Winner Takes All

Chapter 1

 

Brooke looked up from her ledger and was shocked to see a man standing in front of her, not just any man but one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.

"Yes?" She said to him. "Can I do something for you?"

"I'm sure you can." He said with a sexy smile. "But actually I'm here to do something for you."

Brooke blushed but then regained her composure. "And what may I ask is that?"

"I'm here from Forrester International. I understand that with Morgan DeWitt in jail you are in need of a new designer."

"So you just took it upon yourself to fly over here and show up in my office?" She asked. "How bold of you."

"It's the only way to get what you want in the world." He held out his hand. "I'm Sean Damon."

"Brooke Logan." She said taking his hand in hers. "And why should I hire you?"

"Because I'm good, I'm more than good. And because you know as well as I do that this company is slowly losing ground in the fashion world. You and I, together we can change that."

"And how will we do that?"

"First you make me head designer."

Brooke looked at him and laughed. "Head designer? Nothing like starting at the top. Would you like my office too?"

"No, Eric Forresters will do. You must realize he has been totally unproductive for a very long time." "And you must realize that he built this company."

"Loyalty is a fine trait, in a dog. This is business and if you want things to happen and you want to make money you need the best, and that's me."

"Oh really?" She smiled.

"Ridge still has it in him. If we shake things up perhaps he'll start to grow again."

"And I'm supposed to hire you without seeing a single thing you can do?"

"We'll make a great team Brooke, in the trenches together, think of the long nights working together."

"Ah, so now you're selling yourself in a slightly different way."

"There are many facets about me Brooke, you don't want to miss any of them."

"Such as?" She asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Well it's a little soon to be talking about this but I imagine that once we spend a few evenings working together we'll be spending the rest of the night too."

"How presumptuous of you."

"You haven't had a man in a long time, not a real man."

"And what makes you the expert on me?"

"I've read up on you. You fascinate me Brooke Logan."

"Well I hate to tell you but I gave Eric Forrester creative control a long time ago. Why would I hire you and take that away from him?"

"You want this company to be a success. Together we can make it one."

"It already is a success."

"It's a dinosaur, and it's dying. Come on Brooke, let's breath some new life into it."

She got up from behind her desk and walked to the front of it where he was standing. She looked him over, up and down, from his head to his toes not skipping an inch.

"Am I making you nervous?" She asked.

"Me? Nervous of Brooke Logan?" He smiled. "I don't think so." He suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. Their lips met in an intensive kiss. Brooke's arms went around him and held him tightly. Finally she let go and looked at him. "Sean Damon, I sure have missed you." She said with a smile. "I'm so glad you came back to L.A."

"It's been a long time hasn't it." He said. "We sure gave it a run in France didn't we."

"But you never called. I really hoped you would have."

"By then you were Mrs. Ridge Forrester."

"But that was never real."

"What we had was real." He told her.

"Are you back for me or is it really about a job?"

"Both. I was totally serious Brooke, you and me! We'll turn this industry on it's head."

"Well where do we start?" She asked.

Sean looked over at the bed in the corner of her office.

"Are you kidding?" She asked with a laugh.

"Have you even known me to joke about that?"

Brooke walked to the door and locked the bolt.

"No." She said. "Never."

He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. She looked at the bed and then at him and started to laugh.

"The thought of making love with me again is funny?" He asked.

"No." She said. "This whole situation is funny. Here I was sitting in my office feeling sorry for myself over my pathetic lack of a love life and then the sexiest guy I know walks in and literally carries me away."

"If you aren't ready I'll wait." He said. "Because you know as well as I do we are going to be in that bed, well maybe not that one." He laughed.

"Yes Sean, that one." She said as she pulled his head to hers and kissed him. "That bed and this moment."

 

Sated and happy Brooke cuddled closer to Sean. "You couldn't have picked a better day to come back."

"It's been tough for you, I heard about Thorne."

"We had a lot of hurt Sean, too much hurt."

"Well not anymore. I'm here now." He kissed her. "Now do I get the job?"

"Was that an audition?"

"Only if I passed."

"Oh you did more than pass. But Sean, I can't have you run out of my life like before. I'm just not sure I could survive that again."

"I learned my lesson, I'm here to stay, if you'll have me."

"There's so much to think about." She told him. "I have grown children now."

"And they won't approve?"

"I don't know."

"Let me worry about that. Or is it Ridge? Or Thorne?"

"No, it's me. I'm not the same girl you knew."

"No, you're a wonderful intriguing woman, a woman I want to have, to love."

"Love? Isn't that a little premature?"

"I loved you in Paris, but I knew that I would never have you, not as long as there was Ridge Forrester."

"Ridge is over." She said.

"Good." He told her. "So do I get the job?"

"What do you think?" She asked.

"I think I have the job." He smiled. "But without the girl, well you can keep it. Do I get the girl too?"

"Let's see how that works out. So far I think you have a really great chance."

Sean smiled at her and picked up a sketch that was on her desk. "Ridge do this?" he asked.

"Yeah. I like it, don’t you?"

"It’ll do."

Brooke laughed as she unlatched the door.

"Why did you do that?" Sean asked.

"This is a place of business. I can’t keep it locked all day."

"I suppose not." He agreed. "So where shall we go for dinner?"

"Did I agree to have dinner with you?"

"Now Brooke."

"I’m teasing." She said. "I’d love to have dinner with you."

Suddenly the door burst open.

"Logan! I need your help with the…Sean?" Ridge said with his mouth wide open.

"Hello Ridge. Long time no see."

"What brings you here?" Ridge asked suspiciously.

"A new job. I work here now."

"Logan?" Ridge looked at Brooke.

"It’s true Ridge, he does."

"We don’t really need him here Logan."

Brooke looked at Sean and smiled. "I do." She said. Sean made a point of looking over at the unmade bed and then back to Ridge.

"We need to talk Brooke." Ridge told her. "Alone." He said directly to Sean.

"Do you mind?" She asked Sean.

"Not at all. I’ll go and say hello to Eric. I’ll be back soon."

Sean walked out and Ridge slammed the door.

"What the hell is going on Logan? What is that all about?" He pointed to the bed.

"It’s a bed Ridge, I think you are familiar with them."

"You slept with him?"

"We hardly slept Ridge."

"How could you do that?"

"You have no say in my love life anymore Ridge, you made your decision. I accepted it and moved on. You already ruined what I had with Thorne, I’ll be damned if I let you ruin this too."

"He’s no good for you Brooke."

"And who is? You don’t want me but you don’t want anyone else to have me. Why don’t you grow up Ridge? You have your precious Taylor, just let me alone."

"Leave Taylor out of this."

"Ridge you’ll never change. You never care a thing about me unless there is another man involved and then suddenly you are the only one who knows how I should live my life."

"I care about you, you know I do."

"If you did you would have never had our marriage annulled. I took our vows seriously. You were my world. How dare you suddenly think you have a right to tell me what to do about anything."

"Brooke, you know I had to do it, I had a son."

"You had a daughter with me and that didn’t make a difference. You stayed with Taylor."

"Bridget wasn’t mine."

"We thought she was at the time, and damn it Ridge I still do."

"You must be insane. Those tests proved she is Dad’s."

"Believe what you want." She said. "Your family was out to destroy us and there is nothing I wouldn’t put past them, not even destroying a little girls life."

"Why are you saying this Brooke? Why now?"

"Why not? You don’t seem to care that I might have found someone to make me happy. You want me to languish with what could have beens for the rest of my life. Well it’s time you got your share too. You don’t believe me? Fine!"

"Do you really believe that? I don’t want that for you. I want you to be happy."

"As long as my happiness consists of work, work and more work. Well I’m sorry to burst your bubble but I like sex too Ridge. I like to be kissed and loved. I like to scream out in pleasure. But then I think you remember that." She looked at him. "Does the Ice Princess scream for you?" He looked down. "No, I didn’t think so. You must miss the passion. I guess that’s why you want to deny me of it too. But I won’t let you do that." She looked over at the bed. "Sean made me scream Ridge."

Anger crossed his face. He looked at the bed and then at Brooke. "That behavior doesn’t suit you."

"What? Are you going to call me a slut too?"

"No Logan."

"Do you know the last time I had sex? Well it was before you and your sick mother and father and your sanctimonious wife tore my heart out in Venice. Even after Thorne and I tried to put it back together it was too late. So you just take your smug attitude the hell out of here."

"Sex with a stranger Brooke. That can’t be satisfying."

"A stranger? That just proves how little you know about me. Sean and I are hardly strangers. If it wasn’t for you I probably would be married to him right now."

"What?" He asked in shock.

"When I lost you to Taylor I went to Paris. Sean was there. We slowly built a relationship. We fell in love. But I couldn’t get you out of my head so I left. Then Taylor told you that Thomas was Thorne’s and you decided you wanted me. You fed me your lies about our destiny, and I fell for them. I left that wonderful man and I married you. I married you only to be thrown away like yesterday’s news. And even then I still loved you. I prayed and prayed you would come to your senses and come back to me, to honor our vows. But no, you couldn’t be a real man. You had to follow Mommy’s wishes. Just like you always have."

"What has gotten into you Logan?"

"Freedom. I finally am free of you. And it feels so good."

"Please Brooke, not this man. He’s no good for you."

Brooke looked at him and laughed. "I am so sick of that line. Why don’t you just put it on tape so you can save your breath next time."

Ridge grabbed her by the shoulders. His breath was hard and fast. Their eyes met with an intensity that hadn’t been there in such a long time. He felt a lump in his throat. He didn’t know what to do. Neither of them could take their eyes from each other. Brooke found herself frightened by the feelings that he could still bring out of her. They stood that way for what felt like hours when Taylor walked up to them.

"Ridge? What’s going on?" Suddenly the spell was broken and he let go of her. He looked at Taylor with part embarrassment and part resentment.

"Hello Doc. What are you doing here?"

"You were taking me to lunch." She turned to Brooke. "Hello Brooke."
"Taylor." Brooke said politely. She looked at Ridge again and her eyes moved down his body to the bulge in his pants. She smiled at him and then looked at Taylor. "Have a nice lunch." She said, walking back to her desk where she sat down and picked up a file and pretended to read it.

"What’s wrong Ridge? You seem angry." A confused Taylor asked.

"Let’s just go." He said. He turned and looked at Brooke again. She looked up from the file and smiled at him. "Have fun." She said to him.

 

 

Chapter 2

 

Taylor sighed as she pulled her dress down from around her waist. She looked at her torn panties on the floor of Ridge’s office. "I guess they’re no good for anything any more."

"I’ll buy you new ones." Ridge said as he zipped his fly.

"My goodness Ridge, what got into you?"

"You Doc. You are so beautiful. I just wanted you so badly."

"I could see that." She said with a sly smile. "Not exactly the lunch I was planning on but you won’t find me complaining."

"Me either. But I’ll still take you for lunch."

"Well first I need to make a stop for some panties."

"Stay right here. I’ll find you something. That is if you don’t mind something from the Brooke’s Bedroom line."

"Well it wouldn’t be my first choice it will have to do." She walked to the mirror and started straightening her hair with her fingers.

Ridge walked out of his office and headed to the showroom. He glanced inside his father’s office on the way. His anger returned when he spotted Eric laughing with Sean. He glared at him and walked on. He got to the showroom and headed to the boxes of Brooke’s Bedroom samples. He picked up a sexy red teddy and smiled. "Logan." He said with a laugh. He put it down and found a simple pair of lacy black panties. He shoved them in his pocket and walked out. On the way back he stopped by Megan’s desk. She was on the phone but motioned to him she would only be a moment.

"Yes, two at eight o’clock. Brooke Logan, no make that Sean Damon, I’m sure he’d like it that way. Thank you Jacques." She hung up the phone. "What can I do for you Ridge?"

"Was that the Café Russe?" He asked.

"Yes. I was making Brooke and Sean’s dinner reservations. Can I do something for you?"

"No, I just wanted to make sure you knew I was leaving to take Taylor to lunch."

"No problem Ridge." She said with a smile. "You’re going to Mannequins right?"

"That’s right Megan." He told her. "Beep me if you need me." He smiled and walked back to his office. Taylor had reapplied her lipstick and straightened herself up.

"You look beautiful Doc."

"Why thank you Ridge." She said.

"Here." He said as he handed her the panties. "These should do it."

"They’re fine." She said as she slowly slid them up her legs.

"Keep that up and I’ll have to go back and get another pair."

"Suits me." She said lifting her dress a little higher. Ridge pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. "The hell with lunch." He said as he reached down and pulled the panties back off her.

"Hey! How did it go with Eric?" Brooke asked Sean when he returned to her office.

"Just fine, he’s happy I’m joining the team. But I was serious about you and I making some changes here."

"Well maybe, but not too fast and nothing too radical. Don’t fix something that isn’t broken."

"Brooke my dear, you are too close to things to see that it is broken. But we have time. Forrester is running on reputation and that isn’t going away anytime soon."

"So when can you start?" She asked him.

"I though I already had."

"Well it might not have been my most productive morning but it was one of the most enjoyable in a long time." She said with a smile.

"Was Ridge a problem after I left?"

"When is Ridge not a problem? The man is impossible. But I really don’t want to talk about Ridge. Why don’t you tell me what you’ve been up to?"

"Hmmmm. That could be dangerous."

"Anyone special in your life?"

"After you? No."

"Well I doubt you’ve been a monk."

"Hardly." He laughed. "Just no serious attachments."

"Where do you plan on staying in L.A.?"

"I have a hotel room for now. I figured if you decided to hire me I’d get a condo or something."

"I never thought I’d see you again."

"I never meant for that. I knew I had to give you time. I almost came back last year and then I heard about Thorne."

"Ah yes, me and my Forresters." She laughed. "I really caused quite a stir didn’t I?"

"Not to me. Who could not understand a man falling for you?"
"My but you’re good for my ego." She smiled and then looked at him sadly. "I really did love Thorne, but they all put an end to that. Their constant meddling ruined any chance we ever had. Even after Macy died it was too late."

"You don’t blame yourself for that do you?"

"Partly." She admitted. "If only I hadn’t gone there that night."

"Why did you?"

"Thorne was waiting for the divorce papers, you see Macy destroyed the first set. Anyway he had to go there, to Big Bear, to see her. We were afraid she was drinking again. So he asked me to wait for the papers and bring them to him. Little did I know that she had agreed to a divorce and that they were trying to say goodbye." She wiped a tear from her eye. "I never wanted any harm to come to her. I only wanted to be happy. That’s all."

"Then why didn’t it work out after she was gone. Certainly there were no more obstacles in your way."

"Are you kidding? Nothing changed, no check that. It got even worse. Ridge, Eric and Stephanie threatened to disown Thorne if he stayed with me."

"So he left you? What a coward."

"No Sean, he didn’t desert me at all. He told them what they could do and he stood by me. But then it all started to fall apart."

"Oh Brooke, I’m really sorry. What happened?"
"First my daughter decided that it was the most disgusting thing she ever heard of, then Macy’s sister decided that she was in love with Thorne. Well somehow we just couldn’t make it through all those pressures and it was over before it ever really started."

"And how is Thorne taking this now?"

