Friday, March 06, 2009, Episode #5516

Taylor breaks her news about Steffy and Rick to Ridge.

Taylor drops by Ridge's office to give him her news about Steffy in person. He asks what Rick did now. Taylor tells him that Rick was with Steffy just before the fire. Ridge informs her that Rick blames him for that fire. Taylor isn't surprised, since Rick blames all his problems on Ridge, and that makes it even more critical than ever to find a way to save Steffy before she gets in any deeper with Rick. Ridge asks what she means by "deeper," so Taylor tries to gently tell him that the situation with their daughter and Rick is getting serious. Ridge admits that he's worried, too; that's why he drove by Rick's last night to see if Steffy was there, but he didn't see her car and left. Taylor hesitantly explains that Steffy was there before he arrived and had already left. Seeing the look on Taylor's face, Ridge figures out what she's trying to say and goes crazy, shouting that Rick violated their daughter! Taylor urges Ridge not to fly off the handle, but he fumes that he's through playing games with Rick!

Pam is put off by having to fetch a file for Rick.

Rick walks into his office and finds Pam there. He asks why she's there when he fired her. Pam informs him that Stephanie kept her on to design a line of crocheted purses. Rick hands Pam his keys and tells her to fetch a file for him from the passenger seat of his car. Pam gives him a look, but he reminds her that she just told him that she still works there.

Thorne and Owen make their feelings about Rick known.

On the way out of the building with some boxes, Owen stops by Eric's office to drop off a thank you note and finds Thorne there. Thorne apologizes for the way Rick burned Owen, who quips that he's not the one who has to stay and work with the little tyrant. Thorne laughs and promises to give the note to Eric. He tells Owen to call him if he needs a reference. Owen seems surprised, so Thorne explains that, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." They agree that Rick sees himself as a dangerous enemy. Steffy walks in and calls them on their trash talking about Rick. She tells Owen to just deal with the fact that he got fired, but Thorne points out that he got slighted too, when Rick stole away his shot at the presidency. Steffy tells him that not everyone in the building is as ticked off at Rick as he is, and that includes her, since she's decided to stay on. Thorne asks if that means Rick is leaving. Steffy boasts that she and Rick are both staying, and they're together, too. Owen warns her to watch her back, but Steffy sees no reason to be wary of a sweet guy like Rick. Owen and Thorne argue that Rick's recent actions haven't been very sweet and were personal, but Steffy counters that burning Rick's house was personal, too. Owen calls Rick a power-hungry jerk, but Steffy defends him again. "Tell your boyfriend if he wants to feel safe, he's in the wrong building," warns Thorne. Steffy storms out of the office, slamming into Pam as their paths cross in the hall. Thorne offers to help Owen with his boxes, but Owen says he's fine, since he has one more thing to do before he leaves.

Donna advises Marcus not to say anything to the police.

In the shipping office, Donna defends Marcus to the Baker boys. Charlie finds a box of matches on Marcus's desk and asks if he smokes. When Marcus says he doesn't, Charlie wonders why Marcus has them, especially as the matches have been used. Marcus says they keep them around for birthday parties. When Lt. Baker asks if there have been any birthdays recently, Marcus says that anyone could have used those for a smoke and left them by his desk. The Bakers want to take the matches to the lab to compare them to the ones found by the beach house. Marcus asks if he has a choice. Lt. Baker says no, so Donna advises her son not to say anything until she calls a lawyer. While Donna's gone, the Bakers notice how defensive Marcus is acting. Marcus insists he's telling the truth, but the Bakers prefer to wait until the lab can test the matches to decide if they believe him. Charlie asks Marcus if he's sure he doesn't have anything to say to them.

Rick tells his mom that he won't play by Ridge's rules.

In Rick's office, Brooke warns him not let Ridge find out that he had sex with Steffy. Rick sees no reason to play by Ridge's rules since he and Steffy are adults, but Brooke thinks they are acting like children testing the boundaries when they know how Ridge will react. Rick doesn't care and challenges, "Bring it on!" Brooke begs him to keep away from Ridge and Steffy for her sake. After Brooke leaves, Rick calls Ridge and instructs him to meet him at the Sky Lounge right now.

A picture of Rick sparks fond memories for Steffy.

Soon after, Steffy enters the office looking for Rick. When she sees he's not there, she looks at his desk and finds a press release with his photo in it. She reads the release and smiles as she recalls her and Rick's night together.

Ridge gives Rick a warning.

Ridge goes up to the Sky Lounge and calls downstairs to see if Rick is still there. Looking out into the dark parking area, Ridge spots Rick's car down below. He then sees Jake and Madison working on some invoices and asks for some privacy, so the two employees leave. As Ridge wonders where that punk Rick is, Rick appears and tells Ridge that he came there to reason with him about Steffy. "She loves me, and there's nothing you can do to change that," Rick states, pleading for Ridge to accept that his relationship with Steffy is not some con geared to get revenge. While the two argue, Jake comes back for some papers and then leaves. Ridge doesn't buy Rick's plea. Rick points out that he could have run off with Steffy and eloped, but he didn't because he wants the tension to end. The only way it can end, Ridge insists, is if Rick stays away from Steffy. Rick recalls how Ridge never backed down from pursuing Brooke, even when Stephanie to not to, and he feels like his relationship with Steffy is the same. Rick accuses Rick of conning Steffy into bed last night and vows that Rick will never touch Steffy again. He won't hand Steffy over after what Rick did to Phoebe. Ridge cautions, "You have no idea what I'm capable of." "Give me your best shot," dares Rick, challenging Ridge to either accept his and Steffy's relationship or push Steffy away and lose her. He's tried to tell Ridge he's sorry about Phoebe and he's sorry that Ridge doesn't accept him with Steffy, but he's tired of feeling guilty about it and just wants to go back to work. Ridge tells Rick to leave. Rick says he'll leave now, but he'll be back, and Ridge better get used to that. "Just get in your car and leave right now," Ridge orders.

Brooke finds out that Taylor spilled the beans to Ridge.

Brooke looks for Ridge in his office and finds Taylor there. Taylor says that Ridge left and she doesn't know where he went. Taylor then asks Brooke if Rick told her about how he seduced Steffy. "Dear god, you told Ridge?" Brooke gasps, realizing that she has to find Rick and get him out of the building before Ridge finds him. "You better tell your sick son to get out of my daughter's life," Taylor warns. Brooke says that she's tried, but Rick loves Steffy. Taylor doesn't think Rick knows what love is and is sure Rick is only doing this to get to Ridge. Brooke says that she wants Rick and Steffy apart, too, but now someone tried to burn Rick's house and Ridge thinks Rick did it himself. Taylor doesn't think that's so far-fetched, since Rick is a sociopath. Brooke freaks that Taylor has only made things worse by telling Ridge about the sex, but Taylor insists that Ridge had a right to know. "Take care of your family. I'll take care of mine," Taylor snipes. As the women argue, Jake runs in and tells Brooke that Ridge and Rick are going at it up on the Sky Lounge. Worrying that things might be getting ugly, Brooke races to the roof.

Rick's car sits in the parking lot...

Jake heads down to the parking lot, where Steffy sees him and asks where Rick is. Jake informs her that Rick was going at it with her dad at the Sky Lounge. Steffy runs to find Rick and catches him leaving the building on the way to his car. He tells her that he tried to convince her dad to accept him, but Ridge may now hate him more than ever. Rick tells Steffy he loves her and heads for his car (which has suddenly reversed its colors - compare today's screen capture to the one from yesterday's show).