Thursday, January 15, 2009, Episode #5481

Nick ponders the "gift" he received via email.

Nick stares at a printout of the Forrester design he got in an e-mail and wonders who would send it to him. Jackie walks in and is stunned by the design. She raves that she never saw Clarke do anything like that. Nick tells her that Clarke didn't design that. Jackie takes a closer look and recognizes Eric's distinct design style. She assumes Katie carelessly left the sketch from Eric's new collection lying around, but Nick explains that it was emailed to him anonymously by someone named "Stormy Seas" with a message that this was "to keep you afloat." Jackie's thrilled to have a new Forrester design, but Nick reminds her that it's stolen. "This is our salvation," Jackie argues, stating that Jackie M needs just one perfect design like this. Nick says that it will take more than one dress to save her boutiques, as the bank is calling in their loan. Jackie assumes that the bank is just restructuring their note, but Nick explains that the bank wants their money now and will take everything they put up as collateral, including the business, if the note isn't paid. Jackie cries at the thought of losing her business and tells Nick to fix this. Nick then gets another e-mail from "Stormy Seas" with a second Forrester design. He goes to delete it, but Jackie stops him, noting that his sailor's code of honor means nothing in the cutthroat fashion world. "We have to get these designs into production today," she urges, but Nick insists on first finding out who sent them the stolen designs.

Donna takes some jabs as Eric shows off his newest designs.

At Forrester, Eric meets with Stephanie, Ridge, Brooke, Thorne, Felicia, Rick, Donna and Katie to show them his new collection. Everyone praises the new designs. Eric says that they'll all have to pull together to make the collection a success. When Katie suggests that they create some buzz, Thorne wants to schedule a preview for the press, but Eric wants the designs kept under wraps until they hit the runway. Donna thinks the secrecy will generate the buzz they need, but Stephanie chimes in that THIS collection won't need any gimmicks to sell. Rick tells her that the surf line is doing well, but Stephanie credits that to Pam's bikinis. Ridge points out that this is nothing new, since they kept new collections under wraps for years. Eric explains that only those who have a need will know the codes to access the secure database that stores these designs. Stephanie, Thorne and Ridge take some jabs at Donna and Rick, so Eric tells everyone to either quit griping about how the company is being run or leave. Sensing the tension in the room, Rick tries to get everyone on the same page to support Eric. He then notes that there's one person in the room who should be kept out of the loop about the collection, and that's Katie. Felicia thinks it's because Katie is engaged to the competition, but Katie declares that she and Nick leave their work at the office. Rick explains that he's excluding Katie because she's close to the press. Katie agrees to leave, but she makes it clear that it's not because of Nick. She insists that Nick would never do anything to jeopardize her position at Forrester.

After the others leave, Felicia asks her dad how they're supposed to get excited about the collection. Eric explains that he had to take a hard line and insist that everyone either get along or get out, since they don't have much time before the collection debuts. Felicia laments that she feels left out of the company these days. Eric says he understands, but Felicia doesn't see how he can, since he hardly even talks to her or asks for her opinions anymore. Eric says that he's been busy, but Felicia gripes that he seems to have time for Donna and Rick and the surf line and even this new collection. She's sorry, but she just can't cheer him on after the way he sided with Rick over Stephanie. "I guess loyalty doesn't mean the same thing anymore for any of us," she sighs.

Thorne vents that he feels ignored at Forrester.

After Felicia leaves, Thorne drops by to see his dad. Eric senses that Thorne is unhappy and assures him that he has an important role in the company, but Thorne feels like little more than a "yes-man" whose opinions mean nothing. Eric says that's not true. Thorne thinks it is, since he's back in the basement while his half brothers are both on the executive floor. He feels like everything changed around here since his dad got together with Donna. Eric insists that Donna and her family have nothing to do with this, so Thorne assumes that it must be about something he did, since it's obvious that he's being shoved into a corner while Ridge and Rick get promoted to the "A-Team." Eric tries to explain, but Thorne seethes that his half brothers and Donna and her family and even Owen get more face time than him around here. Eric states that he doesn't feel the need to micro-manage Thorne, but Thorne wonders if that's because his job is so insignificant. Eric asks him to please stop talking this way, but Thorne rages that he deserves to be at the top after all the years he put into this company. Eric states that he depends on Thorne to pull the company together, but Thorne scoffs that he'd rather tear the place down to its studs than pull it together. He feels like Eric is putting his faith in the wrong people, like that "petulant little brat" Rick, and it's gotten to the point where he feels like he doesn't know Eric and wonders if he even has a father anymore.