"He’s not happy but he knows it’s for the best. Besides, he slept with Kimberly."
"Ouch."

"Yeah ouch is right. I had almost decided the hell with everyone and that I wanted to make it work. I guess it’s best that I didn’t."

"So now you and Ridge are enemies?"

"No." She said thoughtfully. "With all our history we can’t stay that way too long. Actually he and Taylor became pretty supportive at the end. It helped a bit."

"You still love him don’t you?"

"I don’t know, Thorne and I we just weren’t meant to be."

"I don’t mean Thorne."

"Oh for goodness sake Sean, I don’t love Ridge anymore."

"Alright, if you say so."

"I do say so."

"So then what happened?"

"Nothing, nothing at all. No love, no dates, no fun. I work and I try to be a good mother. It’s not a bad life, it’s just that I hoped for more."

"Well now you’ll have it."

"Are you my knight in shining armour?"

"If you’d like that. Personally I’d rather be the guy who makes you smile again."

"I think I’d like that too. Megan made reservations for us for Café Russe. I hope that’s alright."

"It’s wonderful Brooke. Any place with you is wonderful."

"Don’t overdo it." She laughed. "I might just start believing you."

"So where will I work?" He asked.

"Hummm. I haven’t given that a thought. I hope you weren’t serious about Eric’s office because you know I would never do that."

"It was a joke. The man is a legend. But I was serious that he has to get with the times."

"We can work on that, but slowly."

"So shall I take what was Morgan’s office?"

"I think that would be a good idea. And I want you to have a personal assistant. Megan is swamped with everyone else."

"We can run an ad." He suggested.

"Oh no, I have the perfect person. You’ll love her. In fact you may even know her. She worked in International for awhile too." She picked up her phone and buzzed Megan. "Hi Megan, it’s Brooke. Can you send Becky in please."

"Becky Moore?"

"Yes. She came back here awhile ago. It’s a long story but it involves her son, a little boy that I once thought was my grandchild. Anyway Eric offered her a job here and she is wonderful. I just know she would be perfect for you."

"I know and respect Becky. Thank you Brooke. I think it will be a perfect fit. So tell me is she involved with your son?"

"No. She’s dating Sally Spectra’s son CJ but I don’t think it’s serious. Right now she’s a single mom. Her parents moved here to help her with the baby so you don’t have to worry about her missing a lot of time."

"You think of everything Brooke."

"Oh Sean, one thing I forgot."

"Yes?" He asked. She got up from her desk, walked over to him and kissed him.

"Thank you."

"Now what can you be thanking me for."

"Thank you for making me remember that I’m a woman."

"A sexy, desirable woman."

"Come on, come on keep going." She teased.

"Let’s lock the door and I’ll show you again."

"Let’s not right now. I think you’ve already compromised my reputation again."

"Now now Brooke, I doubt you are worried about that right now." He laughed.

"Ms. Logan?" Becky said as she stood by the door.

"Come in Becky." Brooke said with a smile. "I think you know Sean Damon."

"Mr. Damon, how nice to see you again." Becky said.

"Hi Becky, it’s nice to see you again too. You’re looking well."

"I’m wonderful thanks."

"Becky, how would you like the job of Mr. Damon’s assistant?" Brooke asked.

"Do you mean it?" Becky asked excitedly.

"I think you’d be perfect." Brooke told her. "It would mean a lot more responsibility but it would also come with a hefty raise."

"Oh yes." Becky said. "I’d love the job, and you know you can count on me."

"Yes I do." Brooke told her. "I was just telling Mr. Damon what an asset you’ve been to the company."

"When would I start? I mean I would have to train someone in my old job."

"Well Sean is just starting here too so if it wasn’t too difficult for you perhaps you can work a half day at your old job and a half day with Sean, just till we get someone properly trained."

"Thank you so much." Becky said. "You won’t be sorry."

"I know I won’t" Brooke said to her. "I’ll ask Megan to see about hiring a replacement for you."

"Thanks again." She said. "I really look forward to working for you Mr. Damon."

"Make it Sean, and thanks Becky."

She smiled at them and walked out.

"That went well." Brooke said. "If only everything else around here ran as smoothly."

"It will, just give it time." He walked over to the door and shut it. Brooke eyed him as he locked the bolt again.

"Sean." She said with a laugh. "Aren’t we moving a little bit fast here?"

"Too late for that now." He told her. "I had a taste before and I am very hungry for seconds."

"You’re going to ruin me." She laughed. He lifted her up into his arms and suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"They’ll go away." He whispered to her.

"I can’t. Come on put me down."

"Damn." He complained as he complied. Brooke straightened her skirt and opened the door. Thorne stood outside.

"Hello Thorne."

"Why was the door locked?" He asked.

"Was it?" She asked. "I hadn’t noticed. Thorne you know Sean don’t you?"

"We’ve met." He said. "Hello." He said holding out his hand. The two men exchanged a firm handshake.

"Sean is going to be working for us." Brooke told him.

"I see." Thorne said.

"So what can I do for you?" She asked him.

"Well I, I" Thorne hesitated.

"I guess it’s time for me to go say hello so someone else." Sean said with a laugh. "It appears you two have some unfinished business."

"As do we." Brooke reminded him.

Sean grinned at her and walked out.

"Is he important to you?" Thorne asked.

"I suppose." Brooke answered. "Thorne what is it? Haven’t we rehashed this enough to know that it’s over?"

"Why does it have to be Brooke? I made a mistake. Can’t we get past that?"

"It wouldn’t work Thorne. You know it and I know it. Can we just try and be friends again?"

"I miss you."

"I miss you too, but it doesn’t change anything. Thorne I can’t go back there again. It isn’t right anymore. It doesn’t even feel right anymore. Maybe your family was right about it."

"No Brooke!"

"Yes Thorne. Please, I really can’t deal with this anymore. It’s over, please let it be."

"Are you bothering her again little brother?" Ridge asked walking in.

"This has nothing to do with you Ridge." Thorne said angrily.

"I can handle this myself Ridge, why don’t you go tend to your wife?" Brooke told him.

"Taylor is fine, she’s talking with Mother. I heard you arguing and I just thought I could help."

"If she needed your help she would have asked for it." Thorne said bitterly.

"Come on, both of you. I really don’t have time for this. Thorne, don’t you have that new order to look into?" Brooke said addressing him.

"Yeah but."

"But nothing. We need it done today. Surely we can talk another time."

"Fine." He said. Like a sad puppy he walked away. Ridge looked at him and laughed.

"And what do you think is so funny?" Brooke asked him.

"You really have him by the balls don’t you Logan?"

"Actually no Ridge, whatever we did have is over now. Thanks to you. Do me a favor and save the rescues for someone who needs them."

"Logan, Logan, Logan. Still as fiery as ever." He put his hands on her shoulders as he had done before. This time Brooke brushed him off as if he was an insect. "Where’s lover boy?"
"I assume you mean Sean. He isn’t on a chain. He can go wherever he wants."

"Do you really plan on hiring him?"

"I already have Ridge. Now was there something you wanted?"

"Only to help you."

"I don’t need your help anymore Ridge."

"Oh come on Logan, don’t be that way. I thought we were friends."

"Not after Venice. A friend would never do something like that, never."

"I thought we were past that."

"Only to the point of being civil. I will never trust you again Ridge, not you or anyone else in your family."

"You can’t mean that."

"Oh yes I can and I do. Now why don’t you go find your wife or something before you really make me angry."

"Brooke I." He stopped and looked at her angry expression. "I guess this isn’t the time."

"No Ridge, I’m not sure if it ever will be."

"Are you going to hate me forever?"

"It would be so easy if I did." She said wistfully.

Chapter 3

 

"It’s going to be such a great opportunity for me." Becky said to Megan. "I can’t believe that Brooke had the confidence in me."

"Becky you’ve been doing such a great job here, of course she has confidence in you. I just hope you’re feeling up to it."

"I’m fine Megan really. My doctors gave me a really good report last time. They don’t see any more cancer at all. I think finally things are going right for me. I have a great job, the baby is healthy, I’m healthy and I’m getting along so well with my parents."

"And Amber?"

"I’ve forgiven her for not telling me. I know she was trying to do the right thing."

"But if she had waited any longer." Megan said with concern.

"Yes, but she didn’t and I’m fine now."

"How did she react when you told her you were having the baby’s name legally changed?"

"It really was none of her business. Look Megan I love the Forresters, they’ve been wonderful to me, but my baby is not a Forrester and he is not Eric Forrester the Third. He’s Kevin Moore now and that’s the way I wanted it."

"I think it was a good idea Becky, your son’s name should be your decision." She looked at Brooke’s closed door. "I hope Ridge isn’t giving her a hard time again. I wish they could be friends again. It’s so difficult with all the animosity around here."

"Give them time. I’m sure she’ll come around eventually."

"So Becky that Sean is really cute. Did you know him from International?"

"Yeah. He was always very nice to me. I think I’m going to love working for him. But I’ll be counting on you to help me."

"You know I will." Megan said with a smile. They both turned to Brooke’s office at the sound of something crashing.

"What was that?" Becky wondered aloud.

 

"Don’t touch me!" Brooke shouted at Ridge who was picking up the broken pieces of the vase Brooke had just thrown at him.

"Logan what the hell has gotten into you today? I wasn’t doing anything wrong."

"You gave up the right to touch me a long time ago, in fact you gave up the right to call me Logan at that time too but I’ve overlooked that. Maybe you should stop that too."

"Fine Brooke, what would you like me to call you?"

"Don’t call me at all. If I want you I’ll call you." She said angrily.

"That’s not fair, we’re past this crap and you know it. You’re reliving this sh*t because of Damon and you’re taking it out on me."

Brooke looked away with guilt. She slowly turned back to face him. "Perhaps I am." She admitted. "But maybe I let go of it to soon too. You caused me so much pain Ridge."

"When? Is this about Thorne or you and me?"

"It’s about everything. It’s about nothing. Ridge, please just leave. I can’t deal with you right now. Just leave."

"Logan."

"I mean it!" She shouted. "Get out now."

Ridge shook his head, opened the door and walked out. He looked at Megan and Becky and walked by.

Megan got up and walked into Brooke’s office. Spying the broken glass on the floor she bent to pick it up.

"Nevermind Megan, we can call maintenance." Brooke said.

"Are you alright?"

"I’m fine." She said. "Why Megan? Why do I still let him get to me like that?"

"I think you know the answer to that one." Megan told her friend.

"No. I do not still have feelings for him. It’s over. It’s been over for a long time." Brooke said. "He just still has a way to push my buttons, that’s all."

"What ever you say boss." Megan smiled. "I’ll go get this cleaned up for you."

Megan left her office and Brooke opened her desk drawer. She took out the framed picture of her and Ridge on their wedding day. "Why do I keep this?" She took it out and threw it into the trash. She then quickly retrieved it and put it back in her drawer. She closed the drawer and picked up the report she was looking at. "Sean’s right." She said. "The profits are slowly going down. I don’t even know if I would have noticed if he hadn’t said anything. We do have to make some changes around here." She picked up the phone. "He’s going to think I’m crazy." She said to herself as she punched in a number. "Ridge, it’s Brooke, can you please come down to my office?" Not waiting for an answer she hung up and shouted out to Megan. "Megan, find Sean and get him back to my office please."

"No problem Brooke." She said.

 

Ridge was heading back to Brooke’s office when Sean caught up to him. "Hey Ridge, heading to Brooke’s?"

"Yeah. You got any idea what’s up? She’s been acting strange all day."

"I’m not sure." He told him.

"I’m sure it has something to do with you." Ridge said angrily. "Her entire attitude seems to have changed since you walked in here today. She’s got a bug up her ass, that’s for sure."

"Change is good." Sean simply replied. The men walked in silence to Brooke’s office. A man from the maintenance crew was cleaning up the broken glass.

"Come right in." Brooke said. "He’ll be done in a moment."

"What’s this about Logan? I had lunch plans." Ridge said.

"Well sometimes business has to come first." She said coldly. "This is going to take awhile. Tell the princess you’ll take her to dinner instead. Feel free to use my phone."

"I’ll use Megan’s." Ridge said walking out. Sean looked at him and laughed.

"You do have a bug up your ass." He said to her. "Did I have anything to do with this?"
"Actually you have but I want to wait for Ridge." She explained. "Take a seat." She said gesturing to the couch.

Sean sat on the couch. And picked up a sketch that was sitting on the table in from of him and examined it. Brooke drummed her fingers on the desk watching Ridge talking and laughing on the phone to Taylor. Her annoyance was not lost on Sean.

"You can’t fool me Brooke, the guy still gets under your skin."

She sighed and ignored him again turning to watch Ridge.

"Don’t let him do this to you." Sean told her. "No man is worth that."

"Leave it alone Sean." She said again turning back to Ridge who was just hanging up. He walked in and sat next to Sean.

"Alright what’s the big emergency Logan?"

She gave him a sharp look.

"Sorry, I meant Brooke." Ridge said rolling his eyes.

She got up from her desk and closed the door. She leaned against the desk in front of them. "Sean has brought it to my attention that we are starting to lose money. That things are not what they once were."

"Nothing stays exactly the same Lo, uh Brooke. Morgan’s line was a disaster. You certainly have to take that into consideration."

"That’s true Ridge but it isn’t just her line that took a dive."

"Well?" He asked.

"Your designs sold well, in fact they did better than your last collection." She told him. "No Ridge, the problem I’m sorry to say is Eric." She handed them the charts. "Look at this. The numbers prove what Sean was trying to tell me."

"Come on Brooke, it’s not that dramatic." Ridge said. "They went down a little, so what. You can’t expect them all to grow?"

"Look at them compared to the year before." She handed them another chart. "Little by little it has been happening." Ridge started to speak but Brooke stopped him. "Wait, I am not judging his talent. Your father is one of the best but his designs are not growing with the times. People aren’t buying them."

"So you want to put him out to pasture?" Ridge practically spit. "This is personal Brooke, this has nothing to do with this company, this is about Venice."

"No Ridge." Sean broke in, "This was my observation. Brooke wasn’t even aware until I told her. Look sometimes you need someone from outside to come in and stir things up. It isn’t that Eric’s designs aren’t selling, they are. But the ones that are making the big money are yours. And you can’t do it alone. I think that’s what Brooke is trying to explain."

"I appreciate your coming to me defense Sean but I think I can manage this." She turned to Ridge. "We need new blood. That’s why we need Sean. But he isn’t enough. We need to start being innovators again. This industry used to look to us and now we are falling behind."

Ridge frowned and then picked up the charts again. "I still say it’s a fluke."

"And I hope you can prove me wrong but what if you can’t?" Brooke told him. "Look Ridge, it’s time that you and I put our problems aside and started to work together again. Side by side, just like we used to. We have to bring this company to the forefront again and we can’t do it with all the infighting. So what do you say?" She looked at him hopefully.

"And him?" Ridge gestured to Sean.

"He’s part of the team."

"I never wanted to fight with you."

"It isn’t going to be easy Ridge. I still have a lot of resentment myself but I promise to try and control it if you can. But this is going to mean a lot of long nights. Can your wife deal with that?"

