Thursday, July 17, 2008, Episode #5357

Felicia tells Owen to do the job he's being paid for.

Felicia meets with Owen on the Forrester rooftop lounge to find out if he has anything on Donna yet, since Eric is due home today. Owen says he doesn't have any incriminating photos, but Donna is starting to open up to him. Felicia reminds him that he's supposed to be breaking up a marriage, not playing shrink. Owen reports that Donna is upset that Eric didn't take her to New York, but she blames Ridge and not Eric, because she loves Eric. He thinks Donna would have to love her husband to put up with his family's treatment of her. Felicia says Donna is not the victim, but Owen doesn't think Donna is the villain, either. He informs Felicia that Donna has yet to give him a second look, and he hasn't even sensed any interest from her. Felicia thinks Donna is just trying to be discrete and urges Owen to create an opportunity, but Owen honestly doesn't seem like a bad person. He understands how Felicia and her family see Donna, but he's seeing something different.

Owen suggests that Felicia and her family should accept Donna.

Felicia reminds him that he only gets paid if he delivers, so she suggests he get his head back in the game. Owen counters that he only gets paid if Donna is the kind of woman Felicia thinks she is, but he doesn't see that side of Donna. Felicia tells Owen that Donna is luring him in, just like she did with Felicia's brother and father. She can't understand why it doesn't seem to matter to her father that Donna's not right for him. Maybe it doesn't, Owen proposes, suggesting that Felicia would hate any woman who came between her parents. Felicia tells him that her mother is in pain and her company is failing, so she needs to fix this, and if Owen can't do it, she'll find another way. Owen says that Donna just isn't into him, but Felicia wants him to try destroying Donna's marriage so that Eric winds up back where he belongs, with Stephanie, but Owen doesn't think he can help. Still, he promises not to rat Felicia out. Felicia accuses Owen of being a snake and playing her, but he reminds her that she came to him. For a specific job, she reminds him. She accuses him of having the hots for Donna, but Owen suggests that she and her family just accept that Donna is devoted to Eric and isn't going anywhere.

Brooke and Ridge pitch their idea to Eric.

Ridge and Brooke are in Eric's office asking Donna how Eric's trip went, but Donna says he didn't really say much on the phone. Ridge takes that as a sign that things didn't go well, so Donna suggests he wait for Eric to arrive and ask him. When Eric arrives, he reports that the European buyers were complimentary, but the clients were afraid to place any large orders. Donna argues that it could be because of new trends or the economy, and Eric agrees that Ridge should stop blaming Donna for everything. Ridge doesn't want to argue about this, since he has two announcements to make that he thinks can help fix the problem. The first is that he and Brooke are getting married. Eric and Donna are thrilled that Brooke and Ridge are finally making it official again, but they're less enthused when Ridge makes his second announcement and reveals that he plans to call an emergency board meeting tomorrow so a significant decision can be made. "I want you to turn over control of Forrester to Brooke and me," Ridge declares. Eric can't believe Ridge is planning to ambush him this way, but Ridge thinks passing the torch from one fashion super couple to another is the right move. Brooke agrees, but Donna is put off by Brooke and Ridge comparing themselves to Eric and Stephanie as the new standard in fashion.

Eric wants to settle this with Ridge, man to man.

Ridge and Brooke insist that a change is needed to save the company, and it has to happen now before it's too late. Donna urges Eric not to take such drastic action as Ridge suggests when their marriage is still in transition, but Ridge doesn't think they have time for a transition. They have to stop this downward spiral now. Ridge then presents Eric with a document that will turn control of the company over to him and Brooke and suggests that they tell the press that this is a wedding gift to indicate the start of a new era. He and Brooke will have majority control, with minority shares going to the rest of the family. He even tells Donna to have the lawyers review the document to validate that it's very fair. Donna, however, doesn't think it's fair to force Eric out of his own company when there are so many other things that can be at the root of their sagging sales. She doesn't think this is fair to Eric at all and tells him that he doesn't deserve to be treated this way. Eric agrees, which is why he refuses to wait for a meeting tomorrow to settle this. He tells Ridge that the two of them will settle this right now, man to man.

Donna is surprised by Brooke's attitude.

Out in the hall, Donna takes Brooke to task for supporting Ridge in this bid to take Eric's company away. She urges Brooke to talk Ridge out of this ridiculous plan, but Brooke says she can't, since she helped put the plan together to put this company back on solid footing. Donna thinks it's wrong to rip the company out from under Eric, but Brooke thinks Eric will be on board with their plan once Ridge explains it. Donna thinks Ridge is going to blame everything on her marriage, but Brooke argues that Ridge has some legitimate business concerns. "My God, he turned you against me, too," Donna gasps, convinced that Eric will not give in to pressure like this. Brooke tells Donna that this will give Eric the chance to retire with dignity and will allay any concerns about the impact of his marriage on the business, but Donna thinks this is all about Ridge and Brooke making a power play for themselves at Eric's expense. "It's just wrong!" Donna asserts, praying that Eric will not give in to Ridge's pressure.