Thursday, April 16, 2009, Episode #5543

Brooke tries to get Ridge's mind off their recent drama.

A stressed out Ridge comes home and enters the bedroom to find candles lit and Brooke clad in lingerie. Brooke thinks they need a break from all the drama in their life and gives him a massage, but he's still tense. She suggests that he give Rick and Steffy a chance, but he adamantly refuses! "This wedding cannot happen. Period," he insists, telling her that she won't change his mind about it. Brooke asks about his promise to accept Rick and Steffy. Ridge explains that he can't keep that promise and never should have made it in the first place. Brooke asks why. Ridge says it's many things, from Rick's choosing to get married at their sacred place to Rick's constant taunting and gloating when they're in private. Brooke thinks he must be overstating things, but Ridge states that he isn't, and he thinks she'll see that someday. He tells her about his and Taylor's meeting with Thomas and goes on about how Rick brought out a deep anger that drove a basically good kid like Thomas to do what he did. He thinks Rick brought that kind of anger in a lot of people lately, which is why he can't let Rick marry his daughter. More importantly, he needs Brooke to take off the blinders she has on and help him stop this wedding before things get worse. Brooke suggests they forget about Rick and Steffy now and focus on themselves, since they can overcome anything. They lie back on the bed and start to kiss, but Ridge pulls away. Brooke asks what's wrong. Ridge tells her that it's because of Rick and what he's doing to Steffy; "He's finally invaded our own bedroom," Ridge fumes.

Rick tries to get Taylor on board with him.

Rick arrives at Ii Giardino and meets Taylor, who thanks him for coming. Rick jokes that she obviously asked him here to give him a wedding present, but he then gets serious and says things could be worse. Taylor doesn't think things could be much worse since her daughter his engaged to a man who doesn't love her, and she thinks Rick would see that if he was just honest with himself and admitted that he's using Steffy to get back at Ridge and at her. She fears that he's killing two birds with one stone and is taking another daughter from them in the process. Rick assures her that she's not going to lose Steffy; in fact, if things play out the way he plans, she'll have a clear path to win Ridge back when Ridge and Brooke's marriage falls apart from all the stress, so he thinks she should be thanking him. Taylor asks what happened that made him this angry. Rick tells her that he loved her more than anything, but then she dumped him without warning for Ridge, who has taken away everything that ever meant anything to him. Taylor asks if he's admitting this is all about revenge on Ridge. Rick says that he's not saying that and insists that he loves Steffy. Getting back to Ridge is just a fringe benefit. So he thinks that leaves her with two choices. She can either accept his marriage to Steffy and look forward to a future with Ridge, or she can just be miserable now and still wind up with Ridge. It's her choice, and either way she gets Ridge.

Nick gets down to work with Stephanie.

At Jackie M, Stephanie talks with Felicia on the phone and invites her and Thorne to lunch. When Felicia suggests Il Giardino, Stephanie jokes that she's been there every day this week and says that she'll see them later. As she hangs up, Nick asks how she plans to break the news that she's working here to her kids. He bets they'll be shocked. Stephanie agrees, but she says that there's no turning back now that they've signed, and she admits that she's actually thrilled to be here. Stephanie than hands Nick the agenda for the meeting she asked to have and asks where Jackie is so they can start. Nick admits that he doesn't actually know where his mother is. Stephanie asks if they can start without Jackie, but Nick would prefer not to and decides to call his mother.

Owen rises to Jackie's challenge.

At Jackie's loft, Owen starts to undress. When Jackie asks what he's doing, he reminds her that she said she'd take her clothes off if he took his off first. Jackie says that she wasn't wishing for him to actually do it. Owen explains that he took it as a challenge, one he's rising to. He strips down to his shorts, but Jackie tells him that they have work to do. Owen asks if she's kidding. Jackie says she's dead serious, even though he is a gorgeous young man. Owen tells her that she's a beautiful woman and is hard to resist. Jackie starts to waver and drops to her knees - but then she quickly rises to her feet again and pulls up his pants, buckling them closed. Owen asks if she's still concerned about his motives. Jackie says that what he gains out of this isn't as important as what she gains from it. Owen thinks they're on the same page, but Jackie says they have to show some self control. "Yuck. Self-control." he gripes.