"Taylor doesn’t have a problem with my work."

"Taylor has a problem with me. My God Ridge she almost died over her jealousy that time with the fire. Can you make her understand that this is purely business? If not it will never work."

"She’ll understand Logan, sorry, Brooke." He corrected himself.

"No Ridge, I guess I was being too sensitive. I guess I’ll always be Logan to you." She smiled.

"What do you want me to do?" Sean asked.

"I want you to draw and draw and draw, and when you’re done draw some more. And Sean I need another designer. Can you think of anyone else from International that would fill the bill?"

"I can think of a couple. Let me see what I can do."

"Did Megan show you Morgan’s office?" She asked.

"I’m getting settled."

"Good, you go and make your calls and see what you can come up with. Ridge," She turned to him. "We need to come up with a plan. We need a theme, something that will dazzle the industry."

"We can do that." He told her.

"Partners?" She asked holding out her hand.

"Friends?" He asked.

"I’ll try." She said. "That’s all I can promise."

"I’m going to go get us some sandwiches Logan, we’re going to be in here awhile." Ridge said.

"Alright." She said.

Ridge and Sean walked out of the office.

"Don’t even think of trying to take over Damon." Ridge warned.

"I’m part of the team Ridge. We’ll work together." He stopped and turned to directly face him. "I got to warn you though Forrester, if I can see it it’s for sure that they all will soon."

"See what?"

"You and Brooke, you’re still in love. You may not realize it, but you are."

 

"Whatever it is it must be important for Ridge to cancel your lunch." Stephanie told Taylor.

"Well we already had a bit of time together anyway. I’m not that worried about food." Taylor confessed. "But Ridge seemed concerned. He tried to laugh it off but he’s very uncomfortable working with Brooke."

"We all are." Stephanie agreed. "Someday things will be different. But for now we do best trying to ignore her whenever possible."

"Ridge was also upset about the new designer Brooke hired." Taylor told her.

"New designer? What new designer?"

"Sean Damon, he comes from Forrester International so I guess he’s not exactly new. But he’s working in Morgan’s office now."

"He does good work, he’s an improvement over Morgan." Stephanie said. "Ridge needn’t worry. This is still our company."

"Well you know how Brooke is when she makes up her mind about changing things, shaking them up. That Brooke’s Bedroom fiasco." Taylor said shaking her head. "Sometimes she shows no business sense at all."

"That’s because she is only interested in bedding my sons. But neither of them want her now."

"Well Ridge doesn’t" Taylor laughed. "But I’m not so sure about Thorne."

"I like that Kimberly." Stephanie told her. "She may be young but she has a good head on her shoulders, Thorne could do a lot worse."

"She’s so confused Stephanie. She went though so much losing Macy so soon after her father left. I’m not all that sure that her feelings for Thorne are healthy. I’ve tried talking to her but she puts me off."

"She’s good for him. She makes him smile."

"He doesn’t seem to be doing that much smiling lately Stephanie."

"Once he gets Brooke Logan totally out of his system he will, and it will be soon."

 

Ridge stared at Sean. "You’re crazy. I care about Brooke but I love my wife. Don’t go around spreading these crazy ideas of yours. I don’t appreciate it and neither will Brooke."

"You could cut the tension in there with a knife. I know what I was seeing and feeling. Deny it all you want but it was there."

"There are a lot of undercurrents Damon, but it’s not love. We are both way past that."

"You both do a fine job of denial." Sean laughed. "Don’t worry, my plan is to make her forget all about you anyway."

"Like you did this morning?" Ridge asked angrily.

"Now why would you be jealous Ridge?"

"I’m not jealous. I don’t like seeing someone use her like that. She was vulnerable and you took advantage. You made a fool of her."

"To whom? You’re the only one who knows what happened in there. Are you planning on broadcasting it?"

"Why don’t you just go do what she asked you to do." Ridge said walking away from him.

Sean laughed and headed for his new office. "This is going to be difficult but I’m up for it." He said to himself. "You may think you’re over each other but you aren’t. But you will be."

 

 

Chapter 4

Brooke and Ridge were sitting at a conference table going over piles of designs. It was late and they were both tired. Brooke stood up and stretched.

"Tired Logan?"

"Yeah." She said. "Who would think something like this could wear you out."

"I know what you mean." He agreed. "Want some more coffee?"

"If I drink anymore I’ll float home." She laughed. She looked down at her watch. "It’s ten thirty Ridge. Maybe you better call Taylor."

"I had no idea it was this late." He looked at all the work in front of him. "We’ve barely touched the surface. Are you sure you don’t want Dad to help?"
"I’m positive Ridge, it would hurt him to see how we’re passing over so many of his designs."

"He’s not going to like the fact that you have Sean doing reworks on the ones we’re keeping either."

"That’s what I mean, it’s up to us Ridge." She sat down and rolled her head to relieve the pain on her neck.

"You’re tense." Ridge said as he got up and stood behind her. His strong hands went to her neck and he gently massaged her.

"God that feels good." She said. "Give me a few more minutes and I’ll repay the favor."

"I’m fine." He said as he applied more pressure. "But you are so tense Logan, I’m worried about you."

"That’s not your job anymore." She said pulling away. "Let’s get back to work if you aren’t going to call home."

"She knows I’m here." He said as he sat down. He looked at Brooke like a puppy that had just been punished.

"What’s that look about?" Brooke asked him.

"You act like my touch repulses you Brooke. I just don’t understand you sometimes. You know I’ll always care about you."

"I’m not your concern anymore and I don’t need or want anyone else spouting stupid nonsense like Sean did today."

"Fine." He said.

"Fine." She agreed. She picked up a design and started making notes on it.

 

Taylor walked into the girl’s room and made sure that they were sleeping and safe. She smiled at their precious faces and then went into Thomas’s room. He looked up at her.

"Mommy."

"Hello sweetie, why aren’t you asleep?"

"Daddy." He said.

"Daddy is working, I know you wanted him to read to you. Do you want Mommy to read you another story?"

"Yes." He smiled at her. Taylor picked up a story book and sat on the bed with him and began to read. Before she was halfway finished he was sound asleep. She turned on the nightlight and turned off the lamp by his bed. With a gentle kiss she left and closed the door.

"Ridge, why aren’t you home yet?" She said aloud.

 

"That’s it Logan, I’m beat and I gotta get home." Ridge said as he put down the sketch he was looking at. "I can’t even see straight anymore."

"You’re right, we aren’t accomplishing anything at this point. We can pick it up again tomorrow." She got up and stretched again. "I’m sorry for keeping you here so late."

"It was my own decision." He said as he looked at his watch. "Damn, it’s almost midnight. Taylor is going to be furious."

"I told you to call her."

"I know." He said. "Is Damon still here?"

"I think so. Let’s go get him and go home."

Brooke picked up her purse and shut off the light. She and Ridge walked out of the office and she locked the door.

"You’ve got circles Logan." Ridge said. "Why don’t you sleep in tomorrow."

"Are you crazy? With everything we have to do around here? No way. We have another long one ahead of us tomorrow too."

They walked in silence to Sean’s office. Brooke knocked and they entered.

"Great Roberto." He said into the phone as he waved to them. "Alright I’ll look forward to hearing from you." He hung up the phone and turned to them. "Roberto Neves from Milan, he may be able to help us."

"Let’s hang it up for tonight Sean." Brooke said with a yawn.

"It is late." Sean agreed as he looked at his watch. "How about we stop for something to eat or drink?"

"I’m really tired Sean." Brooke said.

"I’ll find a way to keep you awake."

"However tempting that sounds not tonight." She smiled at him. "We have a lot of work ahead of us."

"Rain check?"

"You bet." She walked over and gave him a kiss. "I’ll hold you to it."

 

Brooke turned out the lights and was just about to head upstairs when the doorbell rung. "What the?"

She walked to the door and opened it. Sean stood there smiling at her. "I thought you were going home." She said.

"I don’t have a home, remember. Anyway I wanted to make sure you got home alright."

"I’ve been doing fine on my own for years Sean."

"Where’d the hostility come from?"

"I’m sorry." She said. "I’m tired and this whole thing is upsetting me."

"And Ridge."

"I wish you would stop implying that Sean. Whatever I had with Ridge is long over."

"But Brooke I can see he still gets to you."

"So?"

"You’re right, I’m not here about Ridge."

"Why are you here?" She asked.

"For this." He said as he took her into his arms and kissed her.

"That’s more like it." She said putting her arms around him.

They stood there kissing and holding each other for awhile and then Brooke pulled herself away. "Sean, as much fun as this is I’m really beat and I need to get some sleep."

"We can do that." He said.

"No WE can’t." She said. "My children are asleep and I will not have them wake up to find a strange man in their mother’s bed."

"I’m not that strange." He teased.

"I’m sorry Sean but no."

"I can see your point beautiful." He said with a kiss. "There will be plenty of other times."

"I’ll see you in the morning?" She asked.

"I’ll be there." He said. "Sleep tight angel." He gave her one last kiss and left. Brooke touched her lips where his just had been and smiled. It felt good to have a wonderful man wanting her again.

 

"Taylor." Ridge whispered to his sleeping wife.

"Hi honey." She said opening her eyes. "What time is it?"

"A little after one."

"What happened?"

"It’s a big mess, but don’t you worry about it." He leaned over and kissed her. "Stay awake okay, I really missed you tonight." He said with a smile.

"Honey it’s so late."

Ridge quickly undressed and got under the covers. He pulled her into his arms and started kissing her.

"Ridge, please, I’m really tired."

"Not too tired for me Doc." He said as he pulled her nightgown over her head. "Oh Doc." He said. "I want you, I want you now."

She opened her eyes and tried to get into a more comfortable position but he was already on top of her kissing her and touching her.

"Ridge, slow down, sweetie come on."
"I love you Doc."

"I love you too Ridge." She said. "Oh God." She moaned as she felt him fill her. "Yes Ridge, oh yes."

Brooke was pouring herself a cup of coffee when Ridge walked into her office the next morning. "Good morning Logan." He said cheerfully.

"Hello Ridge. You seem in an awfully good mood."

"I am, I had a wonderful night last night."

"Good for you, now we have work to do." She handed him two large folders. "These are the designs that I like but need more work. I’d like you to see what you can do with them."

"What about Sean? I thought he was doing that."

"He is. These are the ones from last night Ridge."

"Alright. I’ll get to my office and get right to work on them."

"Well if you don’t mind I’d rather if you worked here. We accomplished a lot more last night when we had instant input."

"Alright Brooke, that works fine too." He said.

"Why are you so damn agreeable?"

"You’d rather if I fought with you?"

"I don’t know when the body snatchers came but I’d like to see the old Ridge again."

He looked at her and laughed. "Whatever you want Brooke." He took the folders and sat down at the table and started to work. Brooke took another sip of her coffee and watched him. No, she thought. Sean is crazy, I don’t feel anything for him anymore.

The knock at her door brought her out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" She said as Becky walked in.

"Hi Ms. Logan."

"It’s Brooke Becky."

"Brooke, Mr. Damon, I mean Sean called and he’s running late. He asked me to tell you. But he told me to bring you these designs." She handed them to Brooke.

"Thanks Becky. How are you enjoying your job so far?"

"I love it. It’s so exciting."

"Now remember, the work you’re doing is highly confidential. I know you’re dating CJ but this must all remain here at Forrester."

"Oh course Ms. Logan, Brooke. I would never dream of talking to CJ about Forrester’s collections."

"Good, I just wanted to get that straight. Now has Megan found a replacement yet?"

"She starts tomorrow."

"Alright, then you just see how you can balance things and I’m sure Megan is more than willing to help out."

"Thanks Brooke." Becky said as she left.

"I like her." Brooke told Ridge, "She has a good head on her shoulders."

"Yes she does, she reminds me of you when you were her age."

"Oh really?" Brooke laughed. "No Ridge, I don’t think I was ever that trusting."

She sat down and started going through the huge piles on her desk.

 

"Where’s Ridge?" Taylor asked Megan. She had a huge picnic basket and all three children were with her.

"He’s working in Brooke’s office Taylor."

"Oh?"

"Did you bring lunch?"

"Yes. The kids and I want to have a picnic with Daddy."

"Would you like me to buzz him and tell him you’re here?"

"That’s alright Megan, we want to surprise him." Taylor led the children to Brooke’s office. She knocked once and opened the door. The three children screamed and ran to Ridge, knocking some of the sketches to the floor.

"Kids!" Ridge shouted.

"Sorry honey." Taylor said as she put down the basket. "Hello Brooke."

"Taylor what’s going on?" Brooke asked.

"The kids wanted to have a picnic with their Dad." She said.

"Ridge!" Brooke said sharply.

"Doc this isn’t really a good time."
"Well you have to eat."

"We already ordered in. I’m swamped Taylor."

"I’m sure Brooke won’t mind. Will you Brooke?" She asked with a smile.

"Take them out of here Ridge, please." Brooke said.

"Come on gang, let’s go to Daddy’s office." He grabbed the two girls and Taylor took Thomas’s hand. She grabbed the basket and they headed out of the office.

Ridge turned to Brooke and gave her a weak smile. As soon as they were gone she threw down her pen. She walked out to Megan. "Who told her she could walk in here like that?"

"I’m sorry Brooke, I told her I would buzz you."

"Oh, I’m sorry Megan, it’s not your fault. We just don’t have time for this nonsense today. Call down to Sean and ask him and Becky to come to my office please."

"Sure boss." She said with a grin.

Brooke went back to her desk but found herself to angry to do anything. She tapped on her desk with her pen until Sean and Becky came in.

"What’s up Brooke?" Sean asked.

"Well Ridge decided to stop work and have a picnic so I need you to take over for awhile. Becky, I have a ton of things I need copied and sent out. Can you help me?"

"I’m your girl." She said.

Sean sat down at the table and immediately started where Ridge left off. Brooke and Becky sat at her desk and neatly piled the work arranging what had to be done.

 

"Honey this is very nice but you should have called first. We’re all really busy." Ridge told Taylor who was setting out the food in his office.

"Come on silly, you need to eat lunch, and the kids missed you. You didn’t make it home in time for them last night."

"I know and I’m sorry. I love my time with them."

"Look at all the wonderful things we brought." Taylor gushed. "All your favorites sweetie, and Thomas made you a card. Show your Daddy sweetheart." She said to their son. He grabbed the card and ran to Ridge with it.

"It’s beautiful Thomas." Ridge said. "Thank you."

Taylor piled food on a plate and handed it to Ridge. "And after we eat maybe Grandma can watch the kids and Daddy and Mommy can have their own private picnic."

"Now that I really wish I had time for." Ridge laughed. He took a bite of his sandwich and the phone buzzed. He quickly gulped it down and picked up the phone.

"Ridge Forrester."

"Ridge? Sean, I have some questions on these sketches. Any idea when you’ll be done?"

"Look Damon my family is here. I’ll be there when I get there."

"Right Ridge, keep those priorities straight." He said.

"My family is my priority."

"Yeah, that’s why the company is falling apart. Come down when you can find the time." He said then hung up.

"Bastard!" Ridge shouted.

"What’s wrong sweetie?" Taylor asked as she wiped Phoebe’s face.

