Thursday, January 08, 2009, Episode #5476

Ridge fumes at his mother's comments in the interview.

Ridge comes out of the shower and finds Brooke in bed reading a bridal magazine. He asks why she's reading that since they agreed their latest wedding would be their last. Brooke explains that she's looking for ideas for Katie's wedding. Ridge then pulls out his own magazine, the latest issue of EYE ON FASHION with Jarrett's exclusive interview with Forrester's former matriarch, Stephanie. Ridge and Brooke read the article and are horrified to see how Stephanie used the interview to publicly blame Rick for Phoebe's death. Ridge thinks it's a PR nightmare, but Brooke thinks it's despicable. Ridge fumes that his mother crossed the line by making comments that could hurt the company and the family. Brooke is equally livid that Stephanie is tearing them apart just when they were coming together. Ridge seethes that his mother is rubbing salt in the wounds when they're all trying to heal after losing Phoebe. Brooke suggests to Ridge that his mother didn't want to hurt him and only wanted to get back at Rick. Ridge however sees this as an attack on Brooke's family, and that upsets him. He promises Broke that he intends to make their family and their marriage his top priority. Brooke is glad to hear that. Ridge asks if she needs any more assurance from him. She tells him that she just needs to know that he'll be there once he gets the mystery email she's sending him. "Be where?" asks Ridge. Brooke teases that he should wait for the email and see.

Brooke schedules a "private meeting" with Ridge.

Later, Ridge enters the Forrester steam room and calls out for Brooke, who assumes he got her email. Ridge says that he downloaded it to his phone and came right over. That means that their "private meeting" can begin, Brooke purrs. As Brooke gets up from where she's lying, Ridge sees that she's wearing a skimpy blue bikini. Ridge asks if she has the marketing department hiding in here. Brooke teases that this "very private meeting" is just for the two of them. Putting her arms around him, she laughs that they have to test their latest design for shrinkage and durability in very demanding environments. Ridge likes the way that sounds, and they kiss.

Thorne and Felicia scold their mother for her comments to Jarrett.

On the rooftop Sky Lounge, Thorne and Felicia scold their mother for her comments to Jarrett. They ask Stephanie why she couldn't just keep her feelings to herself, since her negative comments might create bad publicity that will only hurt the company as they launch a new line and recover from their losses last year. That year was "The Year of the Logans," Stephanie retorts, fuming at the thought of the Logans running the company that bears the Forrester family name. Felicia agrees that the Logans have the run of the company, but she doesn't want to go off and rant to Jarrett about it. Thorne reminds his mom that Eric has done this before with Brooke and Lauren, so he thinks Donna is just Eric's latest distraction. Stephanie thinks it's more than that, since letting those Logan girls create a surf line is ruining the legacy Eric built for his family. Thorne thinks Eric still cares about them, but Felicia feels like her dad doesn't listen to them. Stephanie says that it's a travesty, and if Eric won't set it right, then she will.

Katie and Donna worry about Stephanie's interview.

Eric is making out with Donna in his office when a knock at the door interrupts them. Katie comes in to tell them how well the new bikini is selling. Eric wants her to schedule more interviews to promote the bikinis, but Katie thinks there's something he should see first and hands him a copy of EYE ON FASHION. Flipping to the page that Katie has marked, Eric and Donna read the interview with Stephanie. Stephanie's comments about Rick infuriate Eric, who thinks his that his ex-wife has gone too far. Katie thinks they have to respond, but Eric insists on keeping their family matters private. Shaking his head in disbelief, he wonders what Stephanie was trying to do by making those comments. Donna guesses that Stephanie was trying to put them on the defensive by painting Rick as a villain and getting an audience to listen to her rantings.

Eric hopes Steffy hasn't seen the interview.

After Katie leaves, Eric worries about how Steffy will react to the interview. He fears that it will reopen Steffy's wounds as she tries to cope with losing her sister. Donna thinks Steffy will be OK, since she's up at Big Bear with Marcus. Eric hopes Steffy hasn't seen the article yet, and he fears that Steffy might feel blind-sided when sees it. Donna assures him that Marcus will do everything in his power to keep Steffy from getting too upset and to make Steffy feel better.

Steffy seems kind of glum at Big Bear.

Marcus and Steffy arrive at Big Bear. He leads her into the cabin, where he has a romantic candle-lit setting and some non-alcoholic champagne waiting for them. Marcus seems excited, but Stephanie doesn't seem thrilled. As Marcus pours Steffy a glass of the champagne, she spots a photo of Rick and Bridget on the table and gazes it. While Marcus sets the mood, Steffy takes out her Blackberry and tries to send a text message to Rick. Marcus sees the PDA phone in her hand and asks if someone called. She says she thought she heard it ring and wanted to be sure her parents had not left her a message. Marcus suggests that she let any messages go to voice mail while they have a good time. Steffy agrees and asks Marcus if he wants to go snowboarding, but he has something else in mind to make her feel safe.

Bridget confronts Rick about what she saw.

Rick is in his office thinking when Bridget comes in and calls him on the carpet for kissing Steffy last night. "What were you thinking?" she asks, pointing out that anyone, and especially Ridge, could have walked in and seen him with Steffy. Rick assures her that Ridge will not see them, since he and Steffy agreed to end it last night. Bridget asks if that means his and Steffy's feelings are mutual. Rick tells her that he and Steffy never expected to have these feelings, and now they have to deal with them. Bridget points out that Ridge will never accept this; she promises not to say anything, but she warns Rick to be careful and keep his distance from Steffy. Rick says he and Steffy are doing that already, and Steffy is up at Big Bear on a romantic getaway with Marcus. Bridget asks Rick if he's jealous, but Rick says he isn't. Bridget reminds him that there is already a lot of tension between him and Ridge and Stephanie, and she warns that he could easily make things worse by pursuing his feelings for Steffy.

Stephanie tells Rick that she wants him out.

After Bridget leaves, Rick flashes back to Steffy telling him about Marcus's plans to take her to Big Bear. He tries to call Steffy, but he gets her voice mail and hangs up. Rick then calls Madison and asks her to clear his schedule for the rest of the day. He's about to leave when Stephanie barges in. She hands him a copy of EYE ON FASHION and boasts that his "day of reckoning" is at hand. Rick asks Stephanie if she's trying to pick a fight with him, but she insists that she didn't tell Jarrett anything that she hasn't already told Rick to his face. Rick asks why she wants a scandal. She tells him that she wants him out of the company. He tells her to take it up with the CEO if she thinks he's bad for the company. Stephanie insists that he IS bad for the company, and it's only a matter of time before his father figures that out. "So you want me fired," Rick concludes, but Stephanie says she wants him to quit. Fed up, Rick says he's done and turns to leave. Stephanie tells him to ask maintenance to clean out his stuff while he;s gone, since this office won't be his when he returns!

Marcus asks Steffy to be his wife.

Back at Big Bear, Marcus suspects that Steffy feels guilty having a good time with her sister dead, and he wants her to know that he's there for her always, even if she has to take her time dealing with her guilt in her own way. Steffy asks if they can not talk about "always." Marcus understands, figuring that she's afraid to look too far ahead knowing how fast things can change. That's the way it was for them when they met, and they've never been happier. He knows there's been distance between them since before the fashion show, but he kept his distance because he wanted to give her the space she needs. But he always knew she was special, and he thinks she deserves to be treated that way, Getting down on one knee, he pulls out a ring box and pledges his love and devotion to Steffy "till death do us part." Asserting that he only wants to be happy, Marcus asks Steffy to be his wife!