Thursday, May 04, 2006, Episode #4800

Nick asks Brooke to quit working at Forrester.

Brooke visits Nick in his new office, where he explains about the security precautions he's taken to keep his old man out of the building. Brooke guesses it couldn't have been easy to oust his own father. She spots a Marone ring on a table and asks if it's his. Nick says it is; Mass left it there to remind him that he's still family, Brooke guesses. Nick tells her that he gave his pop fair warning, yet Mass hurt the two people he loves most. He takes Brooke in his arms and says he's glad she's here. She thinks things will be crazy here now that he's the big man in charge, so she may as well go over to Forrester. Nick hopes she's going to empty her desk, since he doesn't want her anywhere near Ridge. She reminds him that Forrester has been an important part of her life. But everything has changed there with Stephanie in charge, he reminds her. She points out that her kids' financial well being is tied to Forrester. He tells her that he's head of Marone Industries now, so her kids will be taken care of. He thinks it's best, given what happened, that she distances herself from Forrester Creations. Brooke agrees and prepares to leave, but Nick wants to come with her. She thinks it would be better if he didn't confront Ridge just yet. He says that nothing will ever make him forgive Ridge for what he did. Shelley comes in to tell Nick that the reporters are here, so Brooke gives him a goodbye kiss and leaves him to tend to his new empire.

Jackie is stunned when Nick tells her what Ridge did.

Shelley brings in the reporters, who fire questions at Nick about his replacing his father. Nick dodges the questions as best as he can, promising more details soon. As Shelley ushers the reporters out, Nick takes a call from Vijay (from the board) and tells him that things are nutty here. With the office cleared, he takes off his jacket, just as his mother arrives. Jackie sees how busy her son, the high powered tycoon, is, and promises not to stay long. She just wanted to let him know that she thinks he's ready for this, and she's sure Brooke shares her confidence. Brooke just left, he tells her. Jackie senses something in his tone and asks what's wrong. Nick replies that he and Brooke are better than ever, but Ridge isn't giving up. Jackie doesn't think there's anything Ridge can do to hurt his [Nick's] relationship with Brooke. Ridge already did something, Nick says, by forcing himself on Brooke sexually, and Brooke won't do anything about it! Stunned, Jackie asks why Brooke won't press charges. Nick explains that Brooke fears pressing charges might impact her kids, so she's letting the son of a bitch get away with this. He thinks Brooke's pattern with the men in her life has to stop. Jackie is sure he'll protect Brooke in the way she deserves to be. Nick tells her that he asked Brooke to resign from Forrester. Jackie asks how he expects Brooke to walk away from something that meant so much to her. Nick says that Brooke chose their lives over that company, and that ought to send a message to the dressmaker, not to mention that overbearing mother of his.

Eric suggests that Ridge accept that Brooke wants to be with Nick.

In the Forrester CEO's office, Ridge tells Eric about what happened with Brooke, including the fact that Nick is calling it rape. Eric asks what Brooke calls it. Ridge insists that he didn't know Brooke was on medication, and he didn't force himself on her. But it's still sick! Eric states. Ridge says that he knows he screwed up, and he takes full responsibility for that, but he's sure he can find a way to fix it. Eric asks if he thinks that denying what Brooke wants will "fix it." He knows that Ridge loves Brooke and always will, but he thinks it might be time that Ridge accepts that Brooke has chosen Nick. Ridge says that he can't accept that. He expected that kind of reaction from his mother, but he's surprised to hear it coming from Eric, who also loved Brooke and lost her. He wonders if it has to do with Eric knowing how he feels all too well. Eric supposes that Ridge is right, because he knows better than anyone what a life with Brooke means to Ridge. Still, nothing that Ridge has tried has worked, and now he has to deal with what happened the other night.

Ridge has an idea to get his relationship with Brooke back on track.

Ridge asks Eric if he should just give up and let Brooke marry Nick once Nick's divorce is final. Eric says it won't be easy to let go. Ridge wonders if he can let go, since he and Brooke share an amazing history and a son. He doesn't know why anyone would ever let go of a beautiful connection like that. Eric feels for Ridge, who has overcome so many obstacles to be with Brooke. Most of which were his mother's doing, Ridge admits. He just wishes that his mother had stayed out of his and Brooke's lives in the past, and he hopes that she doesn't interfere now and only make matters worse. Eric prefers to think that his wife has learned her lesson, but Ridge wonders if Stephanie will ever stop trying to keep him and Brooke apart. He bets his mother is with Brooke right now, tormenting her, but he doesn't think it will work. When he thinks of the rush he and Brooke always had working together... He stops and says that gives him an idea to get his relationship with Brooke back on track, before his mother can derail that relationship permanently. He walks out, leaving a pensive Eric behind.

Thorne wonders if Nick will want Brooke around Forrester now.-

Stephanie is with Thorne in his office, but she can't keep her mind on work. All she can think about is what happened with Ridge and Brooke. She bets that Brooke is the one crying rape, just to convince Nick that she didn't betray him, no matter what damage the accusation does to Ridge's reputation. Thorne bets that the SOB [Nick] won't be satisfied until he makes Ridge pay for what he thinks he's done. They already had a fist fight, Stephanie notes. Thorne bets that Nick won't let Brooke come anywhere near Ridge, including working here at Forrester. Which means Brooke might quit, Stephanie comments; she asks if she could be that lucky, after years of trying to force Brooke out of her life, her family and her company. Just then, security calls Stephanie to tell her that Brooke is in the building. Stephanie says that she has to go find Brooke; if Brooke hasn't found a reason to quit yet, she gleefully states, maybe she can help Brooke find a reason. Grinning, she walks out the door.

In the basement office, Brooke takes a single cardboard box and packs her things. She finds a folder with her and Ridge's names marked "Spec Spring Line," and she puts that in the box. She then finds a photo of her and Ridge, from when they first promoted BeLieF. She smiles as she looks at the picture, but she's interrupted by Stephanie's arrival. Stephanie thinks it's pathetic that Brooke would ruin someone's life by crying rape, but Brooke says she never said Ridge raped her. Then why does Nick think he did? Stephanie asks. Brooke says it's none of Stephanie's business, but Stephanie thinks it is when her son is being called a sexual deviant. Brooke says that Ridge should not have been in her bed. Then kick him out! Stephanie states. She points out that Brooke has already excelled at sex and at ruining people's marriage, and she's never turned down a roll in the hay before. She's tired of Brooke ruining her son's life. Brooke says that she has no relationship with Ridge now, and she bets that Stephanie will be glad to hear that. Stephanie asks for proof, so Brooke tells her that she's here to clean out her things. She doesn't think it's a good idea for her and Ridge to work together anymore, so she's leaving Forrester, for the sake of Nick and her love for him. "God bless you, Nick!" Stephanie exclaims. Brooke states that Stephanie finally has her wish: she'll finally be out of Stephanie's company, her life and her precious family. She'll be gone within the hour, she tells a confused Stephanie as she walks out.