Jackie's quite agreeable, thanks to Owen.

Jackie then gets a call from Nick, who reminds her of their meeting with Stephanie. Jackie apologizes for letting the meeting slip her mind, covering that she came home to get some rest when she felt a bit flushed. Nick asks if she needs anything, but she says she has everything she needs right in front of her. Stephanie tells Nick to put the call on speakerphone and they'll hold the meeting that way. Stephanie and Nick then proceed to discuss the preview showing for Bridget's designs while Jackie is getting massaged by Owen. With that settled, Stephanie moves on to talk about promotions and suggests they hold a contest to find new designers, with Jarrett covering it for EYE ON FASHION. "That feels good," Jackie moans. As Stephanie suggests they offer a showstopper as a prize, Jackie groans to Owen, "Too much pressure." Stephanie asks Jackie if she's talking about the contest. Jackie apologizes for the comment. Nick thinks they have to be innovative. Stephanie agrees and tried to find a word to fit what they have in mind. When Jackie moans to Owen, "naughty, naughty," Stephanie laughs and says that works for their target audience. She then suggests they end the meeting, but Jackie tells Owen, "Don't stop." Stephanie asks Jackie if she's sure, since she said she wasn't feeling well. "I'm feeling better every minute," Jackie purrs.

Stephanie is surprised that Jackie's so open to her suggestions.

With that settled, Stephanie suggests they revamp the whole PR department to create a sexier image. Again in response to Owen's massage, Jackie moans, "Sexy, yes." Stephanie is thrilled that Jackie is on board with all her ideas today and says that she and Nick will get started on implementing them right away. Nick asks his mom if she's sure she's all right. "I can feel something coming on," Jackie groans, saying her goodbyes and ending the call. Stephanie asks Nick if his mom is coming down with the flu. "Or something," Nick agrees.

Thorne and Felicia are stunned by their mother's news.

Stephanie then heads to Il Giardino to meet Thorne and Felicia. When her kids arrives, Stephanie informs them that their mom got a job. Thorne jokes that she must be flipping burgers someplace, but he and Felicia then realize that their mother is serious. Stephanie tells them that she's working at Jackie M. Thorne and Felicia are shocked, since they know their mother hates Jackie and likes Nick even less. Stephanie admits that it's bit bizarre, and she even turned down the job when Nick first offered it to her. But she came to realize that the people at Jackie M, unlike Eric, appreciate what she has to offer. Thorne asks if she's told Eric yet. Stephanie says that he ex will find out with the press tomorrow. "This is going to blow him away," chuckles.

Taylor hears what she wants to hear from Ridge... or does she?

Taylor is alone in her bedroom when Ridge arrives and tells her that he has something important to tell her. She's stunned when he tells her he made a huge mistake leaving her and wants her back. They immediately start to kiss and make love, but as things start to get hot, she snaps back to reality at her table at Il Giardino. It was just a fantasy.

Ridge pleads for Brooke to help him.

Back at Brooke's, she urges Ridge to believe that they can get through this, but Ridge says that they've never had a problem like this. He fears that her son will tear them apart unless she wakes up and admits how poisonous Rick is to their relationship and to Steffy. "I hate him," Ridge fumes. Brooke asks him not to say that, but Ridge says he can't help it when he lives every minute in fear that Rick will take another daughter from him, and possibly Brooke, too. Brooke says that won't happen, but Ridge tells her that she has to take the blinders off and see how Rick is insinuating himself into their personal life so far that Ridge doesn't know how they will get through this. "I need your help," he pleads. begging her to stop Rick before it destroys them.

Elsewhere, Rick tears a photo of Ridge and Brooke in two.