Jackie wants to put the e-mailed designs to use.

When Eric steps out for a bit, Thorne looks at one of Eric's designs. Over at the Marone mansion, Jackie and Nick look at that same design (from the first email) as well as the second one they received. Jackie suggests that they don't try to find out who sent the designs, since the less they know, the better. Nick asks if she really thinks their mysterious benefactor sent them these to help them. Jackie points out that the note said that the designs were "to keep you afloat." Nick wonders if Katie has something to do with this, since his fiancee knows about their financial situation. Hearing that, Jackie agrees that it must be Katie and assumes that Katie sent the designs to them anonymously so they can use them. If that's the case, Nick points out, then Katie could go to jail if they're caught, and he won't let that happen.

Katie pays Eric a compliment.

Meanwhile, Katie slips into Eric's empty office and takes out copies of the designs for the new collection from her briefcase. As she puts the designs down, Eric returns and is surprised to see her. Katie says that she was returning these, as she didn't feel right having them under the circumstances. Eric tells her that he doesn't question her loyalty, but Katie says that she understands the need for secrecy with a collection as elegant as this one. Eric thanks her for the compliment and tells her that he appreciates her integrity.

Felicia tells Rick that she's not his "errand girl."

Steffy visits Rick in his office and they immediately start kissing, but they're interrupted by Felicia knocking at the door. When Rick opens the door, Felicia asks why he asked to see her. Rick tells her that Thorne's fabric shipment is waiting for them at the docks, and they need that fabric immediately. Felicia snipes that she's not his errand girl, so Steffy offers to go pick up the fabric. Rick offers to gives Steffy a ride and advises Felicia not to let their fabric shipments get held up in the future. Felicia fumes that he asked her down here to send her to the docks, only to then agree to drive down there once Steffy offered to go. She tells Rick that she won't put up with his power plays and advises Steffy not to put up with it, either, but Steffy insists that she's fine. She thinks she's the logical person to go pick up the fabric, since she works in shipping. Felicia warns Rick to play dictator with his own family and not with hers, and she storms off. Steffy asks Rick why he ticked her aunt off so much. Rick explains that he did it on purpose so he could spend some more time with her. Steffy suggests that they tell someone that they're leaving, but Rick points out that no one will know when to expect them back if they don't know they left. Steffy thinks they should get going, but Rick grabs one last kiss from her before they head out..

Ridge worries when he hears that Steffy is in a car with Rick.

Felicia stops by to see Ridge and asks him not to make her go back out there and deal with Donna. Ridge asks if she's seen Steffy. Felicia informs him that Steffy is going to Long Beach to pick up their fabric shipment. Ridge wonders if he should give his daughter a lift. Felicia says that won't be necessary, since Rick is taking her. Felicia gripes about how that "little jerk" Rick is throwing his weight around, but the only thing on Ridge's mind is that his daughter is going to be in a car with Rick. The thought sparks a flashback in Ridge's head to seeing a bloody Rick on the night of the accident. Fearing the worst for Steffy, Ridge bolts out of the office.

Stephanie disagrees with Brooke.

Brooke meets Stephanie on the rooftop Sky Lounge and asks why their families have to be at war. Stephanie says that she doesn't agree with Eric's plan to unite everyone. Brooke doesn't see why, since she knows Stephanie wants what is best for the company. Stephanie counters that she wants what's best for the Forrester she and Eric founded and not this "new" company.

Brooke claims that Ridge is coping.

Brooke says they're one and the same, but Stephanie disagrees, since she doesn't feel the pride she used to when she walks down the halls of this company and sees Logans everywhere. What's even more upsetting to her is that Ridge has to deal with Rick on an ongoing basis. Brooke says that Ridge is coping, but Stephanie doesn't see that, and the fact that Brooke can't see what's really going on tells Stephanie that Brooke isn't really paying attention.