Wednesday, April 08, 2009, Episode #5537

Nick offers Stephanie a chance to get back at Eric.

At Taylor's house, Nick tries to convince Stephanie to work for Jackie M, but Stephanie thinks he's just desperate to save his mother's company. Taylor urges Stephanie to hear Nick out, but Stephanie doesn't trust or like him. Nick tells her that he doesn't trust or like her, either, but you don't have to like someone to work with them. He wants to give her a shot at a new life, but she thinks he just wants her to save his butt and his mother's. Nick says he should have left her alone on that beach instead of saving her. Stephanie hardly considers giving her a blanket and coffee "saving" and tells him that she's not interested in his offer. Nick doesn't buy that and tells her that Jackie M needs someone like her. Stephanie asks why he's really making her this offer. Nick thinks she's taking out her feelings toward Eric on him and looks to Taylor for the term for that. Taylor says it's called traumatic reenactment. Stephanie scoffs at that notion and thinks Nick just wants her money, or maybe he wants to stick it to Ridge for stealing Brooke away. Nick says that's old news. The reason he needs her is because he doesn't have her clout with people like Fabrice Dufau in Paris. Stephanie refuses to betray her children and her husband, but both Taylor and Nick ask why she's being so loyal to a man who cast her aside. Nick adds that she'll be appreciated at Jackie M, but Stephanie asks him to leave. On his way out, Nick tells Stephanie that she may have lost the confidence to step out on her own after years playing second banana to Eric, but he thinks she still has what it takes.

Jackie surprises Katie with what she knows about Stephanie.

Jackie enters her office and finds Katie waiting for Nick. Jackie tells Katie she shouldn't be there, as she works for Forrester. Katie suggests that Jackie see her as an ally and not as any enemy. She points out that her work at Forrester makes her privy to information that Jackie and Nick might find interesting, like the big news that's about to break. Jackie asks if she's referring to Stephanie's dismissal. Katie is shocked that Jackie knows about Stephanie. Jackie chuckles that Nick tells her everything and admits that as much as she despises Stephanie, she thinks Eric made a serious error in judgment by firing his ex. Katie points out that things have been rough between Eric and Stephanie since Eric married Donna. Jackie has no respect for that marriage, which she feels is another in a series of bad choices Eric made. She calls Stephanie the heart and soul of Forrester and predicts that the press will have a field day over Stephanie's firing - which means that Katie, as Forrester's PR person, should prepare for the backlash. Katie reveals that Jarrett from EYE ON FASHION magazine is about to get the scoop about Stephanie from Eric. Jackie smiles as she wonders how Eric will announce to the fashion world that he fired Stephanie.

Eric tells Jarrett that the rumors about Stephanie are true.

At Forrester, Eric tells Ridge, Brooke and Donna that he asked Jarrett to come over for an exclusive interview about Stephanie's firing. When the reporter arrives, he asks if Eric invited him to quash the rumors about Stephanie being fired. Eric confirms that what Jarrett heard is true: Stephanie is no longer working at Forrester. While he has nothing but respect for his ex-wife's contributions to the company, they've ended their working relationship. Stunned, Jarrett asks if it's true that Eric fired Stephanie himself. Eric refuses to get into those details.

Donna gives Jarrett a comment for his article.

Jarrett asks about rumors that Stephanie vowed never to set foot in this building ever again. Eric tells Jarrett to ask Stephanie about that, since he can't speak for her. Ridge tells Jarrett that they've made their statement and are done, but Jarrett wants to know how Forrester will function without their "Queen." Much to Eric, Brooke and Ridge's dismay, Donna steps up and tells Jarrett that they're embarking on a new here at Forrester and are looking forward with a fresh perspective. "It's out with the old and in with the young," she announces.

Ridge and Brooke worry about Donna's comment.

After Jarrett leaves, Donna commends Eric on how he handled the reported, but Ridge is more concerned about Donna's last comment. Donna says that it just slipped out. Brooke thinks Jarrett made some valid points, since Stephanie has always been a symbol of what the company stands for. Ridge wonders how they'll get by without his mother. Brooke admits that Stephanie has been a major force in this company, but she also thinks things sometimes happen that force people and companies to evolve and grow. Ridge thinks it will be hard to replace the dignity his mother brought to this company. Eric assures Ridge that no one is going to replace Stephanie. Brooke agrees that Stephanie will be missed, so they'll have to be more creative and more innovative without her. She thinks they can do that and suggests that they look at this as a chance for a fresh start for all of them.

Katie tells Nick that she's ready to marry him.

Nick returns to Jackie M and is pleased that there's been no bloodshed between his mother and his fiancee. Jackie asks where he's been, so he explains how he ran into Stephanie at the marina and got to talking with her. Listening to Nick rave about Stephanie, Jackie and Katie both wonder where this is going. They're shocked when Nick reveals that he offered Stephanie a job at Jackie M, but they're not as surprised when Nick tells them that Stephanie turned him down because she's still loyal to Eric. He supposes it's for the best, since it would have been hard to deal with Stephanie on a daily basis. Once Jackie steps away, Katie tells Nick that it was a brilliant idea to offer Stephanie a job. Nick asks Katie not to tell anyone at Forrester about that, especially since Stephanie turned him down. Katie agrees to keep mum and asks if they can talk about something else. Nick asks what's on her mind. She reminds Nick that his mom pretty much hates her and doesn't want her to marry him, but Nick points out that it's not his mother's decision. Katie knows he has a lot on his mind, but she wants him to know that she's ready whenever he wants to start planning their wedding. She wants her dad to give her away, and she really wants their wedding to be special. Nick is fine with that. Katie leans in and gives him a passionate kiss.

Taylor tries to get Stephanie to see what Nick has to offer.

Stephanie gripes to Taylor about Nick's arrogance in asking her to bail him and his mother out, but Taylor thinks that Nick is too a savvy businessman to compliment her for her accomplishments and not mean it. Stephanie says that she really doesn't want to work with Nick and Jackie, and she could never be disloyal to her husband, anyway. Seeing that Stephanie has again referred to Eric as her husband, Taylor reminds her friend that Eric is not her husband anymore. While she admires Stephanie's loyalty, she thinks it's time for Stephanie to move on, and Nick has given her a golden opportunity to do just that. Stephanie thinks she's too tired to start over, but Taylor thinks she should be jumping for joy at what's being offered to her. Stephanie refuses to put her future in the hands of a man like Nick who has no integrity. Taylor insists that Nick has lots of integrity, and that's what drew her to him, but Stephanie reminds her of what Nick did to Bridget. Taylor places the blame on that with Katie, who like a true Logan seduced Nick away when Bridget selflessly offered to let him spend time with Katie when they thought she was dying, but Stephanie thinks the fact that Nick allowed it to happen speaks volumes about his character. She asks Taylor why she should work for a man she can't trust.