Monday, October 08, 2007, Episode #5161

Bridget tells Nick about a new procedure.

Bridget drops by Jackie M to tell Nick about a new procedure that can tell him whose eggs Taylor is carrying. Nick doesn't think it matters, since he's decided that he and Taylor are the child's parents, no matter who the donor is. Besides, he doesn't see any point, since Bridget told him the chances were slim of someone other than the original donor being the mother. Bridget tells him that she's not telling him to do the test. She just wants him to know that it's an option, although they'll have to Taylor what they're doing. Nick doesn't relish the idea of telling Taylor that she might be carrying Brooke's baby, especially if the stress jeopardizes the pregnancy. Just then, Brooke comes in; upon seeing Bridget, who's Taylor's doctor, Brooke frets that something's wrong with Taylor, since she can't think of any other reason that Bridget would be here. Nick and Bridget quickly cover that Bridget came by to look at a dress she saw in the window, and Nick offers to send it over to her. Bridget guesses that Nick is feeling generous now that he's a man of leisure and bids Nick and her mom goodbye.

Nick frets about Brooke's plans to keep working at Forrester Creations.

Alone with Nick, Brooke asks if he's sure that he made the right move by selling the company back to Eric and Stephanie. Nick informs her that he sold the company to Eric alone, and he explains about the condition that Stephanie never have anything to do with Forrester Creations ever again. Brooke is surprised that he pulled that off, but she thinks he did her a favor by selling, since she has the option to stay on even if the company is sold. Nick infers from that comment that she wants to work here to be near the dressmaker, even though Ridge is engaged. Brooke admits that she's not going to underestimate Ashley, but at the same time, she reminds Nick that she and Ridge share a son. And Ashley has Ridge's ring on her finger, Nick points out. Brooke laments her current fate; she recalls how she wanted a life with Nick where she could give him a child, but any hope of doing that ended once he committed to Taylor. She tells Nick that she'll always love him and she's happy for him and Taylor, but they really have no ties to each other anymore. Ridge, on the other hand, is her future, one she can look forward to now that Stephanie isn't around, so she has no intention of backing down just because Ashley Abbott is in the picture.

The Forresters celebrate Eric getting their company back.

At Forrester Creations, Eric and Ridge ride up in the elevator. Eric tells Ridge how he had to agree to divorce Stephanie to get the company back, but he asks Ridge to keep that just between them for now. Ridge agrees. They soon arrive at the executive floor and enter Eric's office, where Thorne, Felicia, Rick, Phoebe, Donna and Ashley are waiting to congratulate him on regaining control of their family business. Eric thanks them for being here, and for helping to move Nick's stuff out - Thorne jokes that they dropped Nick's stuff on his doorstep at 2:00 A.M. - since the best thing about his return to Forrester Creations is that he has all of them here to share it. Bridget arrives just as Rick pours some champagne and asks for some orange juice, since she's on call today. Felicia hands Bridget her O.J. while Eric asks for some of the real stuff. Ashley suggests that Eric make one of those legendary toasts she's heard so much about, so Eric toasts to them all. He recalls how they all stood by him to build Forrester Originals from the ground up, just to compete with this company, Forrester Creations. But now, Forrester Creations is theirs again, Felicia says, so she toasts to their taking both labels to the top. Everyone agrees with the sentiment and raises their glasses. Thorne points out that there's only one thing missing from this celebration, Stephanie. Thorne tries to get his dad to tell him what's going on with Stephanie, but Eric stays mum for now.

Eric talks about his plans.

