Wednesday, January 28, 2009, Episode #5489

Bridget visits with Jack.

Bridget drops by Jackie's office to see Jack. She marvels at how big Jack is getting and thanks Jackie for letting her sneak in these little visits with the tyke. Jackie says it's her pleasure, since she knows how much Bridget loves Jack. Seeing Bridget with Jack makes Jackie wonder how different everyone's lives would have been if Bridget and Nick hadn't lost their baby daughter Nicole. Bridget agrees that it was hard to lose Nicole and to lose Nick twice, but she's dealing with it and moving on. After Jackie puts Jack down, she spots Bridget looking at some designs on her desk. Bridget thinks the designs are nice and congratulates Jackie on the success of her new line. Jackie says that she got lucky, but she'll need more hit designs to keep the company afloat, and Clarke just can't cut it as a lead designer in the long run. That's why she's desperately looking for a new designer. Bridget offers to leave so Jackie can get back to work. Jackie asks if she's leaving to avoid Nick. Bridget says she isn't. As she said, she's moving on with her life, and that means finding something new to shake things up and get her out of the rut she's been in. Jackie wishes her luck in finding that. After Bridget leaves, Jackie looks through a stack of portfolios in the hopes of finding a new designer. She thinks the first few she looks at are atrocious and dreadful, but then she finds one that catches her eye and thinks it's an example of real talent.

Ridge wonders why Rick would betray their father.

In Ridge's office, Stephanie insists that Rick has to be the traitor, but Ridge doubts that even Rick would be so cruel as to sabotage his own father's company. Stephanie warns Ridge not to underestimate Rick, since she knows that young man is capable of anything. Ridge asks what Rick would gain by giving their designs to Nick. Stephanie suggests that Rick might try to blame Ridge to both play the hero and diminish Ridge in Eric's eyes. Ridge wonders if it could be about money, since sales are down and they were depending on the new collection to bring them back to the top of the industry. Stephanie is convinced that Rick betrayed them, since this type of behavior is a pattern with him. More importantly, she fears for Eric, since she doesn't know how he'll react to finding out that his own son betrayed him. Ridge points out that they'll need proof that Rick sabotaged them.

Nick considers Eric's deal.

On the Forrester jet, Eric asks Nick if they have a deal; he'll let Nick keep the stolen designs if Rick stays at Forrester. Nick points out that Rick offered him those designs in exchange for a job as president of Jackie M, so he doesn't think he has anything to answer for. However, he thinks Rick does and asks Rick what he wants to do. Steffy boards the plane and asks what's going on. Nick asks why Steffy is here. Eric explains that Steffy knows what Rick did. Nick asks if he should expect anyone else, but Eric assures him that everyone who knows what Rick did is here, and the secret will stay among the four of them if Nick accepts the deal. Steffy asks Eric if he can forgive Rick. Eric thinks he can, although he still doesn't understand why Rick did this. Rick proclaims that he did it because he was a fool who chose to believe in something that would never come true. He knows his actions were misguided, but he was going through something very difficult. Nick asks Rick if he really wants to stay at Forrester, since that wasn't the impression he got when Rick came to him. Rick says that things have changed, and he wants to stay at Forrester with his dad. Nick asks Eric how they'll keep this quiet. Eric says to leave that to him; all he needs from Nick is to keep their secret. "We've got a deal," Nick affirms, shaking Eric's hand. While Eric sees Nick off the plane, Rick tells Steffy that no one but she will know why he gave Nick the designs. He asks her to believe that it was a desperate act of love. Steffy tells him that she does.

Steffy confides in Bridget.

After Steffy leaves the jet, she goes to Forrester and waits in Rick's office. Bridget comes in looking for her brother and is shocked to see Steffy there, since she told both Steffy and Rick to stop seeing each other. Steffy tells Bridget not to worry, since she and Rick ended things. Bridget is relieved that they finally came to their senses. Steffy now sees that she was wrong, but she thinks she and Rick were blinded by love. But after what's happened, she just can't pursue that love, since nothing good can come of it. Still, even though she knows why she and Rick can't be together, that doesn't make it hurt any less, since her feelings for Rick just won't go away. Bridget agrees that it's the worst feeling to love someone who you know you can't be with, but sometimes you have to give up the thing you want the most in order to spare yourself a lot of pain. Steffy understands, but she knew Rick would do anything for her. But even knowing that, things have changed. "It's just not meant to be. I have to give up on this," she sobs.

Eric tells Stephanie and Ridge that the issue with Jackie M is done.

Eric and Rick return to Forrester and go to Eric's office. Stephanie and Ridge come in and ask Eric where he's been, since they need to talk to him about what happened at Jackie M. Eric tells them that there's nothing to discuss, since it's finished. Now that their collection has been shown on Jackie M's runway, reclaiming it will just generate publicity for Jackie M, and he won't let that happen. They just have to accept that Jackie M won this round and move on. Stephanie is shocked by Eric's sudden change of heart and asks who he's protecting. Ridge thinks it's obvious and points to "Little Ricky" across the room. Stephanie can't believe that Eric is protecting Rick and tells him to look her in the eye and state that Rick didn't betray him. Eric accuses her of using his son as a scapegoat, and he won't have that. He insists that he trusts Rick and doesn't want any more finger-pointing in this company. Ridge asks Rick if he has anything to say, but Eric refuses to let Rick be blamed for this and orders Ridge to just drop it. "This is done, once and for all," he declares.

Rick urges his father to fire him.

After Ridge and Stephanie leave, Rick asks Eric why he's protecting him when he doesn't deserve it. "You're my son," Eric responds. Rick gets that Eric loves him unconditionally, but he thinks this is too much and urges his dad to fire him. Eric refuses. Rick thinks he's nothing but trouble for this family, and he's disgusted with the way his lies and manipulations brought misery to the family and caused Phoebe's death. Eric tells him that he did not cause Phoebe's death, but Rick points out that he was behind the wheel. Eric demands that he stop feeling guilty, because the guilt will just push him to the edge and tear him apart. Eric refuses to let that happen. The only thing he asks in return is that the conflict between his sons stop right now. Rick agrees to make that happen. Father and son profess their love for each other, and Eric then leaves to do some damage control.

Jackie has questions for Nick.

Nick returns to Jackie M and tells his mother that he has good news and bad. Jackie asks for the good news first. Nick tells her that Eric is letting them keep the collection and will not pursue any legal action. An overjoyed Jackie laughs that Eric must still care for her more than she thought. She then asks for the bad news. Nick informs her that they won't be getting their new president. In light of the news, Jackie asks Nick to reveal the identity of their benefactor, since she's dying of curiosity. Nick suspects that quite a few people will be curious as well.