"Nothing to concern yourself with. Nothing at all."

 

Taylor put all the containers back into the picnic basket and turned to Ridge. "Are you sure we don’t have time?"

"Not now Doc. I really better get back to work."

"Well I think I’ll bring the kids in to see your mother. Will you be home on time tonight?"

"I doubt it. Like I said before we really are swamped. But thanks for doing this for me." He took her into his arms and kissed her.

"I love spending time with my sexy husband." She smiled. Ridge kissed the kids, kissed Taylor again and walked out of his office. "We’re so lucky kids, we have such a wonderful family." Taylor said to her children.

Ridge walked back into Brooke’s office. Sean and Becky were gone but Brooke was at her desk hard at work.

"Did you eat anything Logan?"

"I had a salad with we worked." She said without looking up. "Did you have a nice picnic?"

"I’m sorry, but what could I do?"

Brooke got up and slammed the door closed. "What could you do?" She shouted. "You could tell your pretty little wife that this is a place of business. You could tell her that picnics are for Saturdays and that you didn’t have time. For God’s sake Ridge you don’t see anyone else parading their wives and children around here."

"Look, I said I was sorry. Next time I’ll tell you first."

"Oh no Ridge, because there won’t be a next time."

"Are you telling me I can’t have my family here? You have a hell of a lot of nerve Logan!"

"I suggest you inform your wife to call you first before she plans an impromptu picnic. We’ve lost hours now. I guess we’ll never get home tonight now either."

"I said I was sorry Brooke!" He shouted. "What more do you want?"

"Whoa!" Sean said coming in. "Hold it down you two. Do you want the whole building to hear you?"

"Sorry." Brooke said. "I’m just a little bit annoyed. She thinks she can just prance in here anytime she pleases."

"Well she can!" Ridge shouted.

"No." Brooke said calmly. "No she can’t. If I have to I will start a company policy prohibiting family on the premises without my prior knowledge."

"You wouldn’t dare." He said angrily.

"Try me!" She muttered.

"Come on." Sean said grabbing her arm. "We’re going for a little walk and you are going to calm down."

He led her protesting out of her office and outside the building. He walked her to a bench and sat her down. "You two are going to have to find a way to work together without killing each other Brooke. It’s not healthy for either of you."

"He makes me so mad."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"Exactly what I said. Is it because he has a wife and a happy family? Is it because of your history or is it what I’ve been alluding to?"

"He makes me mad because he’s so impossible."

Sean looked at her and chuckled. "If only I didn’t know you so well I might believe you."

"Look Sean, I don’t have time for this. I need to get back to my office."

"Take a deep breath and sit quietly for five minutes. Then we can go back."

"But Sean."

"Now you have to start over. I’m serious Brooke. Silence for five minutes and then we can go back."

 

"Oh God, yes Ridge yes." Taylor screamed as he pounded into her. He had gone straight to his mother’s office. Grabbed Taylor and taken her back to his office. Quickly stripping her of her panties he had pushed her against the wall and roughly taken her. "So good, so good." She said.

He quickly took her mouth with his and closed his eyes. As he felt himself climax he drove into her one final time.

 

"Where is he now?" Brooke said to Sean as they entered her once again empty office.

"Maybe nature called Brooke."

"My bathroom door is open."

"Maybe he’s using his own."

"Maybe." She said. "Why don’t we lock the door and use the time for something a little more interesting." Brooke suggested.

"No way." He said with a laugh. "You’ll never see me substituting for another man."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You’d be using my body but Brooke, you’d be f*cking Ridge."

Chapter 5

 

"I don’t find that remark funny in the least." Brooke said sharply.

"It wasn’t meant to be funny Brooke. You and Ridge are so connected I couldn’t pry you apart if I tried. Why does his wife put up with it?"

"I am not connected to him. We barely talk anymore. I’m serious Sean. I don’t want to hear another word about what you think is going on because nothing is."

"Sorry guys." Ridge said as he walked in.

"You have lipstick on your face." Brooke told him.

Ridge wiped but missed it.

"To the left." She said. "No higher, no lower. Oh never mind." She walked up to him and wiped it off with her finger.

"Thanks." He said. "So shall we get back to work?"

"Where were you?" She asked.

"Saying goodbye to Taylor if you must know."

"Children!" Sean said with a laugh. They both looked at him and the tension was broken.

"Come on." Brooke said as she pulled Ridge back to the table.

"Will you two promise to behave if I leave?" Sean said.

"We promise." Ridge laughed.

Sean waved and walked out, shutting the door.

"I’m sorry Ridge. I guess I’m pretty anxious about all of this."

Ridge took her hand. "I know, but Sean’s right. Let’s not fight."

She nodded and turned her attention back to the work in front of her. Ridge watched her as she concentrated and sighed. He then picked up a sketch and began making changes.

 

"Hi Thorne." Kimberly said as she slipped into his office.

"Hello yourself. What are you doing down here?"

"This." She said as she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. He hungrily pulled her onto his lap and kissed her.

"Now this is a nice surprise." He said when they came up for air.

"I have an even nicer one." She said as she got up and walked to the door. She clicked the lock shut and faced him. She then reached in back and unzipped her dress letting it fall to the floor. She stood before him in a tiny light blue teddy. "Would you like to help me take this off Thorne?"

"Oh yeah." He said as he got up and pulled her into his arms.

"I want you Thorne, I want you right now, right here." He pulled away and looked at her young, appealing body. Her eyes looked down to his erection. "And you want me too."

"I do." He admitted. "But it’s not right."

She got up and reached for the silky string that held the teddy together and pulled it. Suddenly her full breasts were exposed and so inviting.

"Kimberly." He said softly. "I do want you, but you have to understand, I’m still in love with Brooke."

"You don’t have to love me, just f*ck me." She said as she slipped out of the teddy entirely.

Thorne quickly moved from behind his desk and complied.

 

"Is Mr. Forrester going to be home for dinner?" Catherine asked Taylor.

"No, he’s working late again. I’m really worried about him. He must be getting so tired. I’m even starting to worry about Brooke. At least Ridge has a wife to come home to. Since she broke it off with Thorne she has no one. I wish I could think of someone to fix her up with."

"You’re a good friend Dr. Forrester." Catherine replied. "I just wanted to tell you that I fed and bathed the girls. Thomas is playing with his trucks. He didn’t want to eat dinner without his mommy. I made a roast and it’s in the oven keeping warm."

"Thank you Catherine." She said.

Catherine walked upstairs to the children leaving Taylor alone.

She turned on the radio and started humming to the soft music. "Oh Ridge, I wish you didn’t have to work so much." She sat down and picked up a magazine and started to read. The ringing of the phone brought her out of her concentration.

"Hello." She answered.

"Taylor?" A deep voice asked.

"Yes, this is Taylor. Who is this please?"

"Taylor, you don’t recognize my voice? It’s me, Pierce."

"Pierce! My goodness you’re the last one I expected to hear from. How are you?"
"I’m fine. I’m in town for a conference and I was hoping we could get together."

"When?"

"Well, how’s tonight?"

"I don’t know Pierce, I’m not sure how Ridge would react."

"Then bring him, I’d really like to see you."

"He’s working. Things are a mess at Forrester for some reason." She looked around her empty house and thought for a moment. "Look, Catherine made a huge roast and Ridge won’t be able to get home tonight. Why don’t you come over here and share it with me."

"That would be wonderful." He agreed.

"You know where I live?" She asked.

"Taylor, you bought my home."

"Oh." She said with a laugh. "I actually forgot."

"Can I bring anything? Some wine perhaps?"

"Alright, come right away. Maybe if we’re lucky Ridge can get off early and join us."

"Yeah." He said. "I’ll see you soon." He hung up the phone. "And maybe if we’re really lucky he won’t come home at all."

 

"Look at this Logan." Ridge said. "All I did was change the waistline and I think it works."

Brooke walked behind him and looked at the drawing.

"You’re right. It’s great." She agreed. "Ridge?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think we can show these to Eric? Maybe just a couple and see if maybe he agrees with us."

"That’s a tough call. You know how he is about his designs."

"Yeah." She laughed. "Just like you are about yours."

"Like father, like son." He said. "Let’s take a break okay?"

"You want to go call Taylor?"

"No, I just thought we could rest a bit. Come on." He said as he took her hand and led her to the couch. He sat down and she sat down next to him. "You know we really are a good team Logan."

"When we aren’t fighting."

"We don’t always fight."

"We do lately."

"We didn’t always." He said.

"We had plenty of other things to do then." She said as she turned to face him. They looked into each other’s eyes and for a moment were unable to look away.

"Those were good times." He said taking her hand.

"Yeah." She said dreamily as she lay her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and sighed.

"Do you ever wonder?"

"No." She said too quickly.

"Liar." He laughed. "Brooke, it was the hardest decision in my life."

"One of many." She said. "But somehow the choice was never me."

"Life wasn’t fair to us."
"But you’re happy. I guess that make it all alright."

"The other day you said something to me."

"What was that?" She asked as she looked deeply into his eyes.

He just looked at her and didn’t say anything.

"Don’t." She said quietly.

"Don’t what?" He asked not taking his eyes from her.

"Oh God." She said as their lips met. It was a quick but a moving kiss to both of them. Brooke was the one to pull away. "You’re married." She said as she sat up.

"I’m sorry Logan, things are kind of weird lately."

"It’s alright, it didn’t happen, right?"

"Right." He said sadly.

"What was it I said the other day?" She asked to change the subject and cut the tension.

"About Bridget."

"I shouldn’t have said that."

"But you did."

"Well it was wrong. I will not do anything to mess up her life again. She loves Eric and he’s her father now."

"But why Brooke, why did you say that?"

"Because every day when I look at her she is more and more like you. Not just the way she looks but her mannerisms and the way she talks. But Ridge, nothing is ever going to come of this. No more tests, no more questions. She has a father and it’s Eric."

"You really think my mother would have done that to her?"

"Not to Bridget, to me. Ridge she would have done anything to keep us apart, she has done so many things to make my life miserable."

"But Brooke, we were together after that. Even if she did do it that wasn’t what broke us apart."

"She lied to you about Grant. She made you believe I was unfaithful to you. Ridge, I was never unfaithful to you, never."

"I was wrong not to believe you then. I was wrong to do what I did to you then but that’s ancient history now."

"It still hurts when I think about it. It hurts that the man I loved more than life itself didn’t have enough faith in me to come to me and confront me." She looked at her watch. "It’s late and I really don’t want to talk about this anymore. You have your family and you have your life. What we had is over and done. Let’s just try and put it all past us and see if we can get along well enough to keep working together."

"I never wanted to hurt you Brooke."

"I know." She said softly.

"It’s so good to see you." Taylor said as she hugged Pierce. "It really is."

"You look wonderful Taylor."

"Oh stop." She blushed.

"You really do." He handed her the bottle of wine. "Something smells great."

"Catherine is a joy."

"It must be great for you to have such reliable help. So how long have you been working again?"

"Oh." Taylor said as she turned away. "I’m not working."

"Why not? Taylor the world needs you. Surely the children can get along with their mother working at least part time."

"Ridge wouldn’t like it. He didn’t like it when I worked with you."

"I think that was because he didn’t like the idea of you and me together."

"That too. But seriously, I love being a mother. Would you like to meet the girls?"

"I’d love to."

"Come on." She took his hand and led him up the stairs. "I can’t believe that you never had the chance to meet them."

"I moved away pretty quickly. I needed space Taylor, it wasn’t easy getting over you."

"I’ve missed you. You were a great friend and mentor."

"I was more than that Taylor."

"We won’t talk about that Pierce. That should never have happened."

"I’ll never forget. That was the most wonderful night of my life."

"Please, I don’t want to remember that, please Pierce."

"Alright." He said. They walked into the girl’s room and Taylor turned the light on.

"They’re sleeping." She said. "But look at them, they are so beautiful."

"Pretty little blonde angels." He said. "I guess they take after their grandmother or their uncle."

"Yes." She said.

"They don’t look too much like their mother or their father." He went on.

"Thomas was fair when he was born but he is getting darker hair now."

"Yes." He said. He leaned over and looked at the twins. "What are their names?"

"That’s Phoebe and that’s Stephanie."

"How strange." He said.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing at all. Let’s go eat, I’m starved."

"Yes." She said. "That’s a good idea."

She turned the light out and looked back at her daughters.

 

"What about this one?" Brooke asked. "I don’t see anything you can do to salvage this."

He walked over to her and took the sketch out of her hands. "It is pretty bad. How did that get in the good pile?"

"We must have been really tired." She laughed. "Kind of like now."

"I just got my second wind." He replied. "Why don’t you lie down on the bed for awhile. I’ll wake you when I get more done."

"That’s not fair."

"Brooke, you’ve been at it all day. Take a rest, please."

"Alright, but just a rest. Don’t let me fall asleep." She took off her suit jacket and folded it over her chair. He smiled at her as she lay down on the bed.

"Now close your eyes and relax."

She closed her eyes and a few minutes later was sound asleep. Ridge walked over to her and covered her with his a blanket. He leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek and then went back to the table to work.

"Brooke I" Sean said as he walked in.

"Shhhhh." Ridge motioned to the sleeping woman. "She’s beat Sean. Let her sleep."

"I’m surprised she was able to."

"She’s been trying to do too much by herself for a long time." Ridge admitted. "It’s time we all put a stop to that."

"Maybe we should just stop for the night."

"She’d never go for it. If we wake her she’ll insist on working again. But you go if you want to." Ridge said. "I’m on a roll and I don’t want to lose the momentum."

"I don’t want to leave her alone."

"She’s not alone Sean, I’m here."

"I’ll stay for awhile."

"What did you come in for?"

"I sent four dresses down to production."

"Without approval? That was bold of you. I better go and put a stop to that."

"Brooke told me to make my own decisions." Sean said. "I’d advice you to accept that. Things are going to be different around here. Very different."

"Oh you think so do you?"

"Brooke and I are going to take this company into the twenty first century. If you’re smart you’ll follow us."

"Don’t you ever forget, even for one moment just whose company this is."

"It’s Brooke’s Ridge, and I’d advise you to remember that." Sean said. "Have a nice night." He walked out and quietly closed the door.

 

"Well you tell Catherine that she is a wonderful cook." Pierce said as he put down his knife and fork.

"How about some dessert?" Taylor suggested.

"I couldn’t eat another bite." He told her. He got up and poured them each another glass of wine.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?" She joked.

"Would it work?"

"No. I love my husband."

"Well I wasn’t anyway. So tell me Taylor, what have you been doing to keep yourself busy?"

"I’ve been taking care of my family and my home. It’s really quite fulfilling."

"Don’t try to convince me."

"I admit it Pierce, I do miss my work, but my family has to come first."

"I’m not suggesting it take a second place Taylor, but aren’t you entitled to do something entirely for yourself?"

"Maybe I will soon. I was thinking about reopening my practice, part time, from my home."

"What about working for me again?"

"Forget it. Ridge would never agree to that."

"I wouldn’t be around. You’d only be working for my corporation. I only come to town from time to time. We could really use you."

"What kind of project is it?"

