Wednesday, February 11, 2009, Episode #5499

Rick's car runs off the road, but he and Steffy are unhurt. Ridge pulls over and he and Brooke rush over to Rick's vintage convertible. Rick hears Ridge approaching and tells Steffy to get out of the car. As soon as Steffy is out, Rick locks the car door. Ridge embraces his daughter and asks if she's all right. Steffy assures him that she's OK. Brooke calls out to Rick, who insists that he's fine. Ridge pounds on the car and orders Rick to open the door, but Brooke shouts for Rick to leave and he drives off. Ridge wraps his arms around Steffy and tells her that he won't lose her, too. Steffy assures him that he won't lose her and tells him that she's fine.

Ridge tells Steffy that he doesn't want to lose her, too.

Ridge and Brooke take Steffy back to their house, where Steffy again assures her dad that she's OK. Ridge asks if she slept with Rick. "Not yet," Steffy replies. "Not ever!" Ridge demands. Steffy reminds her dad that she's not a kid anymore and asserts that her feelings for Rick are real; Ridge can't believe she could say that after what Rick did to her sister. Steffy insists that what happened to Phoebe was an accident, but Ridge believes that Rick is only using her to hurt him. Steffy explains that she and Rick bonded over their mutual pain from losing Phoebe, but Ridge insists that Rick was only using her to get revenge on him. Steffy refuses to believe that. Ridge rattles off a number of possible reasons why Rick would want to hurt him to convince Steffy that she's being manipulated, but Steffy instead turns to Brooke and asks if she thinks it's possible that Rick really cares for her. Brooke isn't sure how Rick feels about anything anymore. Ridge tries to get Steffy to see that Rick is a master manipulator who used everyone in the family. He's sure Rick was using her to get to him and begs her not to hurt him that way. Steffy says that she doesn't want to hurt him, and in fact, the reason she was in Rick's car was to end things with him. Ridge thinks that's the best decision for her. He thinks she deserves someone who will honor and respect her, but Rick's just not that guy. Ridge then offers to drive Steffy home. Brooke thinks that's a good idea and tells Ridge that she'll wait up for him, so Ridge escorts his daughter home.

Eric assures Donna that she doesn't have to worry about Jackie.

Donna sits on the couch in Eric's office while he fits a dress on a model. After Eric sends the model off, Donna suggests that he take a break, but Eric doesn't think he can afford to stop until the new collection is done. Donna asks him why he let Jackie get away with stealing his designs. Eric says that those things happen in their business, but Donna doesn't buy that and asks just what his relationship with Jackie Marone is. Eric assures her that she has no reason to worry about Jackie, but Donna still gets the feeling that he's protecting whoever took those designs and wonders who it is. Rick bursts into the office and asks to talk to his father alone, so Donna leaves. Once Donna is gone, Rick tells his dad, "Ridge is going to kill me." Eric asks if this has anything to do with the leaked designs, but Rick tells him that it's something else. Eric asks Rick what has Ridge so upset. Rick points out how two people sometimes fall in love, even though everyone else disapproves, and he cites Eric's marriage to Donna as an example. Eric is still confused, so Rick tells him that he's also fallen in love with someone that the family doesn't approve of, and that person is Steffy!

Rick comes clean with Eric.

Eric tells Rick that it's impossible for him to be in love with Steffy, Rick disagrees and says that he'd do anything for Steffy, and that's why he gave the pilfered designs to Jackie M. Eric doesn't understand, so Rick explains that he wanted to build a future with Steffy at a place where they'd be accepted together, but Ridge would never accept them here at Forrester. Eric thinks Ridge has a good reason for not accepting such a relationship; while he knows Rick did not cause Phoebe's death, Ridge still holds Rick responsible. He thinks Rick should have known that Ridge would be hurt upon finding out that his remaining daughter was involved with the man who drove the car when Phoebe died - or was that the whole point of pursuing Steffy? Eric thinks of all the times he and Brooke stood by Rick, and how he protected Rick when Jackie M got their designs. He can't believe that Rick has been dishonest with him again. Rick says that he just wasn't ready to reveal the whole truth, but Eric feels like Rick is only saying that because he got caught. Rick reminds Eric that he told him that his giving away their designs would also benefit someone else, and that someone was Steffy. Eric can't believe that Rick would betray his family for Steffy. Rick accuses his dad of once again putting Ridge's needs before his, but Eric warns him not to play the guilt trip card again. He growls that Rick only pursued Steffy to get to Ridge, just like Rick went after Phoebe and Taylor before Steffy. Eric fears that Rick let him down again, and he doesn't even think it's possible for Ridge and Rick to work together now. He announces that he's calling a family meeting to decide Rick's fate at the company, but he warns that it doesn't look good right now.

Brooke assures Ridge that they ended their children's invovlement.

Brooke tries to call Rick, but his cell goes to voice mail, so she leaves him a message to call her. After waiting a while, she tries again, and this time she gets Rick on the phone. She tells him that Ridge is furious and advises him not to go to the beach house tonight, since there's no telling what Ridge might do. Rick asks where he's supposed to stay. She tells him to stay in a hotel, but even more importantly, she instructs him to stay away from Steffy. Soon after, Ridge returns home. Brooke greets him and assures him that Steffy is safe now, but Ridge still feels like ripping Rick's head off. Brooke tells him that she knows how upset he is, since she just found out about Rick and Steffy herself tonight, and she was telling Rick to end the relationship when Ridge walked in. Ridge is furious with Rick for crossing the line. Brooke says that Rick knows it was wrong now, but Ridge thinks Rick should have known all along it was wrong and thinks Rick only did this to hurt him. Brooke can't believe Rick would be that cruel, although she agrees that she's disappointed in Rick. The important part is that they ended their children's involvement, and Steffy now understands why that relationship can't happen. But does Rick understand? Ridge asks, praying that Rick stays away from Steffy. Brooke assures him that Rick won't go near Steffy now.

Donna talks with Eric about Rick and Steffy.

At Forrester, Eric tells Donna about Rick's confession. Donna asks where Rick is now. Eric says that he's not sure where Rick tore off to, but he hopes Rick has the sense to stay clear of Ridge. Eric doesn't know what to think about his youngest son now, since Rick completely disregarded Ridge's wishes. Donna sees now why Steffy broke up with Marcus. Eric feels that Rick and Steffy's relationship is wrong on so many levels, but Donna reminds him that his family said the same thing about the two of them when they got involved. The fact that Rick got involved with Steffy knowing that his family would oppose it makes Donna wonder if Rick and Steffy's feelings might be real after all.