Monday, May 04, 2009, Episode #5555

Bridget and Clarke learn that Owen's been promoted.

Owen and Jackie are getting passionate in her office when Arielle the receptionist knocks on the door to tell them that the others are there for the meeting. Jackie reminds Owen that what happens behind closed doors stays there and calls out to Arielle to show everyone in. Nick, Bridget and Clarke file in to the office. After Clarke informs them that Stephanie won't be attending, Jackie tells Nick to get started. He's pleased to report that the Madame X line is still selling well. Jackie credits that to Owen's hard work. "Owen handles a lot of things very well," she praises, "which is why I'm promoting him." Nick asks his mother why she didn't discuss this with him, but Jackie assures him that Owen has earned this promotion with his unique talents. Nick is still leery, but Bridget congratulates Owen on a well deserved promotion. Clarke adds his congratulations and asks what Owen's new title will be. Jackie states that Owen has proved himself beyond her wildest expectations, which is why she's naming him Chief of Staff.

Nick tells Owen that Jackie is counting on him.

As they leave Jackie's office, Bridget congratulates Owen again. She thinks he must have done a good job, since Jackie is so demanding. "Yeah, she's insatiable," Owen affirms. Bridget suggests that they celebrate by having him cook her dinner at his place. Owen says that he'll have to check with the boss first, since there still might be work to be done. Nick comes out and tells Owen that Jackie is expecting a lot from him. Owen promises to do his best. After Nick leaves, Bridget tells Owen that she'll assume they're on for dinner if she doesn't hear back from him. Owen asks if she really wants to do this. Bridget responds by kissing him, not realizing that Jackie is watching from inside her office with her compact mirror. Pulling away from the kiss, Bridget asks Owen if that answers his question. Owen thinks it does and tells her to be at his place at 7 PM. As Bridget leaves, Jackie smiles approvingly and closes her office door.

Owen has a talk with Jackie.

Owen goes back to Jackie's office to thank her for the promotion and the 30% raise that goes with it. Jackie tells him that he deserves it and assures him that he's going to earn every penny. Jackie then tells Owen that she saw him kissing Bridget. Owen asks if that's going to be a problem, since he'd really like to make dinner for Bridget if there's no more work to be done here. Jackie doesn't see any reason for him to work late tonight and tells him to go have dinner with Bridget. However, she wants to warn him that he's probably wasting his time, since Bridget is still smitten with Nick. Owen suggests that things might have changed, but Jackie puts forth that Bridget just wants to make Nick jealous. Owen asks Jackie how she feels about his dinner plans. She assures him that she's not the jealous type. Owen promises to make it up to her, but Jackie tells him that he doesn't have to, since she's quite happy with their arrangement. She locks the door and asks if he feels the need to reassure her. "Your dating Bridget doesn't mean the end of us," she purrs as she starts to kiss him. Owen promises not to disappoint her. Their kisses grow more passionate and they start to undress.

Marcus checks on Steffy.

In Ridge's office, Brooke makes out with him and thanks him for being so understanding. Ridge is glad the ordeal with Rick is behind them and assures Brooke that there's nothing they can't survive. Steffy walks in and sees her dad embracing Brooke, so she offers to come back later, but Ridge tells her to stay. Brooke hugs Steffy and tells her how disappointed she was in Rick and the things that he said. She assures Steffy that she did the right thing breaking off the engagement. Steffy is glad Brooke feels that way. Brooke hopes this serves as a wake-up call for Rick and leaves so Ridge and Steffy can have some privacy. Alone with his daughter, Ridge asks how she's doing. He wants her to know that he and Taylor are proud of her. Steffy doesn't feel very proud right now, since she feels stupid after being taken in by Rick. Ridge assures her that she has nothing to be ashamed of and promises that there's someone far better than Rick out there for her. Marcus comes in looking for Steffy; he heard that she broke up with Rick and wanted to make sure she's OK. Steffy thanks him for checking on her. Marcus assures her that she did the right thing and urges her to stay away from Rick. He doesn't want Rick to have the chance to talk his way out of this like he always does.