"No project. I’m running clinics for people who desperately need help but can’t afford it. It’s entirely free. I pay the doctors out of my own pocket."

"And you can afford to do that?"

"I’m a rich man Taylor, I like to give back to the communities that made me so."

"And I would only be a doctor, no hypnotist mumbo jumbo this time?"

"None." He said. "What do you say Taylor. I can set you up in an office anywhere you want. You hire your entire staff. Hire three or four more doctors. Work as many or as few hours as you want."

"It sounds so wonderful Pierce. But Ridge."

"Why would he object? It’s the perfect opportunity for you."

"It really is isn’t it? Would you mind if I talked to him before I give you an answer?"

"I’d expect nothing less."

"Alright." She smiled. "And thank you Pierce."

 

Ridge closed the folder and looked at his watch. "One thirty. This has got to stop."

He walked to the bed and sat down next to Brooke, he gently touched her face. "You will never know how sorry I am for hurting you." She moaned and rolled over. "Logan, honey wake up."

"Ummm." She said slowly opening her eyes. "Where am I?"

"In your office, you fell asleep."

"Oh yeah." She said with a yawn. "You promised to wake me."

"I didn’t have the heart. I got a lot done though. I’ll show you tomorrow."

"What time is it?"

"One thirty."

"That’s late." She said rolling over and closing her eyes.

"Logan, come on get up. You have to go home."

"Let’s just sleep here." She said sleepily.

Ridge laughed and pulled her up. "Wake up Brooke."

"Wwhhat? Oh, I’m sorry." She laughed.

"Are you going to be alright to drive?"

"Maybe I better call a cab."

"Are you nuts? I’ll take you home."

"No." She said sitting up. "I’ll be fine. Let me go throw some water into my face." She got up out of the bed and walked into the bathroom. She closed the door and stared at her reflection. "Stop it Brooke, he’s not yours anymore. You don’t even want him." She splashed water on her face. Poured a cup of it, drank it and walked out to Ridge.

"You okay?" He asked.

"I’m fine." She said. "Go home to Taylor." She said sharply.

"What’s wrong Brooke?"

"Nothing. I’m tired. Just go."

He looked at her and their eyes met again. For a second she felt herself weakening. Then she turned away and grabbed her purse.

"Brooke?"

"Good night Ridge." She said, dismissing him.

"Good night Logan." He said. He walked to the door, turned and looked at her and then left.

Chapter 6

 

"You’re very late again." Taylor said as Ridge walked in the door.

"What are you doing up Doc?"

"I was waiting for you. I missed you tonight."

"I missed you too but we did get a lot of work done."

"Do you mind explaining what all this sudden work is all about? You told me last week that you were ready for the showing. This isn’t good for any of you."

"No, it’s not, but it is necessary. Brooke brought in a new designer from International to fill Morgan’s spot."

"I heard. What does he have to do with anything? Your mother said he’s very good."

"Maybe, but it isn’t his work that’s the problem. He brought some things to Logan’s attention that weren’t quite working and now she wants us to redo practically the entire line."

"Well what does your father think about this?" She asked.

"Taylor is it okay if we don’t go into this tonight?"

"I don’t understand why you don’t want to share this."

"It’s not that Taylor, I’m tired and I’m glad to see you and the last thing I want to think about is work."

She looked at him and then shrugged. "Alright, I suppose when you have something to tell me you will. Are you hungry? Can I get you anything?"

"You know what, I could eat something." He smiled at her. "What did I miss tonight?"

"Catherine made her roast beef, it was wonderful. Would you like a sandwich?"

"Alright." He said. They joined hands and walked into the kitchen together.

 

Brooke was getting ready for bed when the phone rang. "Who could be calling at this hour?" She picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Brooke, it’s Sean."

"What’s wrong Sean?"

"What’s wrong? I walk to your office and you’re gone. I didn’t know what happened to you. I was worried Brooke."

"That’s so sweet." She said as a smile crossed her face. "I’m fine. I fell asleep and I guess I was kind of out of it when I left. I’m so sorry I didn’t even think about you. Are you still at Forrester?"

"I’m just getting ready to leave. I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew you were alright."

"I’m fine Sean, and I’m truly sorry."

"No need to apologize. I’ll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight." She said.

"Goodnight Brooke."

 

"Morning Boss." Megan said as Brooke walked in.

"Hi Megan, how are you today?"

"Great. Mr. Damon was looking for you."

"He’s in already?"

"He’s been here for hours." Megan answered.

"I guess I better go see what he wants." Brooke said. She walked into her office and put down her purse and looked at her massages.

"Hello." Came Sean’s deep voice from the doorway.

"I was just getting ready to go see you."

"Good." He said as he closed the door. He quickly walked over to her and took her into his arms and kissed her.

"Ummm." Brooke said as the separated. "Now that’s my idea of the way to start the day."

"I’m not complaining either." He said with a smile. "But I’m still mad at you for worrying me last night."

"I’m really sorry Sean. I really wasn’t thinking." She leaned into him and kissed him again. "It won’t happen again."

"So what’s up for today?"

"More of the same." She said. "Ridge made a lot of progress last night. How about you?"

"I sent four designs to production, and I must say Ridge wasn’t too pleased about that."

"I want you both to make those decisions yourselves. We don’t have time to debate everything."

"I agree." He said. "So where is Ridge?"

"Not here yet. Do you need some more designs to look at?"

"I’d rather look at you."

Brooke smiled at him. "You are so good for my ego."

"Hopefully I’ll be good for everything else in your life."

"Let’s not rush things Sean. As much as I like you and enjoy doing things together I’m not ready for a commitment with anyone right now."

"You’re a tough woman. You’ve changed Brooke, you’ve changed a lot."

"I’ve been burned a few times too many."

"So what is it you’re looking for now?"

"I’m not looking for anything really. I want to work hard, have some fun and respect myself in the mornings."

"And being with me defies what?"

"Look Sean, we were impulsive when you walked in. I can’t believe I had sex with you like that, that isn’t me."

"Had sex? Is that all it meant to you?"

"That’s all I’m going to let it mean." She sat at her desk and picked up a folder.

"Am I being dismissed?"

"Oh Sean, please don’t be like this."

"Brooke I’ll respect your feelings, if there’s nothing then there’s nothing." He looked at her. "I’ll be in my office if you need me." He opened the door and walked out.

"Nice work Brooke." She said to herself. "Look’s like you screwed up again." She sighed and went back to work.

 

Ridge was standing in the kitchen sipping coffee and eating toast when Taylor walked in dressed in a business suit.

"Doc? What are you up to today?"

"Actually I wanted to go into this with you last night but we, ah."

"Yeah." He said with a smile. "We sure did."

"Anyway." She laughed. "I’m thinking about picking up my practice again."

"Taylor, I thought we decided that you’d stay home with the kids."

"Not really. We did discuss my being here in the beginning but honey, they’re getting older and Catherine is so wonderful with them and Ridge, I really need to do something for myself."

"So what are you doing? Reopening your office?"

"Not mine. I am going to start out part time. I’m going to work at a clinic for people who can’t afford the help that they need."

"Charity work?"

"Not exactly. It’s subsidized. I’m going to head the clinic and hire a staff. I won’t have to spend my whole day there, that way I can still be here for the kids."

"Government subsidy?" He asked.

"No." She said turning away.

"There’s something you aren’t telling me Doc."

"Look Ridge, this is something I want. After what we went through with Morgan I don’t think you have a right to judge my decisions."

"I’m not judging anything. I just want to know what you’re up to."

"Alright." She said. "Fair enough. I’m working for Pierce Peterson."

"What?" He asked in outrage. "No way! Not him again."

"I’m not changing my mind. This is business, pure business."

"The man’s in love with you."

"And Morgan was in love with you."

"And Morgan is out of our lives forever. You know that. How can you bring him back into our lives?"

"He’s not in love with me anymore Ridge. Besides he won’t be working with me, I will head one of many of his offices. I doubt if I’ll see him once a month."

"When did all this happen? Why haven’t I heard anything?"

"When have you been home lately?"

"I thought you understood."

"No, I don’t. You tell me nothing and the only time we have together all you have on your mind is sex. Ridge we never talk anymore."

"Just tell me, please Doc."

"I saw him last night. He offered the job."

"And you just accepted? Not even a word to me?"

"No, I haven’t accepted yet. But I plan to today. Ridge, I need this."

"This is about Morgan isn’t it?"

"No."

"Taylor. I know it is. Will you ever forgive me for that? I made a mistake, a huge mistake."

"You made a baby."

"A baby that was never born Taylor."

"And that doesn’t count? Is that how you feel?"

"No. It was just as wrong. But Doc why punish me now?"

"This isn’t about you, it’s about me. Ridge I love you, I forgave you, I love my family. But I need to work and this job has everything I could ask for. Now it’s your time to trust me."

"I do Doc."

"Then you go on to work and I’ll meet with Pierce and I’ll tell you all about it later."

 

Brooke was hard at work when Ridge walked into her office. He walked over to the table and started going through piles without a word.

"And good morning to you too Ridge." Brooke said sarcastically.

"Yeah." He answered.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Nothing I can’t handle."

She watched him pretend to be engrossed in his work. It was obvious to her that he wasn’t at all.

"Are you still mad about last night?" She asked.

"What?" He said quickly.

"The way we left things." She got up and walked up to him. "Something’s wrong Ridge, I can tell."

"I said I’ll handle it."

"Alright. As long as it has nothing to do with us."

"Us? There is no us."

"I think I’ve had about all I can take of you today." She said to him. "Take your folders and go to your own office. I’ve done nothing to deserve this treatment."

Ridge looked at her with anger. He grabbed a load of designs and stormed out off the office leaving a bewildered Brooke behind.

 

"What are you doing tonight?" Megan asked Becky.

"Nothing. Just staying home with the baby. Why?"

"I thought we might go hit the town tonight. What do you say Becky? How does girls night out sound to you?"

"Almost like too much fun." She said with a laugh. "Ever since I’ve been better everyone treats me like I may fall apart at any moment and I’m so tired of it."

"Even CJ?" Megan asked.

"Well," Becky said. "CJ and I aren’t really working out. Sometimes I think it was a sympathy thing with him. Since I’ve been better he hasn’t seemed all that interested. And frankly I think I need a change too."

"Well maybe we can meet some new men tonight. Though I wouldn’t mind working with your boss all day." Megan laughed.

"Sean is sure sexy but he is totally into Brooke. I doubt if he even notices me."

"I don’t think Brooke is all that interested herself though Becky. She seems to want to spend all her time working."

"That’s not good. She should be having some fun herself."

"We could invite her to join us." Megan suggested.

"Not this time, I think I might feel funny with the big boss."

"Okay by me." Megan said. "I better get back to work. I’ll call you later and we can discuss the details."

 

Ridge was sitting in his office staring at the phone when he looked up and Taylor was at the door.

"Doc." He said.

"Hi." She walked over to him and kissed him. "I wanted to see if we could make things better."

"You know how to do that Taylor."

"And that’s my only option?" She asked. "That is unreasonable Ridge. I’m taking a job, not a lover. You are the only man I want."

"I don’t want you to work with him Taylor."

"I won’t be working with him, only for him. I explained that to you Ridge. Why are you blowing this whole thing out of proportion?"

"Am I?"

"Look at it from my perspective. You’re never home, I’m getting so bored. I have a profession Ridge and I want to practice it. Pierce has given me a wonderful opportunity and I can’t turn it down. Now if I can trust you then you can certainly trust me."

"Trust me? How?"

"You work for your ex-wife, a woman you once loved very much Ridge. I am not getting bent out of shape about that. I want to work for a man that was a friend and a mentor. Nothing more. Now you for some reason can’t seem to deal with that."

"He was in love with you."

"And Brooke was in love with you. I know that’s over and you know that Pierce is over. It’s a job Ridge, a good job."

"And nothing I can say will make a difference?"

"No. I already accepted his offer today. Tomorrow I start interviewing staff."

"Well Taylor I guess you made your decision." He said. "I guess I have no say in family decisions anymore."

"This isn’t a family decision."

"No? I think where my family works is a family decision."

"Fine, then I don’t want you working here anymore. You quit and I quit."

"That’s stupid."

"Exactly." She said. "Nothing is going to happen. It’s a job."

"Ridge I." Brooke said as she walked in. "Oh, sorry Taylor, I didn’t realize you were here."

"That’s alright Brooke. I was just leaving."

"Don’t leave on my account, I’ll come back." She turned around to leave.

"Wait Brooke." Ridge said. "I wanted to apologize for this morning. I was rude and I’m sorry."

"Apology accepted. We’ve all been overworked lately. I haven’t been the best company myself. Come by my office when you two are done alright?"

"Sure." He said. He gave her a weak smile as she walked out.

"You’ve been fighting?" Taylor asked.

"I was in a foul mood about this job. I took it out on Logan."

"I see." She said. "Well you are going to have to learn to deal with it Ridge because I’m taking the job. Now I have to go. Will you be home for dinner tonight?"

"I doubt it." He said sullenly.

"Well I’ll see you when I see you then." She walked over, gave him a quick kiss and left.

 

"Is he in?" Brooke asked Becky outside Sean’s office.

"Yes he is." She answered.

Brooke knocked lightly.

"Come in." Sean’s voice called from inside. Brooke opened the door and walked in.

"Hi." She said.

"Hello." He said. "What can I do for you?"

"Forgive me?" She asked.

"For what?"

"Being a bitch. I’m really sorry Sean, I didn’t mean to come off the way I did."

"Well what exactly did you mean?"

"I’m scared. I’m not ready to get into something intense, and Sean we were intense."

"Was I pushing too hard? I didn’t think so."

"No, it was me. I was too busy pushing you away. It seems that’s all I do lately. But I want to be friends."

"Just friends?" He said with a sexy smile.

"Good friends?" She laughed.

"Very good friends?" He suggested.

"I think I can manage that." She sighed. He got up out of his chair and took her into his arms.

"I promise, no pushing. I’ll take it real slow. You make the rules."

"No rules, we play it by ear." She said.

"Can I kiss you?" He asked.

"Don’t ask, just do." She said. He put his mouth to hers and kissed her intently. She felt her body relax in his arms as their kiss intensified. He took the advantage and lifted her into his arms and carried her to his couch. He carefully laid her down and covered her body with his. Brooke’s arms went tightly around him as they continued to kiss.

"If you want me to stop you have to tell me." He whispered.

"No," She said. "Don’t stop."

His hand reached between her legs and caressed the bare skin of her thigh. She felt herself shiver from his touch. He looked her in the eyes and she smiled. His hand reached higher to touch her frilly panties. Brooke gasped as his finger slid under them and inside of her. She kissed him again as she pushed herself up into his hand. Suddenly they were interrupted by the intercom.

"Sean, Brooke? Ridge is out here and he says it’s very important." Becky said.

"Sh*t." Sean muttered.

Brooke laughed and gave him a final kiss. "Later, we can finish later." She whispered. She got up and straightened her skirt as Sean opened the door to Ridge.

"What’s wrong?" Sean asked.

"It’s Dad, he’s starting to ask all sorts of questions. Logan we have to tell him something and we have to do it now."

