Thursday, June 01, 2006, Episode #4820

As Ridge hangs a "Welcome Back, Brooke" sign in the CEO's office, Eric, Stephanie and Thorne arrive. Eric and Stephanie are glad that they arrived before Brooke. Ridge tells them not to jump on Brooke about her plans yet, since she's just getting settled and won't be making any major decisions today.

Taylor tries to rationalize what she did with Stephen last night.

A robe-clad Taylor brings a cup of coffee to her bedroom, where Stephen is asleep in her bed. She sits beside him and gives him his coffee; he says it's perfect. Taylor still can't believe what happened last night. It was unexpected, Stephen agrees. It was certainly wonderful, Taylor adds, but it was very unlike her, since she hardly knows him, and he's Brooke's dad. And she's Ridge's ex-wife, he points out. Taylor tries to make sense of what happened; she felt so vulnerable, and there he was. Stephen says he has no regrets. She doesn't, either, but she still has a hard time accepting that last night "just happened." But it did, Stephen says, so she should stop trying to explain it. She thinks that sounds like something Brooke would say and chalks it up to the Logan DNA. He tells her not be so sarcastic, or to just write last night off. He renewed his relationship with Brooke, while Taylor cut her ties to the Forresters. They're both moving on with their lives, and he's happy to be part of that. He puts his arm around her and promises things will get better. Taylor says that she didn't expect things to happen so fast - not that fast describes how he was last night. In fact, she thinks he was quite impressive. She knew how seductive the Logans could be, but she never thought she'd fall prey to their seductive abilities herself. It's just feels so strange. Stephen kisses her and tells her not to think so much, just as the phone rings..

Thorne wonders what could be keeping Brooke.

At Forrester, Stephanie frets that Taylor isn't answering. Ridge suggests that Taylor just needs time, but Stephanie doesn't think she should keep her distance when Taylor feels so abandoned. Eric is sure Taylor will come around if they keep calling. Putting pressure on worked with Brooke, Ridge points out. Speaking of which, Thorne wonders why Brooke isn't here yet. Ridge is sure she's just running late. But it's Brooke's first day as CEO, Stephanie frets. Ridge tells her to relax; he's sure Brooke will be there, just like he's sure Taylor will come around. Thorne wonders if Nick is giving Brooke reason to have second thoughts. Eric thinks that could be, if Nick isn't as supportive as he was yesterday. Ridge says that Nick wasn't being supportive, but rather, was just trying to stay in the game. Thorne wonders if Brooke would leave Nick for this job. Ridge thinks she would if Nick threatened her dream and tried to take away what matters most to her. That's probably why Nick changed his mind yesterday, Stephanie suggests. Ridge thinks that it's only a matter of time before he and Brooke find their creative rhythm again, like they always do, and that "poor sap" Nick will lose Brooke anyway when that happens.

Nick assures Brooke that she has to fire the Forresters.

Brooke is still at home, dressed in a black business suit and having coffee; she nervously paces as she recalls Nick telling her to fire the Forresters. Nick comes in and says that she looks great. She thanks him, but she's hesitant about what he asked her to do. She reminds him that RJ is Ridge's son and Eric and Stephanie's grandson. And they can see RJ all they want, Nick responds, but they don't have to see her every day. Brooke reminds him that Eric founded the company. But she holds controlling interest, he counters, and she launched some of Forrester's most successful lines. Brooke still doesn't feel right firing any of them; she was up all last night thinking about it. Nick says that he'll be up every night worrying that the Forresters will try to manipulate her again. He knows that Stephanie wants her back with Ridge, and he predicts that Stephanie will turn on her again once she sees that's not happening. It will be a constant battle for Brooke, and he can't see why she'd want that. Brooke thinks it will be worse if she launches a preemptive strike against them, but she also doesn't want to disappoint Nick. Nick tells her that she has to move forward and accept that she controls the Forresters' destiny, and not the other way around. Brooke fears they will try to hurt her if she fires them. Nick assures her that he's behind her, but Brooke just can't picture Forrester without any Forresters. Nick assures her that it will make sense in time, reminding her of all the times the Forresters abused her. He doesn't want to see that happen again.

Stephen reminds Brooke of how the Forresters treated them in the past.

Just then, the phone rings; it's Ridge, who asks Brooke why she's late for work. He jokes that he'd dock her pay if she wasn't the boss. Brooke apologizes and says she'll be there soon. As she hangs up, Nick again tells her to end this now. Brooke says that it's not easy. Before Nick can reply, Stephen comes in. Brooke tells her dad that she heard from Nick that it was his idea to buy Taylor's stock. It was, Stephen says, congratulating her on finally being able to do whatever she wants at Forrester. Or whatever HE wants, Brooke adds. Stephen says that he finally found a way to make amends with his daughter, and he can't understand why she's not jumping for joy. Nick says that Brooke is having second thoughts. Because firing the Forresters will make them miserable, Brooke explains. Stephen tells her that she'll be setting herself free by firing the Forresters. Even if they did something decent by giving her half their company, it doesn't make up for the horrible things they did in the past. He tells Brooke that this could be the first step toward the two of them patching things up. And maybe Stephanie also wants to make amends, Brooke suggests. Nick and Stephen agree that she can't trust the Forresters, who will only break her heart if she tries to work with them. They both think that firing the Forresters is the only way to avoid that pain. Nick adds that she can still work with Thorne, but Eric, Ridge and Stephanie have to go. He knows it sounds harsh, but it's the only way. Stephen agrees. Nick gives Brooke a kiss and tells her that he loves her as he sends her on her way.

A beautiful flower arrangement is delivered to Taylor at the Bel Air mansion. Taylor goes to tip the delivery boy, but he says it's been taken care of. Taylor takes the flowers inside and smiles when she reads the card and sees that Stephen sent the flowers.

Brooke is torn over what she's about to do.

Brooke arrives at Forrester and is warmly welcomed by Ridge, Eric and Stephanie. They hope the reporters didn't give her a hard time getting into the building. Brooke comments on how the office looks; it's HER office now, Ridge reminds her, as he and Eric point out that they had all her things brought up from the basement. Stephanie says that they wanted her to get to work ASAP and picks up a poster of a lingerie clad Brooke. She recalls all the time and energy she put into opposing the bedroom line. That was such a waste, she says, which is why she wants to assure Brooke again that she's 100% behind her. Brooke tells them that they didn't have to go to all this trouble, but Ridge it's sometimes good to suck up to the boss. Eric tells Brooke that Thorne is taking the calls from the international press, so he promised Thorne he'd give her something. He hands her a copy of EYE ON FASHION with her picture on the cover. Ridge bets that they would have asked her for a quote, but he thinks they gave out too many quotes already. Stephanie adds that the retailers have been calling about plans for new lines and fashion shows.

Stephanie is alarmed by Brooke's tone.

As Brooke takes this all in, she remembers her father warning her not to be taken in by the Forresters again. She asks Eric, Stephanie and Ridge to join her around the conference table. As they sit down, Eric asks if she's changed her mind. She says she hasn't. She just has something she needs to tell them. She then explains how her father met with Taylor last night and, using funds provided by Nick, bought Taylor's stock in the company. Nick transferred the money into Taylor's account, so the transaction is now complete. Stephanie seems alarmed by this revelation.

Ridge wonders where Brooke is coming from.

As Eric, Stephanie and Ridge all look at her with concern, Brooke says that this is one of the hardest things she's ever had to do, but she has to do it. Ridge asks what she's talking about.