Ridge tells Steffy to steer clear of Rick.

Steffy appreciates the advice, but she's sure Rick won't be a problem for her. Marcus thinks she'll be fine if she stays away from Rick. Ridge agrees, since they all know how dangerous Rick is. Steffy asks if they really think Rick is that much of a head case. Ridge tells her that the way Rick treated her isn't normal, so it's best that she keep her distance from Rick. He promises not to let Rick torment her anymore.

Brooke lays down the law with Rick.

Brooke finds Rick working in Eric's office and asks how he's doing. Rick says he wants to talk to Steffy to explain what he did. Brooke thinks that's a bad idea, but Rick wants Steffy to know that he's sorry for what he said. Brooke reminds him that he said those things out of animosity and bitterness toward Ridge. Rick insists that Ridge set him up and asks Brooke why she doesn't hold Ridge accountable for that. Brooke tells him not to even think about putting the blame on Ridge, since Ridge had nothing to do with the disrespectful things he said about Steffy. Rick says that Ridge baited him, but Brooke tells him that Ridge just gave him the chance to open his mouth, and what came out was cruel and vicious. Rick states that he's not trying to excuse himself, but Brooke thinks he's doing exactly that by trying to rationalize what he did. Rick again thinks he can explain to Steffy, but Brooke orders him to stay away and reminds him that his actions already put her marriage in jeopardy. "Your relationship with Steffy is over!" she hisses. Rick muses that he let his anger toward Ridge take precedence over his feelings for Steffy, and he thinks he can win Steffy back by proving that he's trying to better himself. Brooke is appalled that he hasn't heard a word she said and reminds him that she and Ridge are not bulletproof. She knows Rick might be thrilled to hear that, but she's not, because she loves Ridge. "Stay away from Ridge's daughter!" she demands.

Rick stands in the doorway, looking at Steffy.

An anguished Steffy stands alone in Ridge's office, thinking about the things Marcus and Ridge said to her earlier about Rick. She starts to flash back to some of the happier times she spent with Rick, but that only upsets her even more. She looks up and sees Rick standing in the doorway.

Stephanie shares her plan with Taylor.

At the Bel Air mansion, Taylor looks at Ridge and Brooke's invalid marriage license and asks how this can be. Stephanie tells her that this changes everything, since it means Ridge isn't married and Taylor can pursue him without compromising her integrity. Taylor asks Stephanie if she "created" this document, but Stephanie assures that it's perfectly legit -- or in this case, perfectly illegit. Taylor can't believe that Ridge and Brooke would mess up their own marriage license, so Stephanie explains how Pam's poor typing skills led to her accidentally making errors on the form - although as they both know, there are no real accidents in life. Taylor is sure Brooke and Ridge will refile once they discover the error, but Stephanie doesn't think that will happen now that Rick has changed everything. Taylor doesn't see the connection, so Stephanie points out that Brooke sides with Rick over Ridge every time, even after Rick caused Phoebe's death and treated Steffy like dirt. She's sure that Ridge will not tolerate that in the long run. Taylor asks if she's just supposed to rush over to Ridge now and tell him that they can be together. Stephanie predicts that Rick will go after Steffy again in due time, and that will provide the opening Taylor needs. Taylor doubts Rick will go after Steffy knowing how she and Ridge feel about him, but Stephanie thinks that it's bound to happen soon enough, and when it does, Brooke will side with her son again. That will lead to a terrible fight between Brooke and Ridge - and that's when Taylor will charge in and show Ridge the invalid license, making it easy for him to walk away from Brooke. Taylor still seems unsure, so Stephanie advises her to make the best of a bad situation. She's sure about what will happen, since Rick is a Logan, and that's how members of that family operate. Once Rick goes after Steffy again, Taylor will just have to show Ridge the license, his ticket to freedom - and to Taylor!