Chapter 7

 

"Alright calm down Ridge and tell me what he said." Brooke instructed. Ridge looked at her with a pained expression. "Does he know?" She asked.

"He went to the cutting room to check on one of his designs, one that he was sure would be done. They told him we pulled it, they told him we pulled everything Logan."

"Alright, let me think, we can handle this, I just need to think."

"It’s too late for thinking." Ridge said. "Dad wants answers and he wants them now."

"Well how did you get rid of him?"

"I told him you called me to your office and that I’d talk to him as soon as we were done. Look I’m starting to have second thoughts, some of his designs were good Logan, they were damn good."

"You’re letting loyalty influence you Ridge." Sean said. "They had potential, but as they were they were not up to Forrester standards and you know it."

"Look Damon, I don’t know who the hell you think you are to come in here and try to run this company but it’s not your place!" Ridge shouted.

"Ridge." Brooke said sharply. "I gave Sean the right to do this. He is the one who opened my eyes. I would never have seen it either. I have too much respect for your father."

"Well you sure aren’t showing it." Ridge said angrily.

"That’s a low blow." She replied. "You and I talked about this and you agreed with me. Don’t you dare backtrack now."

"People!" Sean said. "Come on now. It’s not the time to fight among ourselves. We need to find a way to placate Eric and keep the designs moving." He looked from Brooke to Ridge. "Do either one of you think you can actually tell him the truth? Because if you can’t, I can."

"Sean, I don’t think its time for that yet. We don’t want to hurt him anymore than necessary." Brooke said.

"Well we have to do something." Ridge said.

"Alright, get the improved sketches. Get whatever is done in production. I’ll call a meeting and we’ll tell him we wanted to move in a different direction, I’ll take all the blame. After all it was my decision."

"And then?" Ridge asked.

"Then what?" Brooke asked in confusion.

"Are you going to put him out to pasture?" Ridge said through gritted teeth.

"Oh course not. I think he’ll look at what we’ve done and join us."

"That’s being overly optimistic Brooke." Sean said with a shake of his head. "He’ll he defensive and mad. He’ll fight us. And Ridge," He turned to face him. "At this point we need you to stay with us. No backing down, none at all."

"I can do that." He said, but he shot both Brooke and Sean a look of anger.

"Alright." Brooke said. She picked up the phone and called Megan’s desk. "Megan, it’s Brooke. I’d like to call a meeting for today at," She looked at her watch. It was currently ten in the morning. "Make it eleven. Get coffee and pastries. No, no. Yes Stephanie and Eric. Thorne too. I’m with Ridge and Sean right now. Alright, thanks." She hung up. "Well you both heard the meeting is in one hour. Will you two please get Becky and Megan and collect everything I’ll need."

"Sure doll." Sean said with a grin. Ridge looked at him and frowned. "You have a problem Ridge?" He asked.

"None that won’t be solved with a plane ticket back to Europe."

"No one is going to Europe." Brooke said. "I’ll see you both in an hour." She picked up her files and walked out.

 

Taylor was sitting at a desk reading applications when she felt someone looking at her. She looked up into Pierce’s intense eyes. "Pierce." She said. "I didn’t see you come in."

"Sorry to startle you. You looked like you were really into it though."

"Oh I am, I hired one doctor, two nurses and a receptionist today."

"Excellent. You work fast. I guess I’m not needed here."

"Hold on fellow, you’re needed. At least your checkbook is." She laughed.

"Oh, and I thought you might need me for more than that."

"I do, you’re a wonderful friend." She smiled. "Anyway, I need to see about supplies. We need more office equipment and filing cabinets, at least two more computers."

"Hold on Miss Perfection. The ten computers I ordered will be here later today. I got you one filing cabinet. We’ll be using mostly microfilm. I hired a firm to do filming for you on a daily basis. This catalogue is for the furniture." He said as he handed her a huge book.

"Furniture? There’s nothing wrong with this." She told him.

"Not for some fly by night operation. This is state of the art. I put stickies on the ones I thought you’d like. But you make the final decisions. Also the painters will be on call as soon as you pick the colors. Something soothing, none of that horrible institutional green please." He laughed.

"We’re moving so fast." She said. "I can barely catch my breath."

"Well then slow down. I want this to be a labor of love for you. You know the saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day."

"It looks like this office will be though."

"I won’t have you getting stressed over it though." He said calmly. "So tell me, what was Ridge’s reaction?"

"Next subject." She replied.

"That bad?"

"He’s not to fond of the idea of you and me together. And frankly Pierce, I can’t blame him."

"Doesn’t he still work with Brooke every single day?" He asked with a grin.

"That’s different. He has no choice, and besides, Brooke isn’t a problem for us anymore, she has no interest in him and he surely has none in her."

"That’s good, I guess."

"It is good."

"Did I hear correctly through the rumor mill that she and Thorne were an item?"

"You did, but that’s over. Thank God. It was hell for poor Stephanie. She literally had two strokes."

"Come now Taylor, she’s an extremely strong woman. I find it hard to believe she would have a stroke over her less favorite son’s choice in a lover."

"Well she did and it was very serious. But Brooke and Thorne are history."

"That leaves her free again doesn’t it?" He asked.

"Don’t tell me you’re interested."

"Why not? We did hit it off. She was in a bad point in her life over Ridge then, maybe we might work something this time."

"Oh please." She said rolling her eyes.

"Maybe I’ll just give her a call." He said. "A man gets lonely."

"You?" She laughed. "I doubt that seriously."

"Anyway." He said with a laugh. "I thought I’d come back in an hour or two, we could look and your selections over lunch. We really need to catch up."

"I’d like that." She said. "I’d like that very much."

 

Thorne was unzipping Kimberly’s dress when his intercom went off. "Damn it!" He said. "Stay right there, I’ll get rid of whatever it is."

"Hurry." She said. "I want you so badly, I need to feel you inside me."

"Oh my God." He said. "This better be important. What?" He shouted.

"Thorne, it’s Megan."

"What is it Megan? I’m very busy here." He said as he looked at Kimberly. She had removed her dress and was standing in front of him in a tiny black teddy.

"Brooke called a meeting for eleven, you have to be there."

"What does she need me for? She barely acknowledges my existence any more."

"I have no idea Thorne, but she says it’s very important."

"Alright, alright, I’ll be there, but until then I don’t want any interruptions."

"Fine Thorne." She said as she hung up.

"Now where were we?" He asked.

"Here, right here." Kimberly said as she let the teddy fall to the floor.

 

"Here’s the stuff from production." Becky said to Brooke as she wheeled in the dresses.

"Good, thanks Becky. Now did Ridge bring you the designs that he was working on?"

"No ma’am, he hasn’t brought me anything. Sean gave me his though."

"Ridge!" Brooke said. "I guess I have to take care of this myself."

"Can I do anything else?" Becky asked.

Brooke looked at her. "Hmmm, Becky what size do you wear?"
"Size? Um, I wear a six."

"Alright. That will do. Look, I know you’re not a model but I don’t want to involve anyone else. I want you and Megan to put on the completed dresses for us. Eric needs to see them on someone to see how very good they are. Can you do that?"

"Um, I’ll try." She said.

"Now don’t be nervous, this isn’t a fashion show. It’s just the family and Sean. You aren’t embarrassed by any of us are you?"

"No ma’am. But what about Kimberly? Wouldn’t she be better?"

"If it was a show yes, but right now these designs are not for her eyes. I only want those I can trust, and I do not trust her."

"Who will help fit us?" She asked.

"Sean and Ridge. Is that alright?"

"Sean?" She said with wide eyes.

"Don’t you like him Becky?" Brooke asked.

"Maybe a little too much." She confessed. "I’m sorry, I know you’re dating him but he is awfully cute."

"Yeah." Brooke laughed. "He is, isn’t he."

"I’ll be fine Ms. Logan."

"Becky please call me Brooke."

"Alright Brooke." She smiled. "You can count on me one hundred percent."

 

"What’s the meeting about?" Kimberly asked as Thorne moved in and out of her.

"Forget the meeting Kimberly." He said kissing her. "Forget everything but this."

"But," She said.

"Come on Kimberly, don’t spoil this."

"No, never." She said with a grin as she pushed her breasts against his chest.

 

"What’s going on?" Brooke said slamming the door to Ridge’s office. "All I ask is a little cooperation and you pull the injured son act."

"I’m not pulling anything Brooke. I don’t like this, I don’t like it a bit."

"Frankly Ridge, I don’t care if you like it or not. My word is what makes things run around here and I have final say. Now you can either help me or you can stand behind your father and make faces at me. At this point I don’t even care. You are truly disappointing me."

"Why? Because I care about my father’s feelings? You used to too Logan."

"And you all cared about mine, and then we went to Venice."

"Can we please forget about Venice?" He said. "It’s over, it’s done."

"Done? No Ridge, it will never be done. You betrayed me in the worst way possible and you don’t have a single regret!" She shouted. She walked up to him and stood face to face.

"Oh no? You think that? You think I have no regrets?"

"I know you have no regrets." She said. "You hurt someone who considered you her best friend in the world and you did it with a cold look on your face. You have no regrets and don’t insult me again by pretending you do."

"I do!"

"What Ridge? What do you regret?" She screamed.

He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms and kissed her, not the kiss of a friend but one of a lover. She pushed at him to get away but he held her closer.

"No!" She said. "You aren’t playing this game with me again!"

"It’s not a game." He said. "That’s my regret. That’s my regret." He said as he kissed her again. Against her better judgement her arms encircled him and she returned his kiss with the pent-up passion that had been building inside her for so long.

 

"Isn’t it early for lunch?" Taylor asked Pierce when he returned.

"A little, but I wanted to see how you were doing. Any more hires?"

"No, but two potential doctors. How many doctors can I hire Pierce?"
"As many as you want Taylor." He told her. "It all depends on you. What amount of time can you put in? How many other doctors do you want to manage? Oh and I forgot. We need to hire a teacher."

"A teacher?" She asked.

"I want a full time daycare going on. For the staff and the patients. I want everyone to feel that they are free to talk as long as they need. The children will be provided for. So we need a teacher and two aides. I have set aside two rooms. We also need equipment there but I want the teachers to choose that."
"What a wonderful idea." She said. "You mean I can bring my children too?"

"Oh course. Not that you would want that everyday. You have an excellent nanny. But you also want to be with your children. This will work for everyone. Now do you think you can hire a teacher or would you like me to hire an agency for that?"

"Maybe an agency with me getting final approval."

"That works." He said. "See, this is going to be fun."

"Are you doing all this in the other cities?" She asked.

"Well, this is the pilot operation. Once we see how this goes I’ll open up more. I’ll start on the West Coast and if it is successful I’ll work my way across country. Perhaps you can be part of that team. But it’s too soon to discuss that."

"I’m speechless Pierce. This is so amazing. It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing."

"Well I hope that if is works that some others in my position will join me and make it bigger than even I can imagine."

"I am so lucky to know a man like you Pierce, so very lucky."

"Now Taylor, you’ll go to my head." He grinned at her. "Shall we go to lunch?"

"I want to give Ridge a call first, let him know what’s going on. Can I meet you somewhere?"

"Nonsense. I’ll give you some privacy. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes."

"Good." She said.

He smiled and walked out as Taylor picked up the phone.

 

"Oh my God Ridge, what have we done?" Brooke said. She sat up and grabbed her suit jacket from the floor. "How? How did I let this happen? What’s wrong with me?" She said.

"Logan." He started.

"Don’t, nothing you can say can make it better, Ridge we had sex on your couch. Why? Why did this happen?"

"Logan." He touched her face. "We both knew it was going to happen, it’s been building for months."

"Is that an excuse? Damn it Ridge, you have a wife and children. You had your chance for me and you threw it away. What am I? Some cheap whore you can have your way with when you get horny? No, this is wrong, it’s so wrong."

"I’m sorry." He said.

"No one can know, no one can ever know Ridge." She looked around the office. "Wait, no! No! This was not your way to butter me up so I would go easy on Eric! Damn you Ridge! I never expected this from you. You are worse than I even thought! I hate you! I hate you!" She slapped him.

"Logan!" He grabbed for her but she pulled away.

"Don’t touch me! Don’t talk to me! Don’t even breathe around me! Do you hear me Ridge?" With tears in her eyes she put her clothes back on and without another word left his office.

"Brooke." Megan called. "Is it alright if I put Taylor through to Ridge now?"

Brooke just walked past her as if she hadn’t heard a word she said.

 

Ridge was sitting with his face in his hands when the phone rang. He quickly picked it up. "Ridge Forrester."

"Hi honey." Taylor said cheerfully.

"Taylor." He said.

"Were you expecting someone else? You sound disappointed."

"No Doc. It’s been a strange day." He took a deep breath. "What’s up?"

"Well I wanted to tell you that it’s been wonderful here. I hired a doctor and some nurses and I’m picking out furniture. Oh Ridge, I can’t wait till you see it. You’ll be so proud of me."

"I’m always proud of you Doc." He said.

"What’s wrong? You sound so strange? Is Brooke giving you a rough time again?"

"No Doc, this is all my doing. Don’t worry about it. It’ll all work out. It has to."

"Alright." She said. "I can tell you’re distracted. I guess I’ll talk to you tonight. Are you working late again?"

"I hope not. I’ll let you know." He said. "Bye Doc, I love you."

"I love you too Ridge." She hung up.

"My God, what have I done?" He asked himself. "What have I done?"

Chapter 8

 

Brooke picked up another tissue and blew her nose. She got up from her desk and walked into the bathroom and looked at her tearstained eyes.

"You were a fool Brooke Logan, a fool." She told her reflection. "Oh God Ridge." She started to weep again. She turned on the water and splashed her face. "I’ve got to get myself together. I will not let Ridge Forrester ever destroy me again." She looked at her face again but this time with confidence.

 

"Ridge, knock knock." Megan said at his door. "Brooke needs your designs for the meeting and she wants you to help fit me and Becky into the dresses."

"What? Fit you two?" He asked.

"Don’t look so shocked. We aren’t a couple of dogs are we?"

"Oh course not Megan, I’m just surprised. Why not the models?"

"Privacy. Brooke doesn’t trust many people these days."

"I guess we can add one more to that list." He said sadly.

"What happened Ridge? You two seemed to be working so well together, it was just like old times."

"Too much so I think." He said.

"Can I help?" She asked.

"I’m afraid not Megan, I need to talk to her. Right now she hates me and I really can’t blame her."

 

Sean walked into Brooke’s office and found her at the bathroom mirror reapplying her makeup.

"You’ve been crying." He said.

"How perceptive of you." She said.

"What did he do now?"

"Who?" She asked as she lined her lips.

"You know who." He said. "What happened? Did he change his mind again?"

"He’s a user Sean, he will do anything and everything to get what he wants but guess what. It won’t work." She said angrily. "I am so over him."

"He came on to you again. Brooke, I tried to warn you. You are still vulnerable to him. Why do you let him so close?"

"Let it go Sean. This is between Ridge and me."

He looked at her as a fresh tear ran from her eye.

"I’m going to go talk to that bastard."

