Tuesday, August 28, 2007, Episode #5134

Phoebe feels like she's sending Rick mixed signals.

At Bridget's beach house, Rick asks Phoebe if she's sure she's ready to make love to him, since he senses she's not. Phoebe admits that he's right. She thought that if they were finally together like he wanted them to be, then... Rick agrees that it will be amazing when they finally make love, but he also respects that she wants to wait to be ready before making love. Phoebe feels like she's been sending him mixed signals, but she doesn't want to do that anymore, since it's not fair to him.

Rick is surprised by Phoebe's reaction.

Rick asks Phoebe what's wrong. She tells him that it was almost like a dream when they were on stage, but she sees now that they are at different points in their loves. Even though they love each other, she thinks they have to be on the same page to be happy in their relationship, but they're not yet. "You were my first love, and maybe my forever love, but I'm not ready," Phoebe tells Rick. She then adds that she wants him to be happy and kisses him before bolting out the door.

Eric wants his company's name on everyone's lips.

At Forrester Originals, Stephanie praises Eric's latest designs as his best work in years. Ashley comes in and seconds that sentiment. Eric hopes they're right, since they need a successful line to pay off their loans. Eric's comment reminds Ashley of how her brother Jack always pushed her to produce better fragrances when Jabot was in dire financial straits. Eric asks if they can fly Jack here to do the same for Forrester Originals, but Ashley thinks her brother might be too busy for that. Stephanie asks Eric if he wants to wait for Ridge to go over the publicity for the new line, but Eric thinks they can start among themselves on plans to get the name Forrester Originals on everybody's lips. Especially Nick's, Stephanie remarks, commenting on the way that Nick exploited the family name. "There's only room for one Forrester brand, and it's ours," she states.

Stephanie tries to reassure the banker.

Soon after, Eric meets with his banker, Michael, to sign the papers for another loan. The banker informs Eric that this is the last loan they can give him. Stephanie reminds Michael how much business the Forresters have given him, but the banker stands firm that he can't give them another loan until they pay off their new boutiques. Stephanie is confident that Eric's latest designs, his best yet, will put Forrester Originals on the map. Michael hopes she's right and leaves.

Ashley catches Stephanie in a faux-pas.

Later, Eric asks where Ridge might be when Ridge still hasn't arrived. When Ashley says that Ridge stopped by Brooke's, Eric fumes that Stephanie went to Brooke herself about the custody petition instead of letting Ridge talk to Brooke first. Stephanie feels that she had to keep Ridge from losing his nerve, because it's obvious that Brooke can't handle her life, let alone her kids. Eric asks what she means, so she tells him that Forrester Creations' new lead designer is A.W.O.L. from work. Eric doesn't think that's like Brooke, but Stephanie isn't surprised that Brooke let everything fall by the wayside since getting involved with that guy Andy Johnson. Ashley comes in with the newspaper photo of Brooke and Andy and asks Stephanie how she knows Andy's name, since it wasn't in the paper. Stephanie covers that one of the people who called for a statement must have mentioned Andy's name. In any case, it's a moot point in her mind since Ridge decided to sue for full custody of the children.

Clarke and Jackie worry about Forrester Creations.

At Forrester Creations, Clarke shows Nick his latest design. "They stink!" Nick seethes. Clarke points out that he at least has designs, unlike Nick's new, currently A.W.O.L. head designer. Nick points out that Brooke is going through a difficult time right now. Clarke quips that he's like to use that excuse himself. Jackie agrees that something is wrong with Brooke; Nick tells her that he saw Brooke earlier and he knows something is going on, but he doesn't know what exactly it is. Jackie goes over the sketches with Clarke and sends him back to the drawing board to make some changes.

Nick needs a plan to counter the Forresters' dominance on the runway.

Alone with Nick, Jackie tells him that she knows he's concerned about Brooke, but she also thinks they have to address that Eric Forrester, according to work on the street, is that Eric is putting out his best collection in years. Nick tells him mom that he agrees that they can't compete with Forrester Creations on the runway, even if Brooke was here and at the top of her game. Jackie suggests that they outfox the Forresters if they can't out-design them. Nick agrees, but he doesn't know what else to do since cutting off the Forresters' distribution outlets. Since ALMOST cutting them off, Jackie comments. But "almost" doesn't count here, Nick replies, looking for some new angle to hit the Forresters where they're weakest.

Ridge learns the whole story around Brooke's rape.

And speaking of Brooke, Ridge tries to comfort Ms. Logan after learning of her rape. Brooke doesn't want to talk about it, but Ridge urges her not to shut him out. He tells her that he wants to help, but Brooke can only go on about how horrible and terrifying the rape was. Ridge assures her that she's safe with him and asks her who did this, but Brooke still doesn't want to talk or even think about it. She just wants to put it out of her head. Ridge asks if she can really do that and presses her for details. Sobbing, Brooke tells him how this man raped her downstairs in her own home. Ridge asks if the rape had anything to do with her custody hearing being postponed. Brooke cries that Dorothy came by that night and saw how nervous she was, and that's why Child Protective Services postponed the hearing. Stunned, Ridge asks Brooke if the rapist has been arrested. Still crying, Brooke tells him that the authorities can't know about this, or she might lose her kids. That's why she hasn't pressed charges. Ridge seethes that this man violated Brooke, so he can't understand why Brooke is letting the guy get away with it instead of putting him behind bars. Brooke tells him that she can't tell anyone, since she wants to get her children back.

Brooke tells Ridge why she's afraid.

Ridge asks what the kids have to do with this, so Brooke hesitantly tells him that Andy threatened to make problems for her if she said anything. Ridge asks who this "Andy" is, but Brooke doesn't know much about him other than the fact that Andy followed her around like some stalker since they first met at Cafe Russe. She doesn't even know the man's last name. Ridge asks if Andy was the man in the newspaper photo. "He's sick and evil," Brooke confirms, sobbing about the things Andy told her. Ridge insists that they go after the guy, but Brooke frets that Andy promised to keep her from her kids forever if she told the police. She reminds him how Child Services threatened to withhold custody if the authorities were called to this house again. "It's your fault and your mother's," Brooke accuses. A shocked Ridge frets that this scum Andy blackmailed Brooke with her own kids. Brooke says she was afraid to tell anyone, and she only told Bridget about the rape before tonight. She just wishes she knew how Andy knew so much about her. Recalling how Andy snuck in through the terrace door and watched her set the alarm, she wonders if Andy got the alarm code that way. On top of that, her spare key was missing, so she guesses that Andy found it and used it to get in. Assuring Brooke that she doesn't have to worry about losing her kids, Ridge vows to find this "Andy" and get some answers, no matter what Stephanie might say on the matter. Brooke thanks him. Ridge wants to get his hands on that bastard and heads for Cafe Russe to look for leads about Andy. "We're going to get through this," Ridge promises.