Monday, January 26, 2009, Episode #5487

Nick worries about how Katie will react to what he did.

At Jackie M, a beaming Jackie and Clarke tell Nick how their new collection is a hit that saved the company. Jackie sees the glum look look on Nick's face and assures him that there won't be repercussions, but Nick informs her that Brooke and Eric both think they stole the designs. Jackie points out that there's no proof that they stole anything, so she's sure the most the Forresters can do is make some noise, and she doubts that the Forresters will be able to sue them. Nick reminds her that there could be other issues that can cause fallout besides a lawsuit. Jackie tells him to name one, so Nick reminds her about Katie. Jackie and Clarke are sure that Katie will come around once she realizes that Nick did what he had to in order to protect his family and their livelihood, but Nick isn't so sure.

Clarke and Jackie talk to Jarrett.

Jarrett stops by to get some photos and quotes from Jackie and Clarke about the new line. Nick tells the smarmy reporter that they're having a meeting, but Clarke is more than happy to give a few comments to the press and joins Jackie to take some pictures and answer questions. While Ms. M and her designer brag about how their collection took the fashion world by storm and saved their company, Nick tries to call Katie, but she doesn't answer her phone. While Jackie and Clarke wrap up with Jarrett, Nick tries to call Katie again. When Katie's phone goes to voice-mail, Nick leaves a message asking her to please call him.

Katie frets about the position Nick has put her in.

In Ridge's office, Katie asks Brooke if Nick told her who betrayed them. When Brooke says that he didn't, Katie reflects on how bad Nick's actions are making her look. Even if Nick knows she didn't send him the stolen designs, she thinks he should have known that this would cast her in a bad light. Brooke tells her not to overreact, but Katie can't help it; since she's responsible for dealing with the media at Forrester, she's on the front lines of this mess, and she doesn't know how she's going to handle this P.R. nightmare. As she fidgets with her engagement ring, she wonders how she's going to be able to go home tonight. After Katie gets Nick's voice mail message, Brooke asks if she's going to call him back. Katie isn't sure. Brooke urges Katie to see things from Nick's perspective. Katie gets that Nick has a responsibility to his mother, but at the same time, she's not sure that she can marry someone who's not completely honest with her.

Eric assures Ridge that they will find the traitor.

Ridge pops into Eric's office and finds his dad on the phone with their lawyer trying to get an injunction to keep Jackie M from selling those designs. Eric hangs up the phone and asks Ridge if he discovered who betrayed them. Not yet, Ridge sighs, wondering what they're going to do. Eric doesn't know how they can recover from this, because this setback really hurts. Ridge wants to find the person responsible. Eric assures him that they will find out who sabotaged them and send that person to jail. After all the hard work they poured into this collection, it stings to have it stolen from them like this. Ridge is sure they'll bounce back, just like they always do. Eric thanks Ridge for his support and vows to find out who stabbed them in the back.

Steffy is stunned by what Rick tells her.

Steffy is stunned upon hearing Rick admit why he gave away the designs. "What were you thinking?" she asks, raging that he betrayed her father and grandfather. Rick recalls that he tried to reach out to Ridge only to have it thrown back in his face, but he concedes that his actions might have been a bit rash. Steffy fumes that his actions were more than just rash and were crazy. What's crazy, Rick retorts, is that he got no respect from Stephanie or her children since he was named president. He became so incensed by the lack of respect that he felt like he had to get out, and his love for Steffy gave him the perfect excuse to do it. Steffy predicts that everyone will find out what he did once he starts working for Jackie M, but Rick thinks they'll believe that he was so upset working at Forrester that he jumped ship to another company. Steffy thinks he's dreaming, and that scares her. Rick assures her that this is the perfect plan. He's confident that the two of them can turn Jackie M into a first class fashion house. Steffy argues that he used his love for her to destroy their family. She doesn't think anything will change by their going to Jackie M, and she even thinks things might get worse since her leaving will devastate her father. Rick says that he thought this is what she wanted, but Steffy states that he made a mistake if he thought she'd go along with this. She feels that a love that hurts their family is sick, and nothing good can come of it. She thinks the only thing Rick can do now is come clean. "Will that make a difference for us?" Rick asks. Steffy sobs that there is no "us" anymore. Rick doesn't want to believe that, but he agrees to tell Eric everything if that's what Steffy wants.

Ridge and Brooke discuss the theft of their designs.

Ridge interrupts Brooke's talk with Katie and asks how Brooke's visit with Nick went. Brooke sighs that Nick refused to pull the line and wouldn't even tell her who fed him the designs. Ridge feels like going over there, but Brooke advises him not to. Ridge asks Katie if she can talk to Nick, but Brooke thinks it will be better if they don't involve Katie. Ridge points out that Katie is already involved since she's engaged to Nick, who is showing his true colors by stealing their designs behind Katie's back. Brooke asks if they can forget about Nick, so Ridge suggests they talk about Eric and how torn up he is by the theft of their designs. He thinks they have to find out who betrayed them before the company is torn apart. After Katie leaves, Brooke tells Ridge how concerned she is about her sister. She still can't believe Nick would do this, but Ridge isn't surprised at all. Ridge hates to be so cynical about the whole mess, but his heart breaks when he sees how upset Eric is about the loss of all their hard work. He feels like Eric wanted to prove with this collection that he wasn't washed up, and now they have to start all over from the beginning. That makes him want to be an inspiration to Eric. "You will be his inspiration, and I'll be yours," Brooke purrs. Touched by the sentiment, Ridge takes Brooke in his arms and they passionately kiss.

Back in Rick's office, Steffy cries as she looks at a photo of Rick with Eric. As she flashes back to Rick's earlier confession, she recalls him saying that he did this for the two of them. Clutching the photo, she sobs, "How could you do this for us?"