Friday, January 23, 2009, Episode #5486

Ridge, Brooke and Eric look for answers.

Brooke tells Ridge and Steffy that Jackie M stole the entire Forrester collection. Steffy frets that all their hard work went to the competition. An angry Ridge wants to know how Jackie M got their designs. Eric storms in and confirms that their whole line was on Jackie M's runway. "We've got a big mess to clean up!" he fumes. As Pam goes to gather the troops, Ridge, Brooke and Steffy wonder if Jackie, Nick or Clarke might have been in the building. Donna and Marcus rush in, having heard the bad news from Pam. Marcus asks who had access to the designs. Just the family, Eric points out, but they know no one here was involved. "Do we?" Felicia asks as she comes in. Thorne comes in right behind her and learns that things are as bad as Katie said. Steffy suggests they check the security footage for anything suspicious. Ridge recalls that Jackie was there for the surf line show, but Eric reminds him that some of the pieces weren't done by then. Stephanie enters and asks Eric if he has any news. Eric confirms that the Marones stole their line, but they couldn't have done it without help. "Somebody betrayed us," he seethes.

"Stormy Seas" is revealed to be Rick!

At Jackie M, Nick extends his hands to the saboteur of Forrester Creations: Rick! Rick is pleased that Nick seems ready to hold up their bargain and name him president of Jackie M. Nick asks Rick why he sabotaged his family's company. "In a word? Ridge," Rick replies, explaining that he's tired of living in Ridge's shadow. When he learned that Jackie M was floundering, he saw a chance to save them in exchange for a job and a fresh start in a life without Ridge. "I just want peace in my life, and a place where we can live away from all the insanity," he states. Nick asks who "we" is. Rick doesn't want to get into that now. The bottom line is that he doesn't have a future at Forrester. He's not proud of what he did, and in fact he's disgusted, but he won't live his life being persecuted. Nick sees how passionate Rick is about this and acknowledges that his mother's company and his family were saved by Rick's efforts. That said, he's willing to honor their agreement and make Rick president, but he wants to keep this quiet until the dust settles. Rick agrees. Nick welcomes his new president aboard. Rick thanks him for this chance and leaves.

Thorne and Felicia are suspicious of Katie.

At Forrester, Stephanie points out that too many people had access to the designs. "Too many Logans, you mean?" Brooke asks. Felicia finds it odd that they have a security breach when they have more Logans than ever before in the building. Eric tells Felicia to stop that. Ridge can't figure this out, since they took so many precautions. And their sewers have been in the business long enough to recognize a disguised Clarke, Felicia adds, agreeing that this doesn't make sense. Marcus asks if someone could have hacked into the computers, but Thorne insists that his computers are ironclad. As everyone tries to figure this out, Katie comes in. "Look who's here, Nick's finacee," Felicia snipes. Katie insists that she had nothing to do with the theft of their designs. Brooke points out that Katie was the one who told them about the theft, but Thorne doesn't think that proves Katie's innocence. Eric tells everyone to stop accusing each other and start looking for evidence. Katie informs him that Nick and Jackie were sent the designs by someone inside Forrester. Hearing that, Brooke says she's going over to see Nick. Ridge tries to stop her, but Brooke can't believe Nick had anything to do with this. The others balk at that, but Brooke thinks she can get Nick to pull the line and issue a statement admitting that the designs came from Forrester.

Taylor gets a phone call from an upset Steffy.

At her home, Taylor looks at a photo of her twin girls and gets emotional. She gets a call from Steffy, who is all upset. Taylor asks what's wrong. "Something terrible happened, and I just feel really bad," Steffy sobs. Taylor asks for details, so Steffy tells her about the theft of the Forrester designs. Taylor asks how Ridge is holding up. Steffy sighs that he's a mess, especially after finding out that someone from the inside betrayed them and leaked the designs. They can't figure out who would do this, and Eric is beside himself since he was so proud of this first collection since coming out of his coma. Taylor asks if she should come over, but Steffy says she doesn't have to. She just wanted to take a breather and talk to someone. Taylor fears this might be too much for Ridge after just losing Phoebe. She promises to be there if he needs her, but she knows he has Brooke. "He's going to need you, too, Mom," Steffy weeps. Not knowing what else to say, Taylor sends her condolences to Ridge. Steffy still can't believe this is happening and wonders who would do something this cruel.

Donna and Marcus fret over the stolen designs.

Steffy returns to Eric's office, where the others make plans to investigate the leak in their company. Stephanie suggests they start with the people their hired recently for the surf line. Donna points out that she interviewed them all, but Pam thinks that no one is above suspicion. Steffy gets a call from Rick on her cell phone and steps outside to take it. Rick says he's on his way up to his office and asks her to meet him there right away. Steffy tries to interject, but he cuts her off and asks her to come alone, since it's important. Inside Eric's office, Katie points out they still have a show to do, but Jackie M just showed their designs. Marcus asks if they can still do a show. They can if Brooke gets through to Nick, Donna suggests, but Stephanie holds little hope of that happening. Eric regretfully concurs, having spoken to Jackie himself. They all agree that they have no choice but to delay their showing. Katie says she'll put together a press release from Ridge and Eric immediately. Ridge tells her to include Rick, too, and then wonders where Rick is. Within minutes, Katie returns with the draft for the press release and finds the others still up in arms about the loss of a sensational collection. Katie hands Eric the statement, but he wants to hold off on sending it out until they find out just who the bastard that did this is.

Nick tells Brooke to leave well enough alone.

Brooke enters Nick's office and finds him smoking a cigar. "That didn't take long," he quips. Brooke asks if that's all he has to say, since she thinks an apology and an admission to the press that the Jackie M designs came from Forrester would be more approporiate. Nick says an apology is all she'll get, since this kind of thing happens in the fashion world. "Not from somebody with a conscience," Brooke retorts, stating that she never thought he was a thief. Nick argues that his family's livelihood was at stake, so he grabbed a lifeline when someone threw him one. "Tell me who gave you the designs!" Brooke demands. Nick asks her to leave, but Brooke won't be given the brush-off after all they've been through. "Now's not the time. Just let this be, Brooke, for your own good," Nick urges.