Tuesday, May 26, 2009, Episode #5571

Jackie tells Nick that Owen makes her happy.

Jackie comes into Nick's office humming as she listens to music on her MP3 player. Nick asks when she learned to download music. She tells him that Owen taught her, but she quickly changes the subject and tells him how glad she is that he and Bridget have reconciled. She asks about Katie. Nick replies that Katie is being supportive and is mending her friendship with Bridget. Jackie's glad, as she thinks that might help alleviate Katie's guilty conscience. Nick tells her to forget about his love life and tell him about her involvement with Owen, since he thinks it's embarrassing for her to pay for sex by promoting Owen to Chief of Staff. Jackie assures that Owen earned his promotion. Nick points out that Owen is half her age. And he's quite fit, Jackie smirks, especially with his shirt off. Nick cringes at that comment, reminding Jackie that she's his mother. Fiddling with her MP3 player, Jackie tells her son to stop being so serious. She knows he's just concerned, but she's fine. Nick still thinks Owen is using her and asks what she'll do if Owen wants children. Jackie tells him that she's not even thinking about that because she and Owen are just living for the moment, and it feels good. For the first time in a long while, she's happy, and she owes it all to Owen.

Owen tells Bridget that he likes being with Jackie.

In Jackie's office, Bridget tells Owen how shocked she was to learn about his relationship with Jackie. He explains that he and Jackie have fun together, especially when she threatens him with his job and he comes running. Bridget asks how that makes him feel. Owen says that he likes it, although he's not sure why. Bridget asks how it feels to sleep his way to the top. Owen insists that he earned his place here with hard work, not with his other talents. He knows Jackie is an amazing woman, but his promotion was just a fringe benefit.

Bridget chats with Jackie about Owen.

Later, Bridget drops by Jackie's office with some new designs. Jackie hugs Bridget and tells her how happy she is about the reconciliation. She hopes there will be wedding bells in the near future. Bridget explains that she and Nick are taking it slow, since they want to do everything right this time. Still. she knows Nick is protective of her and everyone else he cares about. Jackie assumes Bridget is referring to her relationship with Owen and assures that Nick will come around eventually about their relationship. As Jackie looks over Bridget's latest design, Bridget warns that Nick doesn't trust Owen at all. Jackie notes that she trusts Owen, and that's all Nick needs to know. She knows Nick might put some pressure on Owen, but she thinks it will be charming to watch Owen defend their relationship.

Nick tells Owen to name his price.

Meanwhile, Nick calls Owen to his office to talk about Owen and Jackie's relationship. Owen says that he makes Jackie happy, and he doesn't really see why this even bothers Nick now that he has Bridget back. Nick asks Owen what it will cost to get him out of Jackie's life. Owen doesn't want a bribe, since he really likes Jackie, but Nick insists on knowing Owen's price. Owen insists that he's not going anywhere as long as Jackie wants him here. Nick warns that he'll be watching. "Go ahead, because all you'll see is me making your mother extremely happy," Owen responds.

In Eric's office, Donna and Stephanie continue to bicker about Stephanie's warning. Donna insists that she doesn't have to worry about Stephanie's "day of reckoning," since the Logans are secure at Forrester and will survive no matter what Stephanie does. "Honey, you're too dumb to know when trouble's staring you right in the face," Stephanie retorts before she leaves.

Donna defends Eric's decisions to Ridge.

Soon after, Eric and Ridge arrive, discussing Bill's plan to devalue the company and buy it at a bargain price. Donna tells Eric to calm down. Ridge thinks they should have expected this, since it was only a matter of time before they were compromised by all the chaos and drama at the company. Donna challenges Ridge to say what's on his mind, predicting that he's going to blame the Logans. Ridge states that they made a lot of mistakes, but letting his mother go was the worst. Donna defends Eric's decision to fire Stephanie, especially since Stephanie is blackmailing Eric now. Ridge asks what she means, so Eric tells him about Stephanie's "offer" to stop her blogs and how he turned her down flat. Donna wonders what Stephanie will do next. Before Eric can comment, he gets a call from another vendor demanding money. Ridge suggests that the bad publicity around the company isn't helping and tells Eric to admit that this company is in trouble. And the person pushing them over the edge is Stephanie, Donna asserts.

Bill prepares to teach Eric a lesson.

Stephanie stops by Bill's office to tell him about her chat with Eric. Bill asks if she's here to plead Eric's case, but she tells him that she came to tell him to publish the next edition of "The Logan Chronicles." Bill is surprised she wants to help him acquire Forrester. Stephanie explains that she has her own agenda. Bill asks what this is going to cost him. Stephanie answers that she's on board with his plan to buy Forrester as long as he sells the company to her. Bill asks if she has the cash to buy it. Stephanie doesn't think that will be a problem; she reminds Bill that she went from totally losing her sense of self-worth after Eric fired her to finding a sense of purpose when Nick asked her to sign on at Jackie M, and that focused her on her goals. And right now, her goal is to get control of Forrester and return her children's birthright to them. She tells Bill that her father gave her and Eric the money to start Forrester, and she always managed the finances while Eric was the creative genius. Having built the company as a legacy for her kids, she can't just let it collapse, and with Bill on her side, she has a chance to regain control and push the Logans out. Bill states that Eric was a fool to try to dump on someone like Stephanie, but now Eric will learn his lesson.

Ridge gets a message from his mother.

Bill calls Eric to give him a second chance to accept his buyout offer; this time, instead of $100 million, Bill offers $80 million. When Eric passes, Bill warns him to watch out for the next installment of "The Logan Chronicles" and hangs up. Stephanie tells Bill that Eric's stubborn, so they may have to wear him down. But between her and Bill, she doesn't think Eric stands a chance. Meanwhile, Ridge warns Eric that Bill isn't going to give up. While Donna tries to reassure Eric, Ridge gets a text message from his mother to meet her at Il Giardino. After Ridge leaves, Donna tries to tell Eric that this is all Stephanie's fault. She thinks Stephanie wants revenge on the Logan family, but she's hurting her own kids instead. And it's working, Eric laments.