Felicia asks Donna if she'll be staying on with the company. For now, Donna states. Eric points out that they have 30 contracts to evaluate over the next six months to see who stays and who goes. Rick asks if that includes Clarke Garrison's contract, but Eric is pleased to tell them that he's not obligated to keep Clarke on. Ridge goes over to talk to Ashley about where he disappeared to last night, but she tells him that she knows he was at Big Bear with Brooke. Right on cue, Brooke comes in and congratulates Eric on having his company back. "If anybody can turn this ship around, you can," she remarks, although Rick suggests that she not use any nautical metaphors around here now. Brooke then asks Eric if he's like her to stay on. Eric tells her that he certainly does, since she's as much a part of this business as everyone else here. With Thorne and Felicia seconding that, Ridge tells Brooke, "It looks like you're in." Rick, Bridget and Phoebe all come over to congratulate Brooke, but Ashley stands off to the side, looking none too happy.

Jackie tells Nick about her encounter with Donna.

Jackie returns to Jackie M and tells Nick how her plans to surprise Eric were ruined. Nick shakes his head at the thought of his mother slipping into Eric's bathtub. Jackie assures him that things would have gone well had Eric not had help already to celebrate his victory. Nick questions what kind of help Eric had and guesses that it had something to do with another woman. Jackie tells him to guess who the woman was, but Nick has no idea, so she tells him that it was Donna! As Nick tries to console her, Jackie fumes that Donna, who she thought was her friend, has gone after Eric. She can't believe how reckless Eric and Donna are both being with other people's feelings, and she can only imagine how Thorne will react when he finds out.

Brooke has some questions for Ridge.

Back at Forrester Creations, Eric makes it official that Brooke is back on their team. "Unless someone has a problem," Brooke points out. Ashley asks who would have issues with the company getting back one of its biggest assets. With that, Eric thinks they should all get down to work. Bridget congratulates her dad again and heads back to the hospital, while Rick and Felicia get to work on getting a press release out about their family's return to their original company. Eric asks Thorne to work with Brooke and Donna to find out what's in production and suggests that Ashley check out her lab downstairs. That leaves only Ridge, who says he'll be ready in a minute. As everyone else heads out to start working, Ridge goes over to Ashley and asks if they can finish their discussion, but Ashley sees nothing to discuss. Ridge tries to tell her that Brooke saw Andy, but Ashley can't understand why Brooke didn't turn to one of the other parents there. Ridge points out that the other parents don't know what Brooke has been though. But Brooke's sisters do, Ashley points out, as does Bridget, wondering why Brooke needed Ridge. Before Ridge can answer, Ashley leaves to check out her lab.

Donna wants Eric to move on with his life.

Donna finds Eric in Ridge's old office, taking in all the places that are so familiar to him. She's pleased to see him so happy. Eric tells her that he owes it all to her, since she was the one who convinced him to buy the company back, but Donna refuses to take all the credit. Eric thinks she deserves it, but she points out that he's one of the best designers in the business, which is how he buried Nick and Jackie and then got them to sell when they had little other choice. Eric suddenly goes silent, so Donna asks if anything's wrong. Eric tells her that he's been thinking about the one person neither of them wants to think about. Donna tells him not to get maudlin as she reminds him that he gave Nick his word that he'd divorce Stephanie, so he can move on with his life once his wife returns to L.A. and get started on a life of happiness and fun. They start to kiss, just as Thorne walks in and gets an eyeful!

Ridge is surprised by Brooke's request.

Back in Eric's office. Brooke asks Ridge if Ashley can handle the two of them working so closely. Ridge assures her that Ashley is a professional, so he's confident that they can do some great things here. Brooke agrees. Ridge turns to leave to get some samples from downstairs, but Brooke asks him wait a moment. She tells him that she has another session tonight with Beth, the counselor from the rape crisis center, so she was hoping that he could be there. Ridge tells her that he has plans with Ashley. Brooke says she understands; she was hoping he could be there, since it was a Godsend having him there last time, but if he's busy. Seeing how upset Brooke seems, Ridge thinks for a moment and tells Brooke that he can probably juggle some things and see Ashley after the session with Beth. Brooke asks if he's sure. Ridge tells her that he promised to see her through this, so she can count on him. At just that moment, Ashley comes to the door and listens in on the conversation. Brooke thanks Ridge for his support.