"No!" She said grabbing his hand. "I mean it Sean, I do not want you to interfere."

"Brooke, you know what you mean to me." He said.

"I don’t want to mean anything to any man. Now just leave me alone. I need to get my head straight for this meeting." She said, dismissing him.

 

 

"You were fantastic." Kimberly said to Thorne. "I want you all over again."

"Well I have to be at this stupid meeting so I guess we’ll have to wait." He said. He reached between her legs and stroked her. "Keep it warm for me. I’ll be back."

"I love you Thorne."

"Don’t do that Kim. Love isn’t something I’m very good at." He kissed her and walked out of the office.

"You will be Thorne, once I get pregnant with our child, you will be." She smiled.

 

 

Brooke walked into the conference room after everyone else had been seated. She walked to the head of the table. "Good morning. How is everyone today?"

"Skip the formalities Brooke and get to the point." Stephanie said to her.

"Anxious?" She asked. "Well you should be. I’ve prepared a couple of charts I want everyone to look at before I begin." She walked to an easel and pulled back the blank page. "As you can see these are our sales figures. At first glance they are quite impressive."

"Yes they are Brooke." Eric interrupted. "But this does not answer where my dresses are."

"We’ll get to that Eric." She said. "Now Sean was kind enough to open my eyes to a few things that I had been missing. Whether it was my allegiance to this company or perhaps even my lack of experience he showed me how mistaken I’ve been." She turned the page. "Now this chart tells the real story. This is our sales compared to the past ten years." She stood back so they could all see. "As you can see they have been slowly decreasing. Not to a dangerous point but decreasing still."

"The entire industry has been taking a beating Brooke." Eric told her.

"Not like us." She said as she turned the page. "As you can see from this chart. You see we used to be the trendsetters but we aren’t anymore. And that’s why I called this meeting. We are going to be the trendsetters again."

"I resent that Brooke." Eric said. "Forrester is and has always been at the fashion forefront."

"Eric I wish you would stop interrupting. I don’t totally disagree with you. I just felt we’ve been coasting lately and that is not how to stay ahead. Now in the last few days Sean, Ridge and I have been working hard at revamping some of the designs that we were ready to add to our next collection."

"You?" Stephanie spit. "What could you possibly do?"

"You’d be surprised Mother." Ridge said coming to her defense. "Logan has had some brilliant ideas, Sean and I put them to paper."

"Thanks Ridge." Brooke said to him. "And we have been working hard Stephanie. Eric had some wonderful ideas, but they weren’t new, they weren’t exciting. Now I think they are."

"And what changed your mind?" Eric asked.

"Ridge and Sean’s changes." She said. "Ladies." She called and Megan and Becky walked in. They were wearing two of Eric’s revamped designs.

"What is this?" Eric asked. "They aren’t models."

"They’re doing a fine job." Brooke said. "Now these are your designs Eric, with a few changes. Now this is what I’m talking about. This is new, this is dazzling, this is what will put us on top again."

"This is an outrage." Eric said standing up. "And I will not put up with it. You call this fashion? I call it ridiculous."

"Sit down Eric." Brooke said in a commanding voice. "This meeting is not over."

"It is for me. Let’s go Stephanie." He said.

She stood up and the two of them left the room.

"That went well." Sean said with a chuckle.

"I told you Logan, I told you he wasn’t going to go for it."

"He has no choice Ridge. As long as I own 51% what I say goes." She looked at Becky and Megan. "Thank you ladies. You were wonderful." She said. Megan and Becky left the room. "Well Thorne, what do you think?" Brooke asked him.

"Don’t put me in the middle."

"The middle, there is no middle. This is your company too. You know you damn Forrester’s are way too sensitive."

"You want the truth Brooke?" Thorne asked. "I think you’re taking it out on Dad."

"Taking what out?"

"Us, you and me."

"There is no us."

"Right, and you blame that on him."

"I blame that on all of you. Especially you Thorne. You, the man who ran out crying like a baby and married Macy without ever having the balls to question me. You Ridge." She turned to him. "The man I loved more than anyone else for so many years, to treat me like a whore and to use me. Your precious wife Taylor, who came to me days before and begged me to be there for you and her children if she died. And then she betrayed me like that. And yes, mostly Eric. The father of my children, who hated me so much that he tore away my chance for happiness. Yes, I blame you all for all of that but not for this. This is business and business only. And I will make this company what it should be if I have to do it alone. Now get the hell out of my face Thorne and you too Ridge!" She shouted.

Sean walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder, she pushed him off and walked away from him. Ridge and Thorne looked at them and silently walked out of the room.

"Don’t push me away Brooke, I’m on your side."

"This shouldn’t be about sides, why can’t they see it? They all fight me like I’m the enemy. It’s so unfair Sean, it’s so damn unfair."

"They’ll listen to reason eventually Brooke, because you are right. And they will know it has nothing to do with family or fighting or romance. It is just good financial judgement."

"Do you really think so? I don’t. Sean there is so much bad blood. Sometimes I think I should just sell them back their shares and be done with it. I don’t need this aggravation. I would have the money and I could be done with all of them."

"And what would you do then Brooke? You’re much to vibrant a woman to stay at home and play rich girl."

"I could go back into chemistry. Maybe I should anyway. That’s what got me here in the first place."

"Do not let them get to you. You are responsible for all the success of this company since you took over. Brooke’s Bedroom is phenomenal, the men’s line is one of the best and what you are doing now is going to top it all. Please Brooke, don’t quit now. At least finish this and quit on top."

"Well you’ve given me a lot to think about, but I think I’d like to be alone right now. I’m not feeling very happy and I certainly don’t want to take it out on my only friend."

"You call me if you need me." He said. He took her face in his hands and kissed her. "And chin up."

 

Brooke worked the rest of the day with her door locked and refused to take any calls. Finally tired and hungry she left the office and went to the neighborhood deli to pick up sandwiches and cold drinks. She was ready to settle in for another long night of work, but this time she’d be working alone.

 

Taylor opened the refrigerator and looked at the mousse and the salads she had chilling. She then went over to the stove and lifted the lid on the chicken that was simmering. "Oh this is going to be so good Ridge, we are going to have a nice romantic home cooked meal together. Just you and me." She walked over to the wine cooler and checked the champagne that was chilling. "Perfect, just perfect. And you are going to be so proud of me. This job is everything I wanted."

She walked to the stairs. "Catherine." She called up. "Are the kids all packed?"

"Yes Mrs. Forrester." She said. "Everything is ready."

"Good." Taylor said to herself. "Just the two of us all night long Ridge, and it will be a night to remember."

 

Brooke walked into her office and found Ridge at the table working on a sketch.

"What are you doing?"

"Working, what does it look like?"

"I don’t have it in me to deal with you again Ridge." She said putting the bag down on her desk.

"Look Logan." He got up and closed the door. "I am not the enemy. You were totally unfair to me at that meeting and you know it. I’ve stuck by you and I’ve done everything you asked."

"Yeah, you even f*cked me for good measure." She said.

"Don’t cheapen that."

"How is that possible? It was already the cheapest thing that ever happened in my life. That is unless you count Venice when I almost gave into your trick."

"You didn’t even come close Brooke."

"Oh, is that so? Well it isn’t how anyone else sees it. But then Ridge, the stud wouldn’t want that to happen would he?"

"Can you ever forget Venice?"

"I seriously doubt it. No more then I can forget that, no never mind, I’m not going to rehash any of this. It just isn’t important." She said. "Why don’t you just go home? We can work again tomorrow."

"I can’t leave you like this."

"It wouldn’t be the first time."

"No." He said. "I guess it wouldn’t." He got up and put his hands on her shoulders. "Come on, talk to me Logan."

"What would you like to talk about?" She asked. "The meeting? That was sure fun wasn’t it?"

"I should have been more supportive, but then Dad didn’t give us a chance anyway did he?"

"Don’t blame him for everything. Perhaps we should have let him in on it all from the beginning." She said. "Look Ridge, I’m tired and I don’t want to fight with you anymore. Take your things and go home. I’m sure Taylor misses you."

"Logan, stop bringing Taylor into this."

"What? That’s the first I mentioned her. Or are you feeling guilty. Don’t worry, I won’t tell her. I’m not proud of what happened myself."

He clutched tighter at her shoulders. "Brooke, Logan. What happened between us."

"It’s forgotten." She said softly.

"I can’t Logan, I can’t seem to forget it."

"Well you have to."

"Can you?" He asked her.

"Yes," She said turning her head away from him.

"Brooke." He said softly.

She turned to look at him and his lips were on hers. She wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss with tenderness. They broke apart and stared into each other’s eyes.

"No." She said quietly.

He once more leaned into her and kissed her.

"Please, no." She begged.

"This isn’t a trick, this isn’t a joke, this isn’t a plan." He said as he lifted her into his arms. Brooke was shaking as he lowered her onto the bed.

"But." She said.

He touched her lips with his finger. "No words." He said as he slowly opened her blouse.

"Ridge." She said with a shudder.

He leaned down and kissed her again. She felt herself shivering as he reached down and removed her blouse. He gently unclasped her bra and lowered his mouth to her breasts. Against her will she arched herself into his warm mouth. She then found herself reaching to unzip her skirt. Ridge moved her hands and slid it off her. She lay on the bed in only a tiny pair of thong panties.

"You are so beautiful." He said.

"Kiss me" She whispered. He lowered himself on top of her and kissed her with a passion. Brooke jumped when his hand reached to the apex of her legs and slid underneath her panties. She was hot and wet for him. He moaned as he pulled the panties off her. He then moved down and buried his head between her legs. Brooke thrashed and moaned as he swiftly brought her to an intensity that she hadn’t known for so long. "F*ck me Ridge, please f*ck me." She cried out. She tore at the shirt he was wearing ripping the buttons as she pulled it off him. He momentarily moved off her and dispensed of his pants and in one quick thrust he was inside her.

"Logan, God Logan." He said as her legs wrapped tightly around him. She moved her lips back to his and kissed him again. The tears were streaming down her face as they clung to each other and pounded into each other for what felt like hours.

"Yes." She moaned. "Oh God yes, please yes." She said as her body started to convulse. Ridge quickened his pace and finally joined her in the intense pleasure.

"I love you." He said softly. The mood was immediately broken.

"No." She said pulling away from him. "Don’t you dare say that. Don’t you dare."

She grabbed a sheet and wrapped it around her as she started to shake.

"Logan." He said putting his arm around her.

"Go, just go." She said.

"We have to talk about this." He said to her. "Logan please."

"I want you to leave Ridge." She said. "Please just go."

"Brooke."

"If you ever cared about me at all you’ll leave." She cried.

"This isn’t over."

"It was over before it started." She said sadly.

Ridge grabbed his clothes and quietly dressed. Once dressed he sat down next to her and tried to take her into his arms but she pulled away. The tears were streaming down her face and she made no attempt to hide them.

"Logan."

"How many time to I have to ask you?" She screamed.

"Alright." He said. He touched her gently and got up and walked out gently closing the door.

Brooke looked to where he had just been and broke down. She wrapped the sheet tightly around her and lay down on the bed. She touched herself between he legs where the evidence of their lovemaking was still there. She started to shake uncontrollably until finally sleep overcame her.

 

 

Ridge walked into his house and tried to get up the stairs without Taylor seeing him but she came out of the kitchen to greet him.

"You’re home! I’m so glad. I hoped you’d make it on time. I made a special dinner for us. Catherine took the kids so we have the house all to ourselves. Sound good?"

"Great Doc." He said. "I need to go take a shower."

"Wait." She said. "We can take one together."

"Not this time. I’m sweaty and messy. I’ll be down soon." He said as he climbed the stairs leaving a stunned wife staring at him.

He walked into the bedroom and took off his damaged shirt. He stuck it in the corner of his closet and then undressed. He sniffed and could still smell the soft flowery scent of Brooke’s perfume. "You’re a fool Ridge Forrester." He said. "What were you thinking?" He took the rest of his clothes off and got into a steaming hot shower. He pounded the wall with his fist. "Why? Why did I do that?" He said to himself. "Why did I say that?"

Taylor cheerfully took the salads out of the refrigerator and put them on the table. She then lit the candles and smiled to herself. "He had a hard day and now he will have a wonderful, romantic night." She listened at the bottom of the stairs for the sound of the shower stopping.

"Sweetheart, are you almost ready?" She called to him.

"I’ll be down in a moment." He called back. He pulled clean underwear from his drawer and put them on. He then reached for his pants on the bed. As he slipped them on he saw that Brooke’s panties were stuck in the pocket. He took them out and stared at them. "Logan." He said softly. He went to his closet and hid them with his torn shirt. He them put on a clean shirt and went downstairs to his waiting wife.

"Nice and clean." She said with a hug and a kiss. "What’s wrong sweetie, you seem so distracted. Is Brooke giving you a hard time again? I heard she called a big meeting today. Did something go wrong?"

"The meeting was a disaster." He said. "I really would rather not think about it."

"Okay. Well sit down and I’ll get you something to drink. Would you like some wine or something stronger?"

"I’ll get it." He said. He walked over to the bar and poured himself a double shot.

"Wow, you really did have a bad day." Taylor said. "Come here and let me try to get rid of some of that tension."

He sat down on a comfortable chair and Taylor went behind him and started to massage his shoulders. "You are tense." She said.

Ridge abruptly stood up. "Sorry Taylor but this just isn’t going to work tonight. Let’s eat okay?"

"Sure." She said. They went into the dining room and sat down. Ridge ate his salad in silence while Taylor tried to start up small talk. Seeing it wasn’t working she stopped. She then got up and brought in the main course. She served them both and then opened the bottle of champagne.

"I thought we would celebrate a little. It’s been so long since we had dinner together and I also wanted to tell you how well it’s going at the clinic."

"The clinic?" He said absentmindedly.

"Yes, where I’m working now. Ridge you know all about it."

"Yeah, Peterson." He said.

"Pierce doesn’t work there, he only set it up. I’m in charge sweetheart and it is so much fun."

"That’s nice." He said.

"You sure are talkative tonight. But that’s okay, talking wasn’t really on the agenda anyway, if you know what I mean." She said suggestively.

He didn’t respond so they ate their meal in silence.

"Do you want dessert?" She asked. "I made mousse."

"Not right now." He said. "I think I’m tired. I think I’ll just go lie down."

"Okay honey. I’ll be right there."

Ridge walked up the stairs and into the bedroom. He kicked off his shoes and sat on the bed. "What have I done?" He said to himself. He sighed as he undressed down to his short. He pulled the bedspread off and got onto the bed and lay down. A few moments later Taylor walked in.

"All ready for me." She said with a smile. "Good, this is the dessert I wanted anyway." She quickly undressed until she was wearing a blue teddy. "You like?" She asked.

"You have to ask?" He replied.

She got onto the bed and he took her into his arms.

"Let Taylor take all your troubles away." She said as she started to kiss him. He closed his eyes to try and block out all the images that were flying at him. He barely flinched when her hand went into his shorts and started caressing him. Don’t think, don’t think. He told himself. After a few minutes she stopped and looked at him. "Sweetheart what’s wrong? This never happened before."

