Thursday, September 27, 2007, Episode #5154

Ridge tells Ashley that his mother isn't welcome in his office.

Ridge and Ashley catch a few moments alone in his office for smooching while they wait for the rest of the family to arrive for a meeting. Ridge tells her that this is the best time and place to tell the family about their engagement, since they can tell everyone at once. Ashley bets Stephanie will be thrilled; Ridge tells her that his mom is out of town, and she's also not welcome in his office anymore, anyway. Ashley assumes that he's barred his mother from his life because of the way Stephanie pushed him to seek full custody of Hope and R.J., knowing that would hurt Brooke. Ridge seethes that his mother has interfered in his life for the last time. Ashley wonders how Eric will take the news of their engagement, since Eric believed in Brooke and Ridge as a couple. Ridge thinks that was just his dad's romantic side talking. He's sure Eric will support them in the end and might even be jealous of the passion they share because of the lack of passion in Eric's own life. Speaking of support and passion, Ashley thinks they should talk about someone who obviously doesn't support them or their passion. Ridge tells her that Brooke will come around.

Felicia and Phoebe are thrilled for Ridge.

Before Ashley can respond, Thorne, Felicia and Phoebe enter the room; Phoebe thinks she knows what this meeting is about, but Thorne and Felicia are in the dark. As Ridge tells them he'll explain, Rick comes in, asking why there's a meeting that he wasn't invited to. Ashley and Ridge drop the bomb about their engagement. Phoebe, of course, is still happy that her dad's getting married, and Thorne and Felicia are equally thrilled, but Rick obviously isn't happy. Thorne guesses that his mother will be cheering from the rooftops when she hears, but Ridge tells him that Stephanie doesn't know, because she's out of town. Thorne is surprised, since he didn't know. Felicia chimes in that she tried to talk to Eric about it, but he seemed pretty upset. Thorne attributes it to the usual pre-fashion show buzz that their parents always go through, but Felicia thinks something felt different this time. Ridge has a group of models come in and show off some of the latest designs in their collection; everyone praises it as Ridge's best work, so they don't think Forrester Creations stands a chance. Ridge agrees that this should be a message to Nick to get out of the business, but Rick reminds them all that his mom is over there, too. Ashley, Thorne and Felicia all agree that it could hurt them if Forrester Creations capitalizes on Brooke's sex appeal, but Ridge doesn't think Brooke will be doing anything like that given where she is in her life right now.

Ashley tells Ridge about her visit from Brooke.

After the meeting breaks up, Ashley asks Ridge where his dad was. Ridge says he doesn't know, even though he left a message with Eric's assistant. Ashley wonders if Eric might be with Stephanie. Not unless Stephanie kidnapped him, Ridge replies, which is possible given how his mom did kidnap Brooke once. Ashley says she didn't know about that, but she uses the mention of Brooke to tell Ridge that Ms. Logan paid her a visit in the lab yesterday. Ridge gets nervous, since he was afraid that might happen. Ashley warns that Brooke isn't giving up on him, but Ridge thinks Brooke won't have time to think about him romantically once she starts focusing on her work again. Ashley asks if he thinks that will really happen; Ridge is sure that Nick isn't just going to give up with a fight, so he bets Nick has something planned, and he's also sure that Brooke is in the center of those plans.

Eric isn't ready to walk away from Donna.

Meanwhile, Donna gets a delivery of roses with a card signed by Eric that reads, "Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady." Right after the deliveryman leaves, Donna gets a call from Eric asking if she liked the roses. As she giggles in response, Donna goes to answer the doorbell and is surprised to find Eric there. He explains that he wanted to see her, since she hasn't returned the calls. Donna points out that his messages said he wanted to talk, and she assumed that he wanted to tell her that Stephanie is back, so their little fantasy from last night is over. Donna says it's OK; she recalls how wonderful last night was, but she also realizes that she's probably not Forrester material, especially after what she did to Thorne. She asks him to leave, but he refuses to walk away from one of the most intriguing women he's ever met.

Donna is pleasantly surprised by Eric's response.

Donna is surprised by Eric's response, especially when he says that what they shared last night isn't the only reason he's here. He tells Donna that he likes her a lot, so he's surprised to see that she thinks he'd just brush her off after what they shared. Donna is stunned; she admits she doesn't know how to respond to his calling her an extraordinary woman, since she's not used to compliments like that. But she should be used to them, Eric states, asking her out to dinner tonight. Donna accepts and they kiss. Eric then turns to leave. When Donna asks where he's going, he tells her that he has to get to the office, since he's feeling inspired right now. His comment about the office reminds Donna that she's missing Jackie's emergency planning meeting over at Forrester Creations. Eric assumes they'd only have an "emergency" meeting if her bosses are worried about his latest collection. Donna hates to say it, but if his line is as good as she's heard, she's sure he'll have Forrester Creations on the ropes. Eric says that it wouldn't surprise him a bit.

Nick thinks about the future of Forrester Creations.

Brooke arrives in Nick's office, worried that she's late for the emergency meeting. Nick tells her that actually, his mother is the one running later. Brooke thanks him for being patient with him, since this job and her kids have helped get her life back on track. She just wishes that her love life was so easy to get back on track, since she still can't understand why Ridge proposed to Ashley when he should be with her and the kids. Nick suggests that she not worry about that now so they can focus on the future of this company. When Jackie and Clarke arrive, Brooke jumps right in with her opinion of their latest sales figures; she thinks this company is in serious trouble, and their new line isn't going to save them, so she thinks they should cancel their showing. Jackie doesn't think they need to do something so drastic and asks Brooke to have faith, but Brooke has to be honest. Jackie proposes that they need to shake things up, and no one does that better than Brooke. Brooke regrets that she wasn't more help with the new line, but Nick suggests that Clarke's the one who needed the help with his outdated designs. Clarke takes exception to the criticism. Brooke suggests they stop sniping at each other. Jackie thinks they need to focus on the bad press they're getting lately. Nick thinks things will change when they hit Eric with a trademark infringement suit, but Jackie thinks that will just prove that they can't compete with the Forresters on the runway. If that's the case, she states, they need to find someplace else to compete, like in the bedroom - as in Brooke's Bedroom.

Clarke thinks Jackie's idea can work.

Jackie explains that Brooke's sex appeal is what sets them apart from Forrester Originals, so she thinks they need to capitalize that with the Bedroom line. Clarke agrees that it could work, but Nick is skeptical. Jackie has some models come in wearing updated versions of the most popular designs from the old Bedroom line, and she thinks their lady clients would love to be wearing things like this. Nick still doesn't like the idea, but Jackie thinks it's a sure thing, especially with the line's founder, Brooke, and her world renowned sex appeal behind it. She thinks Brooke is proof that you don't have to give up your sexuality to be a success. Nick points out that Brooke hasn't been the face of the Bedroom line for some time, but Jackie reminds him how the brand suffered with Donna as spokesperson. Brooke chimes in that she's not sure if she's comfortable with the idea, either. Jackie doesn't see why, especially since Brooke herself started plans with Nick not too long ago to revive the line. Jackie and Clarke are both confused by Brooke's reaction, but Nick, knowing what Brooke has gone through, says that they're not reviving the Bedroom line and that's final. Brooke thinks about it for a moment and then asks Nick if she can speak to him alone. Jackie and Clarke leave, with Jackie telling Brooke to talk some sense into Nick as she exits.