Friday, February 27, 2009, Episode #5511

Bridget asks Taylor for help.

Bridget goes to see Taylor to ask her to talk to Ridge about forcing Rick out of Forrester. Taylor assumes Bridget is here because Brooke couldn't convince Ridge and doesn't want to be the one to upset Ridge by discussing this. Bridget says that this isn't about upsetting anybody; she knows Taylor's family needs peace after what happened, but she doesn't think kicking Rick out of Forrester will bring that and it might even make Rick's behavior worse. Taylor fires back that she doesn't care about Rick after what he did to her family. She hopes Rick gets help, though, since he'll need it to deal with what's coming. Bridget argues that Rick proved he can be redeemed by saving Ridge, despite the bad blood between them. Taylor thinks Rick is out of control and doesn't want him anywhere near Steffy, and if that means he can't work at Forrester, so be it. Bridget points out how hard it was for Brooke to fire Rick. Taylor thinks Brooke made the right decision for once, and this is just what Rick needs. She knows Ridge loves Brooke, but even he has limits, and she thinks Brooke would be smart not to push him to those limits.

Thorne wonders why Brooke is stalling.

At the press conference, everyone waits for Brooke's announcement. Jarrett notes her hesitation and asks why she's so flustered while the Forresters talk among themselves wondering why Brooke won't just say what's happening. Brooke apologizes for seeming out of sorts; it's just that things have been hectic with their delayed collection, but she's pleased that it's almost finished thanks to the efforts of their entire staff, including Eric as lead designer and Chairman, Ridge as CEO, Rick as president and Thorne as vice president. She admits it's been a trying year for the family, but adversity has brought them a sense of strength and unity which will show in every design in their next collection when they unveil it next month. "Believe me, it's going to be well worth it," she promises before stepping down. Naturally, the Forresters are shocked. Katie wraps up the press conference and thanks everyone for coming.

Eric and Ridge look for answers.

As Pam and Owen field calls about the press conference, Marcus comes out of the office. They all wonder what happened in there since Brooke simply plugged the new collection and told everyone to "stay tuned." Owen suspects something's going on that has nothing to do with the business while Marcus notes that Rick is still president instead of Thorne. Back in Eric's office, Stephanie, Thorne and even Eric pelt Brooke with questions about why she didn't fire Rick. Brooke says she couldn't do it. Stephanie bets Brooke's going to pull Ridge down the hall to make it all better with a little nookie, but that won't erase what that son of a bitch Rick did. Steffy defends Rick and reveals that she's decided to leave Forrester so Rick can stay. Everyone protests, including Thorne, who insists that Rick is still fired despite Brooke not announcing it. Brooke says they found a workable solution, but Stephanie scoffs at that since Ridge is so angry that he can't even speak. Steffy tells her dad that the press will ask questions if they fire Rick. Katie agrees and points out that there may already be rumors about Rick and Steffy out there. Stephanie scoffs again, but Rick defends his mother's choice and promises not to make Brooke regret giving him a second chance. Thorne asks Eric not to let Rick get away with this. An angry Ridge storms out of the room with Brooke right behind him.

Stephanie, Felicia and Thorne have words with and about Rick.

Stephanie tells Rick that he's still fired. Eric tells his ex-wife to back off, but she points out that Ridge didn't look too happy with this solution when he stormed out. Thorne says he feels the same way. Eric orders them all to stop, leading Felicia to ask if he's glad that Rick's not fired. Eric admits that he is. Rick looks to Steffy, but Stephanie tells him to forget it and begs Steffy to see that her leaving isn't going to change how Ridge feels. Steffy thinks she's the problem, so they should take her out of the picture. "You can't trust him!" Stephanie pleads, but Steffy insists that wasn't pressured to make her decision and decided to leave because she loves Rick. "You disappoint me that you would let yourself be used this way," Stephanie criticizes. Rick insists that no one is using Steffy. Katie suggests that Rick go home and let his parents deal with this, but Thorne asserts that there's nothing to deal with. Felicia begs her father to find Brooke and tell her that this "solution" won't work. Stephanie hopes that's just what Ridge is doing right now, since their situation is absolutely impossible.

Owen fills Bridget in.

Bridget arrives at Forrester and runs into Owen, who tells her what happened at the press conference. Bridget bets Owen isn't too happy about Rick still being president. Owen says it's no big deal, but a lot of people around here aren't real happy about it. Bridget admits that she didn't think her mom could go through with firing Rick. Owen agrees that Brooke was in an impossible position. Bridget asks how Rick took the news. Owen tells her that Ridge stormed out with Brooke right behind him, and he doesn't know what happened next. Bridget bets that it wasn't pretty.

Brooke finds Ridge in his office and tries to talk to him, but he tells her that he can't even look at her right now. Brooke knows he's angry and shocked, but she thinks they need to talk about this. Ridge says that they have talked about it, but she won't listen. Brooke tells him that she bought them some time since nothing is set in stone, but Ridge says that he can never accept what she did. Brooke pleads with him to understand, but he sees nothing to talk about and leaves in a huff.

Taylor tells Ridge that they have to end things between Rick and Steffy.

Ridge shows up at Taylor's office. She can see from the look on his face that Brooke couldn't go through with it. Ridge gives her the details of what happened, including the way Brooke brought Rick and Steffy into it by asking Steffy to leave the company so "little Ricky" can stay. Taylor refuses to let their daughter quit for Rick. Ridge tells her that Brooke pitched the idea, but he's sure it came from Rick. Taylor sighs that Brooke is helping Rick and Steffy get closer, but Ridge tells her that he put his foot down and told Brooke and Steffy that he wouldn't let Steffy sacrifice herself for that jerk Rick. "We have got to put an end to this," Taylor tells Ridge, refusing to let Rick take their other daughter from them. Ridge comforts Taylor with a hug.

Steffy sneaks away with Rick.

Rick and Steffy sneak off to his office and start kissing. In between kisses, Steffy warns that sneaking off might not have been a good idea. Rick doesn't think anyone will notice, since her dad and Stephanie will be talking for hours. Steffy hopes Brooke will be OK. Rick is sure his mom will be fine once she talks to Ridge and patches things up. Kissing Steffy again, Rick thanks her for taking a leave of absence for him. Steffy points out that he would have done even more for her, but Rick notes how bad her decision will make her dad feel. Steffy praises him for saving her dad; she wishes her dad could see him like she does. Rick kids that he doesn't want to think of her father wanting to kiss him, but kissing her is a different story completely. They keep kissing and fall back onto the couch.

Stephanie shares her suspicions with Taylor.

Stephanie drops by Taylor's office and sighs that Rick and Steffy are going to tear the family apart. Taylor laments that Brooke got Steffy to help. Stephanie is upset that Steffy wanted to leave the company, but she's even more put off by the fact that Eric was relieved that Brooke changed her minds about firing Rick, even knowing how Ridge would feel. Taylor thinks Ridge is more worried about Steffy. As he should be, Stephanie agrees, since Rick has Steffy wrapped around his finger. She fears Rick and Steffy might run off now. Taylor doesn't even want to think about that, but Stephanie thinks they have to be realistic about where this might go. It has to go nowhere, Taylor insists, and she knows Ridge agrees. Stephanie wonders if Brooke made a mistake that could end her marriage to Ridge. Taylor says that Ridge came to her as Steffy's mother, but Stephanie thinks Ridge knows he can depend on her where he can't depend on Brooke. "It's been a long time coming, but I think Brooke has finally lost his trust," Stephanie predicts.