Tuesday, May 23, 2006, Episode #4813

Dante tells Felicia why she might not be his best choice for a model.

Dante pulls away from his kiss with Felicia and tells her that she's a naughty girl and a bad influence. She laughs that if she had a nickel for every time a man told her that, she wouldn't have to worry about her mother giving away her inheritance. Dante says he's sorry, as he's committed to Bridget. Felicia knows that, but she hopes that if anything changes, they can take another "spin around the track." Dante says she knows how much he loves racing cars. She asks if a "hot little sports car" isn't much more exciting than a "dependable station wagon"? Dante tells her he has to get back to work. He has a sculpture to finish, and Bridget was going to model for him. But Bridget ran off to solve Nick's problems, Felicia quips, so why doesn't she model for him instead. She promises to be on her best behavior. Dante isn't sure, as sculpting requires him to know his subject intimately, so he can capture her soul as well as her body. Felicia reminds him that they agreed to get to know each other better, for their son's sake. She wonders if this is their chance.

Felicia gives Dante a look at what she's got.

Dante tells Felicia that it takes time. Or is that he doesn't find her attractive enough? Felicia asks. He asks if she's trying to start an argument. She thinks he's avoiding her question. She knows she's gorgeous, he says. She takes her scarf off and asks if it's the hair (which is still short, although it's starting to grow). It's not her, he says. He appreciates her wanting to help, but he doesn't think it will work out. Before he says no, she thinks he should see what he's turning down, so she drops her dress and asks what he thinks. Smiling, Dante says that she's crazy, and beautiful. Smiling back at him, she laughs that he's interested now. More like inspired, he says. If they're going to do this, he says, she'll have to buckle down follow his exact instructions. She laughs that he makes sculpting sound so deviant/ The most important thing, he says, is for her to relax and have fun. She says she always does, and she thinks he will, too.

Hector offers advice.

Hector drops by Taylor's office, where she sarcastically gives him a big "woo-hoo" about Stephanie naming Brooke and Ridge as the King and Queen of the fashion world. He points out that Brooke has not accepted the offer yet, but Taylor is sure Brooke will after the way Stephanie gushed with praise for her. Hector is confused, since he thought Stephanie was her best friend. She says she thought so, too, but she had no idea that Stephanie was going to name Brooke CEO of Forrester. In fact, she hasn't even talked to Stephanie since Ridge was hospitalized. Hector notes that Ridge again gets what he wants on a silver platter. Taylor refuses to let that happen at her expense. She angrily reminds him that whatever Stephanie wants, Stephanie gets. When Stephanie makes a decision, they all have to follow - but not anymore! Whatever Stephanie's motivation is, she states, she won't stand by and be humiliated ever again!

Stephen tells Nick about his plan.

Stephen stops by Marone to see if Nick has heard from Brooke, who hasn't returned any of Stephen's calls. Nick tells him that Brooke had to get away to consider Stephanie's offer, even though he can't understand why she'd want to be part of Stephanie's grand plan. Stephen tells Nick that he has a plan of his own to crush the Forresters, but all Nick wants to do is protect Brooke from the people who hurt her most. Stephen tells Nick what he overheard at Forrester, about Stephanie's plans to divide up the Forrester stock among the family. With the pie broken up, he says, Brooke will be the largest stockholder in the company. But the Forresters will always vote as a block, Nick speculates. But if Brooke had just 1% more of the stock, Stephen says, she'll be in a position to do anything she wants, including firing Eric, Ridge or even Stephanie! He adds that there's one person they can appeal to, someone who is no longer is part of the family. If he's talking about Taylor, Nick says, she's too loyal to give up her stock to Brooke. But what has that loyalty gotten Taylor? Stephen asks. And if the Forresters don't show any loyalty to her, why should Taylor show them any? Nick doesn't think Taylor is that vengeful. But she doesn't want to feel like a lap dog, Stephen says. Nick still fears it could backfire if Brooke runs back to Stephanie. He just can't accept that the plan might fail, leaving Brooke right back at Forrester. "It's unacceptable to you!" Stephen says. He knows Brooke loves Nick, but he also knows that running Forrester is Brooke's dream. He asks Nick not to make Brooke choose between him and her dream, especially when there's a way for the two of them to have it all.

Bridget confronts Stephanie.

Bridget barges into Stephanie's office at Forrester, demanding to talk to the family matriarch! She thinks Stephanie really takes the cake with her latest actions, and she isn't sure if she should believe in the sincerity of Stephanie's offer to her mother. Stephanie explains that she's trying to get away from the anger and obsession that drove her to keep Brooke and Ridge apart. Bridget asks where that leaves Nick, especially since she gave up her marriage for Nick to be with her mother. That was her choice, Stephanie says, pointing out that Brooke is Ridge's future. Bridget insists that Ridge is Brooke's past, since Brooke has fallen in love with someone else. Brooke is Ridge's destiny, Stephanie states. Bridget thinks that's sacrilege coming from Stephanie, but Stephanie says that the sacrilege would be Nick not letting Brooke accept her offer. She thinks that Nick will have to accept, as she did, that Brooke and Ridge belong together, but Bridget doesn't believe that. Stephanie wonders what Bridget wants, wondering if Bridget is still in love with Nick.

Stephanie tries to make her point to Bridget.

Bridget recalls how Stephanie begged her to let Nick go, so Brooke could have him, so she wonders how Stephanie can ask if she's waiting around for Nick. She says that she's not, and she's moved on with her life. Not with Dante, Stephanie says, accusing Bridget of just being with the Italian artist to stay close to the baby. Bridget tells her not to bring Dante or Dino into this. Stephanie recalls how Bridget felt, after her miscarriage, that she lost the glue that held her marriage together. She walked away first, and she was right. Bridget looks at her… The phone rings; Stephanie answers and finds an angry Taylor on the line. Taylor says they need to talk. Stephanie asks if she can call her back; Taylor is stunned that Stephanie is too busy to talk to her. Stephanie says that she's just in the middle of something; Taylor wonders if Stephanie's giving another interview indicating what a bad fit she and Ridge were. As Stephanie tries to talk to Taylor, Bridget leaves. Taylor thinks of all the years of humiliation while Brooke chased her husband, and now Stephanie is chasing after Brooke! Stephanie says that she's sorry, because she didn't think... No, she didn't! Taylor shouts as she she hangs up the phone!

Taylor feels betrayed by Stephanie.

Stephanie soon after arrives at Taylor's office, She tries to explain that she never meant to hurt Taylor. Of course not, Taylor says, guessing she got caught in the crossfire of Stephanie pulling the wool over Brooke's eyes. Stephanie says that she's not trying to trick Brooke. She knows she should have warned Taylor, but her intentions toward Brooke are sincere. Taylor can't believe that Stephanie really wants Ridge with Brooke. Stephanie says that she almost lost her son, but Taylor counters that her kids almost lost their father. Stephanie insists that she caused the heart attack. Stephen approaches outside and listens as Stephanie tells Taylor that Brooke is the love Ridge has always longed for. Taylor asks Stephanie if she hears herself. Stephanie says that she does; she's putting her son first, since her children always come first. Taylor guesses that she comes in dead last. Stephanie suggests that Taylor saw that Brooke and Ridge belong together even before she did, which is why Taylor walked away from her marriage. Taylor shakes her head and says this isn't even about Brooke and Ridge. It's about her, Stephanie and their friendship. Stephanie says that she still loves Taylor, so their relationship shouldn't have to change. What relationship? Taylor asks, pointing out how Stephanie stabbed her in the back in front of the whole world. No one who loved her would do that to her, she says as she turns her back on a hurt Stephanie.