Tuesday, January 27, 2009, Episode #5488

Jackie wants to know who her benefactor is.

At Jackie M Designs, Jackie keeps asking Nick to reveal the identity of their mysterious benefactor, but he won't tell her. She guesses that Stephanie betrayed Forrester, but Nick repeats that he's not divulging any information for now. Jackie presumes that it must be someone in Eric's inner circle. Nick urges her to let him handle this. Mr. Williams from the bank, stops by; Jackie assumes that he's there to congratulate them, but the banker informs her that she needs more than just a single collection to save her company. Nick assures Williams that they're working on a permanent fix, but the banker asserts that he needs more than personal assurances to keep his bank from taking any drastic measures. After the banker leaves, Jackie asks Nick what they're going to do. Nick assures her that their new president will have the clout clout to raise the profile of their financiers. Jackie presses again for a name. Nick again keeps mum on their new president's identity, but he promises that their new president will have the talent and inspiration to secure Jackie M's future for a long time to come.

Rick thinks it's best that he leaves given his actions.

Rick is stung by Eric's statement that he's no Ridge; he and accuses Eric of feeling that way for his entire life and has accepted that his father plays favorites. He's just glad it's finally out in the open. Eric asks if his playing favorites excuses Rick's actions. Rick says there's more to it, but Eric doesn't see what else there could be after he made Rick president. Rick states that he should never have accepted the position, because it never would have worked. Eric wonders what led Rick to sell the company out. Was it Stephanie, Thorne and Felicia giving him a hard time? Or maybe once again it was all about Ridge? Rick recalls his trying to explain his actions to Steffy, who couldn't accept it; he tells Eric that he's not going to answer that question, because it's done, and he's never coming back to Forrester once he leaves. He realizes that he's a big disappointment to Eric and doesn't blame Eric for hating him. Eric says that he doesn't hate him. Rick realizes that, because that's not the kind of man Eric is, but he starts to beat himself up for robbing his own father and for contributing to Phoebe's death. Eric says that he's not to blame for Phoebe's death, but Rick feels like he caused everyone too much pain and thinks they'd all be better off if he just left. He doesn't think Eric will ever understand just how sorry he is, but in the end, he thinks it's best that he leave. "That's not how it's going to happen," Eric states, refusing to let Rick leave the company or the family. "I want you here with me," he insists. Rick doesn't think this is right, but Eric vows that no one will ever find out what Rick did. Rick tells him that Steffy knows. Eric doesn't understand why Rick confided in Steffy, but knowing that, he has a plan to make sure that no one else finds out about Rick's sabotage.

Pam crochets in the dark to protect her designs.

Stephanie goes looking for Pam and finds her in one of the offices crocheting in the dark. Stephanie admonishes her sister for doing that, but Pam explains that she did it to protect her crocheted garments from the spies and lowlifes that sold them out to the competition. Stephanie vows to find the traitor and make that person rue the day that he ever did anything to hurt the company and the family.

In the afterglow, Brooke and Ridge discuss the design theft.

After making love in his office, Ridge and Brooke lay naked on the couch and discuss the theft of the designs. Ridge wants to make the person who leaked the designs pay, along with the Marones. Ridge gets an urgent call and tells Brooke that he has to step out for a little bit, but he promises to be back soon. After Ridge gets dressed and leaves, Brooke ponders Ridge's statement that he'll be back soon and looks at a rack of clothing for inspiration. She decides to put on a sexy negligee in anticipation of Ridge's return. Hearing the door open, she thinks Ridge is back and tells him how naughty she feels in the negligee, but she's shocked when she sees Stephanie standing in the doorway. "Why do you always have to come in here when I'm in my underwear?" Brooke huffs, wondering what Stephanie wants. Stephanie chides Brooke for using sexual distractions to get Ridge's attention when he should be focusing on helping Eric put together a new collection. Brooke assures that she's just as concerned about the pirated designs as Stephanie is, but La Forrester doesn't want to hear it and only wants to find the bastard that sold them out and give him what he deserves. She doesn't think it should be hard to figure out who the traitor is, since only Eric's inner circle had access to the collection. Ridge returns and fumes that their being betrayed from within only makes matters worse. Stephanie feels like there's something beyond the obvious that's at play now, and she wonders what besides business could make someone do something so unthinkable.

Stephanie shares her suspicions with Ridge.

While Brooke steps out of the room to change, Ridge asks Stephanie who her prime suspects are. Stephanie states that she doesn't trust any of the Logans. Ridge points out the Rick has been suspiciously absent while all this has been going on. He and Stephanie both find that odd given that Rick knows the impact that losing their designs will have on both the company and on Eric. Ridge doesn't see Rick turning on them after Eric promoted Rick, but Stephanie thinks that Rick is the only suspect that makes sense. Ridge still can't see Rick betraying Eric; Stephanie suggests that Rick didn't give their designs away to Jackie M to hurt Eric. "He did it to get back at you," Stephanie speculates.

Eric lays down the law with Rick.

Eric calls Steffy and asks her to meet him at the Forrester jet at the Santa Monica airport right away. He urges her not to tell anyone that she's coming. Eric then calls Nick and asks him to meet him at the jet. "Tell no one, not even your mother," Eric instructs. Nick looks over at Jackie and then tells Eric that he'll be there. Rick asks Eric what the plan is. Eric doesn't think "the plan" matters as long as they eliminate the divisiveness that's tearing their company and their family apart. Rick is still confused about why Eric is doing this for him. Eric says that he's doing this to protect the family from Rick's actions. He states that there's no excuse for Rick's blatant disregard of anyone but himself, but he is Rick's father and loves him. "You and I are never, ever going to fail one another again," Eric vows.