Monday, May 29, 2006, Episode #4817

Stephen is sure that he can still get Taylor's help.

Brooke gets off the elevator at Marone Industries (which is odd, since Nick left there to meet her on Friday). Before she goes into Nick's office, she calls Ridge to let him know she's made up her mind. Ridge is sure she's decided to accept his mother's offer, but she tells him she'll let him know what she decided when she gets there shortly. Meanwhile, in Nick's office, he is on the phone with Stephen, who is at Taylor's house. Stephen is sure he can get Taylor to help secure control of Forrester for Brooke. As Brooke comes in, Nick ends the call and greets her. Brooke hugs him and apologizes for making him wait. She hopes he understands why this decision was so hard. He says he understands why she would want to run that company, but he has a problem with her working with Ridge. Still, he's behind her, whatever she decides. Even if she accepts? she asks. He asks if that's what she's going to do. Actually, she says, she's decided to put her relationship with him first, since nothing is more important to her. Smiling, Nick asks if she's sure. She says she is; she called Ridge earlier and said she was coming over with her decision, so she's headed to Forrester next. Nick wants to go with her. She says she can handle it on her own, but he points out that she would support him if their positions were reversed. He wants to give her the "happy ever after" he promised her, so she agrees to let him come with her.

Taylor has no desire for revenge.

Taylor is home, having some wine and fuming that she's had it with the Forrester family! When she hears someone at the door, she shouts to go away, but Stephen comes in anyway. She says he's just in time to toast the end of her days with the Forresters. Stephen is stunned as she tells him how she went over to give the Forresters a piece of her mind, a meeting that ended with Stephanie slapping her. She feels like a fool for ever thinking she mattered to that family, especially since Stephanie chose Brooke over her. Stephen reminds her that she still has options, unless she's already returned her stock. She replies that she still has the stock, but not for long. Stephen urges her not to give up the chances to pay Stephanie and her family back and asks her again to join forces with him and Brooke. Taylor fumes about how patronizing Stephanie was. Stephen says she can do something about that if she stands up to them, since Stephanie thinks she would never resort to revenge. Because that's not who she is, Taylor says; she refuses to stoop to Stephanie's level, so she's going to rip this meaningless stock up! She's about to tear the certificate up when Stephen stops her. Rather than destroy it, he suggests she sell it to him. He's made enough money to pay her fair market value, and she could still do the right thing. Taylor tells him she doesn't need the money. Stephen says that he knows, but it's about getting back the lives the Forresters took from them. All she has to do is sign that stock over to him and she'll be free of the Forresters forever.

Brooke takes a walk down memory lane.

Nick and Brooke arrive at Forrester; as they come off the elevator, they run into two young men carrying garment bags. The employees are thrilled that Ms. Logan is back. Not that Stephanie didn't deserve the position, but they're sure Brooke is thrilled to have her job as CEO back, so they congratulate her. Brooke thanks them. Nick notes how everyone loves her here. She agrees that it's been an amazing ride that she would never trade for anything in the world, even with all the ups and downs she's gone through. She looks at an area on the wall just past Sally's desk that we've never seen before, where there are photos of the BeLieF press conference and her other moments of triumph at Forrester. She flashes back to working in the lab with Ridge on BeLieF; launching Brooke's Bedroom; sailing across the river in Eric's show stopper in Portofino; and standing with the family in triumph at Lake Como. As a tear rolls down her cheek, she says, "I will never have another experience like this ever again."

Ridge wonders what Brooke has decided.

In the CEO's office, Ridge tells Eric and Stephanie that Brooke is on her way. Ridge wonders if Brooke might accept the offer, but will stay with Nick. Eric thinks it's possible, but not likely given what Nick has said in the past. He doesn't see a future for Nick and Brooke if Brooke returns to work here. Ridge sees how quiet his mother is. She's still thinking about what happened with Taylor. She thought she knew Taylor, her best friend, but after what happened today, she wonders if she ever knew her at all. She still can't forget how angry and resentful Taylor was when they were alone, talking, and she wonders if she made a mistake giving Taylor 2% of the Forrester stock. Eric asks if Taylor returned the stock. She sounded like she was going to, Stephanie says, but she never actually handed back the stock. So Taylor can keep the stock or sell it, Eric states. Taylor can do whatever she chooses, Stephanie says. Ridge hopes they're not worried that Taylor might... He knows they've been through rough times, but he's sure Taylor will be fine.

Eric and Stephanie welcome Brooke back.

Just then, Brooke comes in, since Sally was away from her desk. Stephanie is pleased to see Brooke, but not so happy when she sees Nick with her. She tells Nick that this is their first board meeting with the new CEO, and since he's not a stockholder. Nick says he's just here to support Brooke. Not that she needs it, Stephanie counters, since Brooke is among her loving, adoring family. Like the way she supported Brooke over the years? Nick asks. Brooke tries to stop him, but Stephanie says he's right. She hasn't been supportive, which is why she's trying to amends. She tells Brooke that she has redistributed the rest of the stock among the family and is behind Brooke 100%. They all are, Eric adds. Ridge chimes in that they're not just thinking about the money she'll make for them, because she's earned her place behind this desk. Stephanie suggests Brooke come behind the desk and see how it feels. She'll be spending a lot of time in that chair, Eric says, so Ridge suggests that she take it for a test drive. Brooke walks behind the desk and says it's all hers. The desk, the company and everything, Ridge agrees. And more importantly, Stephanie adds, she's part of the family now in every way.

Ridge reminds Brooke of all the nights they spend in this office with Eric, and the fanfare and applause they got when the ideas they bounced around here made it to the runway. He hopes she still remembers that. Like it was yesterday, she says. Eric recalls all the success she brought to this company, even if some people were less than enthusiastic about the way she pushed the envelope. Stephanie admits that she was a fuddy duddy, and she should have known better. She tells Brooke to be as provocative and avant-garde as she wants, and she's even willing to put that in writing. Ridge thinks that calls for a toast, so Eric goes to see if Sally can find some champagne. Brooke tells them to all hang on for a minute, as they're not letting her get a word in about what she came to say.

Brooke is stunned as Nick supports her being Forrester's CEO.

Just then, Nick gets a call on his cell, so he steps out into the hall. He takes the call from Stephen, who tells him that it's done. Taylor sold him her 2%. Nick asks if he's sure. Stephen says he is. He'll give Nick the details, but the important thing is that Brooke doesn't have to give up control of Forrester now. Nick hangs up and goes back in as Brooke tells Eric, Stephanie and Ridge how much Stephanie's offer means to her. She shares their fond memories of the work she did here, and she knows what Stephanie's offer signifies. But she's weighed everything very carefully, and the only choice she could make is to...