks her for her concern. Donna suggests that it's been a bad time for both Forrester brothers, but Ridge doesn't think his problems can compare to Thorne's. Maybe so, Donna agrees, but Ridge still lost someone he loves. But RJ didn't lose his mom, Ridge points out. Even so, Donna thinks it can't be easy for Ridge to see Brooke with another man, especially one like Nick. So she's met Nick, Ridge supposes. Donna says that she has, and she can see how some women would find Nick handsome. However, she doesn't think Nick's right for Brooke, who can surely do better, like she did when she was with Ridge. Ridge just wishes Brooke agreed. Donna recalls all the times over the years that Brooke said Ridge was her destiny, so she can't understand how Brooke could pass when she finally had the chance to be with Ridge and then married Nick Marone instead. Ridge admits that he made some mistakes when Taylor came back into his life. He tried to make it up to Brooke, but he guesses it just wasn't enough. Donna asks Ridge if his mother's overtures to Brooke were for real. They were, Ridge says, but it didn't change how Brooke felt about Nick. Donna tells Ridge not to give up on Brooke; she thinks Brooke just needs some time to see what a mistake it was to marry Nick. But she has married Nick, Ridge says, and she moved on. Donna tells him not to accept that, because she knows he loves Brooke. And he always will, he adds, but Brooke has decided that her future isn't with him. At least they can work together on the Bedroom line, he states.

Brooke tells Ridge her decision.

A short while later, Brooke comes in and finds Ridge looking at a drawing. He jokes that he won't ask about her honeymoon, but she says she's not in the mood, thanks to her meeting with his mother just now. She tells him how Stephanie wants her to give back the stock and step down because, in his mother's viewpoint, she's not part of the family. Ridge says his mom is angry, but Brooke says she's angry, too, at letting herself get sucked in by Stephanie again. Ridge remarks that she didn't get completely sucked in; after all, she's not married to him. Brooke thinks they have bigger things to worry about, like picking up the slack for Thorne because of his losing Darla. Ridge agrees; he knows Brooke didn't want to be working too closely with him, but he thinks it will be necessary under the circumstances, especially since the Bedroom line has taken off. Speaking of which, he has some new designs to show her. Brooke looks at the drawing and says it's gorgeous. Ridge thinks she'll look amazing in it, but she says her replacement will - since she won't be modeling the Brooke's Bedroom line anymore!