Thursday, May 14, 2009, Episode #5563

Stephanie discusses her webcasts with Taylor.

Taylor stops by Jackie M to see Stephanie, who tells her how Donna came by earlier to make a furious, self-righteous rant about giving Stephanie a war if she wanted one. She then asks Taylor what she thought of the webcast. Taylor says that she loved it, since Stephanie was direct and to the point about those Logans. She bets that Brooke is just as furious about the webcast as Donna is.

Brooke argues with Ridge about his mother's webcast.

In Eric's office, Brooke tells Ridge that his mother's webcast was wrong, but Ridge thinks that the way Donna took advantage of Eric and stole him away was wrong, especially since it got Stephanie kicked out of the company. Brooke argues that Eric fell in love with Donna, but Ridge doesn't want to discuss it anymore. He thinks they have enough issues between them with Rick to deal with. Brooke assures him that she made it clear to Rick that her marriage is suffering from his pursuit of Steffy, so he has to stay away from Steffy. She admits that was hard to do, but she really thinks she got through to Rick. Ridge isn't sure he can trust Rick. Brooke begs him to trust her to deal with Rick so he can take care of his mother and that insane webcast. Ridge tells her that she's making too much of this, because what his mother said is just words, but Brooke points out that those words called her and her family a bunch of whores in front of the entire Internet. Ridge tells her to just ignore it, since it's not the first time she and his mother have gone at each other. Brooke doesn't think she can ignore the salacious slander that Stephanie offered up and asks him to help her stop it, or at least to offer a statement. Ridge advises that the best thing they can do right now is not do anything.

Ridge asks for Brooke's support.

Brooke thinks it would be cowardly to ignore Stephanie, but Ridge thinks they'll just call more attention to it if they fight his mother. He doesn't think the mainstream press or their buyers will care, since they all know the history of the Forresters and the Logans. He's sure the public will soon forget "The Logan Chronicles" anymore and his mother will move onto something else. so right now he'd like to focus on how much access Rick has to Steffy with their working in the same building. Brooke assures him that she was quite clear in telling Rick to stay away from Steffy. Now that she;s addressed his concerns, she wants Ridge to hear her and her concerns about Stephanie. Ridge doesn't see how his mother is a threat, so Brooke tells him to open his eyes and see how his mom wants to ruin their marriage. Ridge thinks his mother might have succeeded in the past, but she has no sway on his anymore thanks to Brooke. However, he fears that Rick might still have enough ammo to hurt their marriage, which is why he has to know that Brooke will stand by him if Rick makes another play for Steffy. Brooke gives him a hug but looks concerned.

Rick talks with Steffy.

Steffy pops into Rick's office to drop off a report. Since he's not there, she places it on his desk. Just as she's about to leave, Rick returns. Steffy says she's sorry, but Rick says she has nothing to apologize before. When Steffy tells him that she brought the weekly report by, Rick suggests that they review it together, but Steffy thinks he can read it on his own, especially since she shouldn't even be in here. Rick tells her that he doesn't bite anymore and tries to strike up some friendly conversation about Thomas working here, but Steffy warns that flirting won't get him anywhere. Rick reminds her that they had fun once, and he's keeping his distance from her out of respect for her and her dad. He just hopes she sees that he's changing. Steffy says that she sees it, but she hopes he's doing it for himself and not for her. Rick sighs that he now knows what they mean when they say, "You don't know what you got until it's gone." In saying the things he said on the recording, he let his hatred of her father take precedence over his feelings for you her, and he laments that they would have been married and off on their honeymoon by now but for his obsession with Ridge. He sees now that he feels deep down like he didn't deserve her, but it's history now. At least her learned that he only gets one chance at a woman like her, and he hopes they can still talk and laugh like they are now. Touching her cheek, he admits that he let her slip through his fingers and thinks he should have his my head examined for that. Just then, Taylor passes by and witnesses the close moment between Rick and Steffy.

Taylor tells Stephanie what she witnessed.

Taylor makes a beeline back to Jackie M to tell Stephanie what she saw in Rick's office. Stephanie thinks this is what they've been waiting for her and asks Taylor if she told Ridge, but Taylor says she was too nauseous. She explains that she recognized the look in Rick's eyes from when he looked at her that way, and she wishes she had scratched his eyes out. Stephanie thinks that would have been the wrong move to make, but Taylor doesn't know what else to do, since she doesn't feel very reasonable knowing how upset Ridge will be when he find out. Stephanie tells her to calm down, since this is just what they've been waiting for. She's sure that Ridge will go ballistic when Brooke sides with Rick again, and that's when Taylor can swoop in and tell Ridge that his marriage isn't legal. In the meantime, Steffy will be fine. Taylor hopes that's true, since she refuses to put anything before her daughter's safety.