Thursday, April 09, 2009, Episode #5538

Taylor is stunned by the EYE ON FASHION story about Stephanie.

At the Bel Air mansion, a stunned Taylor reads Donna's comments about Stephanie's departure from Forrester in EYE ON FASHION. Stephanie comes down and kids about hiring a hit man to take out the Logan family and Nick. She confides that she really got upset by Nick's job offer, because she felt like he was just taking pity on her. Taylor asks if she feels any differently about Nick a day later, but Stephanie thinks there is just too much bad blood between them for her to accept his offer. Stephanie then sees the issue of EYE ON FASHION on the table and bristles as she reads Donna's comments. Taylor advises Stephanie not to let Donna get to her and offers to take her to Il Giardino for lunch to get her mind off everything.

Jackie wonders why Stephanie helped them.

At Jackie M, Ms. M and Nick wait for word from Fabrice Dufau, the French distributor who Nick has desperately been trying to reach. Nick confides that he hoped to have Stephanie call Fabrice if she came on board, but now they will just have to wait. Just then, Nick gets a cell from the man, who says that he heard from Stephanie that Jackie M is floundering and needs cash. Despite the words he and Jackie exchanged over Clarke's last collection, Fabrice has heard about their new designer, Madame X, and is curious. Based on Stephanie's phone call, he wants to try and help Jackie M out. Nick offers to send him copies of Madame X's designs. Fabrice says he'll look them over and get back to Nick. After he hangs up, Nick tells Jackie that "the old broad" came through for Jackie M. Jackie is thrilled to hear that, but she's still surprised that Stephanie sang Nick's praises to Fabrice and tried to help them. Nick agrees that it's shocking, but he actually likes not knowing what to expect from Stephanie next.

Nick and Katie share some alone time.

Later, Nick tells Katie that Stephanie came through for them. This will give him the chance to save the company, he brags. Katie promises not to tell anyone at Forrester about how Stephanie helped Jackie M. Since Jackie is over working with Owen right now, Katie suggests to Nick that they celebrate his good fortune while they have a few moments alone and they share a passionate kiss.

Owen is surprised by Jackie's assignment for him.

Meanwhile, Jackie confides in Owen about how Stephanie helped her with Fabrice. Owen promises to keep the part about Stephanie's help on the down-low. He's thrilled at what this means for Jackie M, but he can't help wondering why Stephanie Forrester would want to help them. Jackie doesn't know, but she's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Just then, Jackie gets a text message from Fabrice, who confirms that he wants to work with them. She's thrilled that the man is interested in helping, as is Owen. Jackie tells Owen that there will be a lot of travel involved in working with Fabrice, but it's a bit too much for her, so she offers him the chance to take on the account. Owen asks if he's ready for that after being with Jackie M for just a short time. Jackie assures him that she trusts him and asks if he wants the chance. Owen accepts and promises to make her proud. In the heat of the moment, they kiss.

Eric and Donna have lunch at Il Giardino, where Eric is getting call after call about Stephanie's dismissal. Donna assures her "boo-boo bear" that everything will die down in a few days. They both agree that it's a refreshing change not to have to deal with Stephanie, but Eric warns that they might have to deal with concerns from their customers and suppliers that Stephanie is no longer with Forrester. Donna is sure they can deal with that. Eric's cell phone rings, but Donna tells him to ignore it and just enjoy their lunch together. Eric agrees.

Donna confronts Stephanie.

When Stephanie and Taylor arrive at the restaurant, they spot Eric and Donna. Stephanie wants to leave, but Taylor tells her not to let Donna drive her away. Stephanie explains that she doesn't want to just sit there and let everyone look at her as a "Hollywood wife cliche" who had her her husband snatched away by a younger woman, since it would be humiliating. Taylor thinks many of the women here will empathize with Stephanie and urges her not to let Donna win. She reminds Stephanie of their pact to triumph over the Logans. Just then, Donna spots the ladies and comes over to their table. She accuses Stephanie of spying on her and Eric. Taylor tells Donna that she was the one who chose the restaurant, although she thinks she and Stephanie are both going to throw up after having to watch Donna's "public display of foreplay" with Eric. Donna suggests that Stephanie leave rather than gawk at her and Eric. When Stephanie asks her to repeat that, Donna asks "Grandma" if her hearing is going. Stephanie tells Donna that she's proud to be a grandmother, and she assures that she still has plenty of fire in her belly.

Eric wonders why Stephanie is causing a scene.

After Donna returns to her table, Stephanie fumes at the way Donna talked to her and tells Taylor that they're not leaving after all. Stephanie approaches Donna and Eric's table and tells "Grandpa" to take it easy, since he shouldn't get too excited. Eric asks why she's causing a scene. Stephanie tells him that his wife is doing a great job of that on her own and scolds Eric for cavorting in public like he's in his bedroom. Donna defends her husband, but Stephanie counters that a real woman doesn't take another woman's husband away and play sex kitten with him in public when he's old enough to be her grandfather. She then tells Eric that she always forgave his philandering ways because of the family and the business, since she always thought he'd come back to her in the end. But now, she sees that it's not going to happen. Sitting down, she tells Eric that he's not a cruel man. He's just weak. She knows he never intentionally tried to hurt her, but then he let himself be seduced by those Logans and brought them into their family and their lives. He let those girls take and take, and that's what they're still doing, since they are nothing but users, takers and manipulators. She thinks that his son Rick is the worst of the whole bunch, since he's let Rick seduce Steffy, just like he let everything else happen. She thinks that's inexcusable, just as firing her from the company was.