Wednesday, January 14, 2009, Episode #5480

Bridget comes down on Rick and Steffy.

At the Big Bear cabin, Bridget asks Rick what he's doing. Rick tries to explain, but Bridget doesn't want to hear it and tells him that he and Steffy will never be OK. She can't believe he ignored her warnings to stay away from Steffy and came up here. Steffy asks why he told Bridget about them. Rick explains that Bridget saw them kissing in his office. Bridget rails that this is the second time she's caught them kissing, and she asks what they would have done had it been Brooke or Ridge who walked through that door instead of her. Rick doesn't think that could happen, but Bridget thinks he's deluding himself and insists that he and Steffy stop whatever is going on between them right now. Rick and Steffy tell her that they can't turn back, because they've fallen in love. "Then fall out of it," Bridget orders. Steffy begs Bridget not to tell anyone about Rick and her. Bridget says that she won't tell, but it's just a matter of time before someone figures it out, so it's best that they both walk away before things get deeper. Rick tells his sister that he can't because he loves Steffy, and Steffy chimes in that she loves Rick. And that's what makes this impossible, Bridget stresses, since their families will never accept this relationship. "Let it go and walk away," she pleads. Rick tells Bridget that he knows she's trying to help, but... Bridget cuts him off and asks Steffy and him if they hear her. Rick says he does and Steffy nods. Hoping she got through to them, Bridget leaves.

Rick and Steffy wonder what they're going to do.

"What are we going to do?" Steffy frantically sobs. Rick comes up behind her and holds her in his arms, assuring her that he won't stay away from her. He understands Bridget's concern, but he feels connected to Steffy and couldn't stay away from her if he tried. Steffy wonders what they'll do now. Rick suggests that they keep their relationship a secret and see where it takes them. As Rick hugs her, Steffy sighs that she wants to stay here forever, but she thinks it's best that gets back home before someone comes looking for her. Rick agrees and gives her a kiss goodbye before handing her coat to her and sending her on her way back to L.A.

Robin McGraw, wife of Dr. Phil, runs into her old friend Jackie.

Jackie walks into Cafe Russe and finds the place nearly empty. When the maitre d' tells her that it's been slow due to the economy, Jackie says she understands about that and places an order to-go. While waiting for her food, she sees Robin McGraw, Dr. Phil's wife. The old friends agree that it's been too long since they've seen each other. Jackie compliments Robin on how young and energetic she looks. Robin returns the compliment and praises Jackie for carrying herself in a way that says that she's a woman in control of her life, but Jackie brushes off the compliment. Robin thinks women owe it to themselves to be the happiest and healthiest they can be and claims that it's not selfish for a woman to put herself first. In fact, she just wrote about a book about that, and she offers to send Jackie a copy to see if she can find something in there that might help her. She feels like the book is a little reminder to be good to yourself, in good times and bad. Intrigued, Jackie thinks she'll rush out to get a copy and see for herself. Robin tells Jackie to enjoy both the book and her life and bids her friend goodbye.

Stephanie invites Jackie to join her.

Stepping over to the bar to wait for her order, Jackie spots Stephanie at the bar enjoying a rather early happy hour. Stephanie says that it's not so happy, and she thinks Jackie would understand from what she's heard, so she invites Jackie to join her for a drink. Jackie thinks that's gracious of her. Stephanie thinks it's the least she can do, since she heard that Jackie's business is on the skids. Jackie confides that things are probably much worse than Stephanie heard, so Stephanie orders a double martini for her formal rival. Indulging herself in the stiff drink, Jackie concedes that she has an excuse to drink with her company in the toilet, but she wonders what Stephanie's excuse is. "Eric Forrester," Stephanie snaps.

Jackie and Stephanie commiserate about Eric.

Jackie chuckles that she understands. Stephanie can see why, since she and Jackie had a few battles over Eric in their time. What makes it worse, Stephanie explains, is that she ultimately lost Eric to a "blonde bimbo barbie doll." Jackie laughs that she was actually rotting for Stephanie to prevail over Donna. Stephanie thanks her for saying that and laments that she feels like she doesn't even know who Eric is anymore. Jackie quips that it's typical for men to choose youth over experience, but Stephanie thinks it's more than just Eric's poor taste and confides that she's worried about how Eric lets those Logan girls run Forrester over her and her children. She doesn't think Eric has a right to do that, since they co-founded the company with the money her father gave them after they got married. Jackie wonders if perhaps Eric needs to be taught a lesson.

Katie tells Nick what she saw on his computer.

At the Marone mansion, Katie tells Nick that she doesn't think they need an extravagant wedding after all and suggests that they elope instead. Nick asks where this is coming from. Katie states that everything just seems so big around here, including this house; she wonders if they might want to find a place that's smaller and cozier. Suspicious of this sudden change of attitude, Nick asks Katie if she looked in his computer, Katie confesses that she did, because he was acting so strange, and now she feels terrible after seeing how bad things are. Annoyed, Nick states that it's even worse than she thinks, because Jackie M is in poor financial shape. He thought it would be a great idea to expand, but now they can't pay off their loans and the banks are closing in. Katie tells him that it's not his fault, since he had a good business plan and couldn't have known how bad the economy would get. Still, Nick thinks he would have moved on if it was his his business and dumped it. But his mother loves those boutiques, and now he fears that she might lose them.

Nick's banker wants to call in the loan.

They're interrupted when the doorbell rings. Katie goes to answer it and returns with Mr. Williams from the bank, who announces that Nick is running out of time and is about to lose Jackie M. He wishes he could do more, but with the current economy, he has no choice, especially since he already extended Nick's loan several times and fears that they're out of options. Nick points out that his son lives in this house. "I can give you 24 hours before we take action," Mr. Williams declares. Nick thinks he needs more time, but Williams insists that it's the best he can do and exits. Nick tells Katie that he needs to be alone and asks her to take Jack over to Brooke's for the night. Katie doesn't want to leave him alone, but Nick orders her go!

Nick frets that they could lose everything.

When Katie returns from dropping Jack off at Brooke's, Nick tells her again that he wants to be alone, but she says she's not leaving him. He warns her to get off this sinking ship while she can, but she insists that she's sticking with her captain. Nick is touched by her support, but he doesn't want her to deal with his problems and begs her to go back to Brooke's to be with Jack. Katie tells him that she's not sleeping at her sister's, so he should just get over it and stop blaming himself. She contends that he made a smart, calculated risk and put together a huge international retail chain, and it's not his fault that retail sales are so bad in this poor economy. Nick doesn't think she understands how bad things really are, but she thinks she does, since she's spent most of her life with little material wealth. Nick warns that she may end up with nothing, but she argues that she loves him and not his money. People in love stand by each other, she asserts, and they support each other no matter what. She reminds him how he was there when she needed him, but now it's her turn to stand up for him. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you," she sobs. Moved by her devotion to him, Nick leans toward her and they kiss.