"I guess there’s a first time for everything." He said. "I’m tense Taylor, I’m sorry, let’s try again." He took her into his arms and kissed her but as hard as they tried nothing was happening.

"I don’t understand." She said. "I know." She lowered her mouth to him but still there was no response.

"I’m sorry Doc." He said sitting up. "I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight."

"I know what’s wrong." She said. "It’s Brooke."

"Bbrooke?" He stuttered.

"She’s been overworking you and it’s just not fair. I think I’m going to have to have a talk with her."

"Don’t, things are bad enough already. Don’t get involved Doc."

"I am involved, I’m your wife and right now she is invading our bedroom."

"Come here." He said pulling her into his arms kissing her. He tried and tried to clear his mind but he couldn’t. He abruptly jumped from the bed and into the bathroom. "Logan what are you doing to me." He said quietly.

 

Chapter 9

 

"She’s not in yet Ridge." Megan told him as he walked up to Brooke’s office door.

"That’s surprising. She’s usually the first one here."

"I know and I am concerned, she hasn’t even called. You were with her last night Ridge. Was anything wrong?"

"Why would you ask that?"

"Well this just isn’t like her."

"Did you try her at home?"

"There was no answer." She said.

"Well I know Bridget was staying with Donna for something or other." He said. "Look, I’m going to go in and get started. I’m sure she’ll be here any minute Megan."

He opened the door and walked in. He reached for the light and from the corner of his eye he saw her sleeping, still on the bed where he had left her the night before. " Oh my God Logan." He said softly. "What have I done to you?" He quickly closed and then locked the door. He quietly walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. "How can I make you understand? I don’t even understand myself." He gently touched her face. "Logan, come on honey, wake up."

"Huh?" She said opening her eyes. "Ridge? What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"Brooke, you’re still in your office."

She sat up and looked around. "Oh my God, I can’t believe it. Everyone is going to know something is wrong."

"Not at all. We’ll just tell them that you were working late and got tired and decided to sleep here. No harm in that."

"I have nothing to wear. I can’t wear the same clothes as yesterday."

"Logan, this is a fashion house. We have plenty of clothes. You just relax and I’ll bring you everything you need."

"Alright." She agreed. She looked at him sadly. "I’m sorry I got so upset last night, I’m sorry about everything about last night." She told him.

"We have to talk about last night."

"No Ridge, we have to forget about last night. I can’t get back on that merry-go-round. I loved you for too long, I hungered for you for too long. I can’t do it anymore. I’m just not strong enough."

"I don’t want to hurt you. I didn’t do it to hurt you."

"We got caught up in feelings from the past. I realized that. It wasn’t just your fault. I’m to blame as much as you. But it has to stop." She said as new tears ran from her eyes. "What really got to me was when you told me, told me." She started to sob. Ridge pulled her into his arms and held her.

"I meant it Logan. You think I didn’t but I did. I have loved you from the moment I set eyes on you and I will always love you."

"But you married someone else Ridge. I can’t listen to you say that you love me when you are married to someone else. Can’t you understand how much that hurts me?"

"You know why I married her Brooke."

"I know why you made the decision that you did, but you love her Ridge, you do or else you could never have left me like you did. It took me so long to admit that to myself and now you go and tear that all away."

"I do love her. We have a good life together, but in the back of my mind, my heart, you’re always there."

"Is that why you had to destroy what I had with Thorne? With anyone else for that matter?"

"You know as well as I do that he wasn’t right for you. It wasn’t real love." Brooke pulled away from him and faced him.

"How would you know that? You can tell me that you still love me and yet you love Taylor but I couldn’t possibly love Thorne."

"Maybe I was wrong." He admitted sadly. "If I was then I am genuinely sorry."

"Sorry doesn’t make it better Ridge." She said to him. "Look me in the eyes, look me in the eyes and tell me that you really want to see me happy. Tell me that you want me to have a man and love and everything that you have. Can you do that?"

Ridge looked down and then brought his eyes to hers. "I want you to be happy Logan, I want you to be loved."

"Then tell me, who would be good enough? Who would pass the Ridge Forrester test? Thorne didn’t, Grant didn’t, James didn’t, Pierce didn’t and I’m sure Sean doesn’t."

"Sean?" Ridge said with a laugh. "Now why would you even be interested in someone like him?"

"I loved him once. I could love him again if I let myself."

"You want him? Have him. I won’t stop you."

"How wonderful of you." She said sarcastically.

"I didn’t mean it like that. If you really want something with him I’ll try to be nicer to him. I don’t like him much but I will try, for you."

He gently brushed her hair back from her face.

"We have to try and forget what happened Ridge." She told him. "If not I don’t know how I can ever face you again. Or your wife."

"Can we try to be friends again?"

"Yes, no, I don’t know Ridge. It isn’t that easy. You can’t know how confused I am now. How much I." She looked at him and stopped.

"I do too." He said to her.

Her lower lip started to tremble as the tears slipped from her eyes. He leaned over to her and kissed her gently on the mouth. "If I could do anything to change things I would." He said.

"Change them how?" She asked.

"I don’t know." He honestly answered her. "I honestly don’t know."

 

"Hello Taylor." Stephanie said as her daughter-in-law entered her office. "What a pleasant surprise. What brings you down here this morning?"

"Well Ridge left before I got up and I really wanted to talk to him, but he isn’t in his office so I decided to stop by and say hello to you."

"And I’m glad you did." She smiled at her. Stephanie looked at Taylor, dressed in a bright blue suit. "Are you going somewhere special today? You look lovely."

"Ridge didn’t tell you?" Taylor asked. "I’m working again. I’m heading a new clinic. It’s such a wonderful opportunity."

"And Ridge? He approves?"

"I certainly don’t need his approval to work Stephanie, but he knows how I feel about it."

"He doesn’t like it though, does he?"

"Not too much. But he’ll get over it. Once he sees how happy and fulfilled I am."

"What about the children?"

"Catherine is wonderful, and we are also setting up a child care center at the clinic so I can spend more time with them."

"You said you were heading this clinic? Isn’t that a lot of work?"

"Yes, right now it is. But I’m hiring lots of doctor’s and nurses. I won’t work full time, I can make my own hours."

"How did you find out about this? If you don’t mind my asking?"

"Well I’m sure Ridge will tell you anyway, Pierce came into town and approached me about it."

"Oh no Taylor, no. You can’t be working with him again."

"I work for him. But he isn’t working at the clinic. He’ll just come in from time to time. Really Stephanie, you should have more faith in me. I love your son, I’d never do anything to betray him."

"You and Pierce went too far the last time and you know it."

"I know nothing of the sort. He was and is my friend and mentor."

"Taylor, Taylor, Taylor. You know how Ridge feels about him."

"You know for the longest time I had major problems about his working so closely with Brooke, but I got past that and it doesn’t bother me at all now. Certainly he can do the same. Pierce is no threat to my marriage, Brooke is no threat to my marriage, there are no threats to my marriage. I am happy and secure Stephanie, now be happy for me. This job is something I’ve needed for a long time."

"I just want you and Ridge to always be as happy as you are now. That’s all Taylor." She said with a hug. "Just listen to him and think about how this will affect your marriage."

"It won’t affect it at all." Taylor smiled. "I promise you that."

 

Ridge walked out of Brooke’s office and quietly approached Megan’s desk. "Megan, Brooke is in her office. She got too tired to drive last night and she slept here. I’m going to go get her something clean to put on. But she’s embarrassed so let’s just kept it between the three of us okay?"

"Sure Ridge. I’m just glad she’s alright."

"Why don’t you be a doll and order her some breakfast. She’s showering right now."

"Good idea, do you want anything?"

"Just coffee and maybe a roll or something." He said. "I’ll be right back, don’t let anyone in okay?"

"Okay Ridge." She smiled.

 

"Good morning Becky." Sean said with a smile as he walked up to his assistant. "Did you and Megan have fun last night?"

"Well we had fun, but we definitely need to find another place. The people at that club were so young."

Sean looked at her and laughed. "And what do you think you are?"

"I’m not a child." She said.

"I didn’t mean it like that, I meant you two are both lovely young ladies."

"These people were immature. But we’re going out again tonight so many we’ll have better luck."

"Looking for a new man in your life? "He asked.

"It never hurts." She smiled. "But we just want to have some fun."

"Well I’m all for that." He laughed again. "Do I have any important messages?"

"Not a one."

"Did Brooke call?"

"No. I don’t think she’s in yet."

"Okay then, I’ll be in my office." He started to walk in. "Say Becky."

"Yes?"

"Would you like to have lunch with me today?"

"Mmme? Yes, I love to."

"Good. I’ll make a reservation. How about one?"

"One is great." She grinned. He smiled at her and went into his office closing his door. "Yes!" Becky said aloud.

"Brooke?" Ridge called out as he went back into her office.

"In here." She called from the bathroom. "Just leave it on the bed."

"I want to make sure I have everything you need."

She walked out wrapped in a thick towel. "Okay, what did you bring me?"

"I have this dress." He held up a red dress with thin straps. It was short and sassy but appropriate for Forrester.

"Good choice." She smiled. "I hope you got me some underwear and hose and shoes."

"I did." He smiled. He held up a red sleeveless teddy.

"Ridge!" She said.

"Well you can’t wear straps under that."

"I suppose not." She said. "Hose and shoes?"

He handed her very sheer hose and a strappy pair of red shoes.

"My size too. You remembered."

"There is nothing about you I will ever forget Logan." He smiled.

"Well I thank you. Now get out so I can get dressed."

"I’ll wait by Megan."

"I think you better go back to your office. I need to be alone."

"Brooke, come on. I thought we were going to work this thing through."

"We are, but I need some time for myself."

"Not yet. Megan ordered us some breakfast and I refuse to eat alone."

"You always win don’t you?"

"I try to." He grinned.

"Okay then get out and I’ll open the door when I’m done."

"Okay Logan." He said. He smiled at her again and walked out. He stood and chatted with Megan for a few minutes when Taylor walked over.

"There you are Ridge." Taylor said as she approached Brooke’s office. "I can’t believe you left without saying goodbye this morning."

"You were sleeping so soundly. I didn’t want to wake you." He said as he gave her a quick kiss.

"You call that a kiss?" She teased.

"Sorry." He said with a smile as he kissed her again. "So what brings you down here?"

"I wanted to see you and talk to you before I went into work. I see you’re working with Brooke again."

"Please don’t start that."

"No sweetie, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just hope you can get whatever it is done so you can start coming home at a decent hour, and rested." She smiled.

"Let’s go to my office." He said. Suddenly the door to Brooke’s office opened and Brooke came out.

"Hello Taylor."

"Hi Brooke. What a pretty dress."

"Thanks, it’s one of your husbands." Brooke smiled.

"And what a talented husband I have." Taylor said kissing him.

"I totally agree." Brooke said.

"Logan, I’m going to go talk to Taylor and then I’ll be back."

"Take your time. I need to go see Sean anyway." She smiled at them both. "Nice seeing you Taylor." She said as she walked away.

"Sean? He’s the new designer isn’t he?"

"Yeah." Ridge concurred.

"Hmmm. Is Brooke interested in him outside of business?"

"I wouldn’t know." Ridge said taking her arm. "Come on, let’s go talk." He said as he led her to his office.

 

 

Brooke smiled and waved to Becky before she walked into Sean’s office and closed the door. He was on the phone but he motioned for her to sit down. She took a seat on his couch and started looking at some of the sketches he had been working on. She didn’t even notice that she had started to cry again but Sean did. He quickly ended his call and walked over to sit next to her.

"Brooke?" He said.

"You were right, you were right all along. I was so stupid not to know it myself."

"I was right about what?"

"Ridge. He still does get to me, he still has that power over me."

"You still love him." Sean said softly.

"No." She said. "It’s not that bad, but it could be."

"What did he do?"

"You’ll hate me."

"What did he do? I would never hate you."

Brooke looked at him and then turned away. "No, I can’t involve you in this. It’s over. It will never happen again. It was a big mistake."

"When?" Sean asked her.

"When what?" She asked turning back to him.

"When did you sleep with him?"

"Yesterday." She said. "I’m sorry Sean, I really am."

"You have nothing to apologize for Brooke. We aren’t in a relationship. I just got back. I’ve been pressuring you for something I knew you weren’t ready for. But I could kill him for doing that to you."

"We did it to each other Sean. I wanted him as much, maybe more."

"So now what?"

"We agreed to try and forget all about it. It won’t be easy but we have to."

"Can you?"

She looked at him with sad, tear stained eyes. "I doubt it." He pulled her into his arms and held her while she cried. "You know Sean, up until yesterday I was a strong woman. I really was. I wasn’t ever going to let anyone get to me like he had. But then, then." She put her head on his shoulder. "I shouldn’t be burdening you with this."

"It’s not a burden, I’m your friend." He told her. "But I have to ask you. Is this going to make it difficult for us to all pull this thing together because it really is important that we do."

"I think I can handle it. No, I know I can. I will be strong again. I have to be."

 

 

Ridge and Taylor walked into the office and he shut the door. Taylor put her arms around him and kissed him. "I missed you this morning. I thought we could make up for last night."

"I’m sorry about last night Doc. I was under a lot of stress."

"I know sweetie, and I didn’t make things any easier but I will from now on."

"Oh really?" He asked with a smile.

"Or I can make them hard if you’d rather." She said suggestively as her hand made it’s way down his body. She was a little shocked as Ridge’s hand grabbed hers at his waist. He took her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

"I’m not sure if I’m up to things yet Doc." He said.

"Well why don’t we find out?"

"I think I’d rather do that at home if you don’t mind."

"What is it Ridge? Are you that mad at me about this job?"

"If that was it would you quit?"

"No. Ridge I need this. I want this. But I want us too. You, me, our family, that’s what’s the most important thing to me. But it isn’t the only thing. What if I asked you to stop working?"

"Right now I’d thank you."

"It’s that bad?" She asked.

"Almost Doc, almost."

"Well you seemed to be getting along with Brooke before, or was that an act for me and Megan?"

"No, it has nothing to do with Brooke, it’s Dad. Taylor I really don’t want to get into this right now. I’m more concerned with why you have this need to take on a job like this."

"It isn’t the job and you know it. It’s Pierce."

"I don’t like him and I don’t want him around you."

"Well you’ll be happy to know he isn’t interested in me anymore." She said with a look.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"He’s planning on asking Brooke out."

"Brooke?" Ridge said with a not too hidden touch of jealousy.

 

Pierce sat at Taylor’s desk at the new clinic and stared at the picture of her girls. He picked it up and walked over to the window and looked at again in the bright light.

"It can’t be? But then why not?" He said to himself. He reached into his pocket and took out his wallet. He opened it to the photo section and held up an old picture of a little boy and a little girl. He put it next to the picture of Phoebe and Stephanie.

"Hello Mr. Peterson." The new receptionist said as she walked over to him. "Oh how sweet. Now which of those girls is that in the picture and who is the little boy with her?"

"It’s not one of her girls Missy, it’s me and my sister when we were younger."

"My goodness. Your sister looks just like those twins. In fact you look like you could be. Oh, excuse me, I’m overstepping here." She blushed and started to walk away.

"It’s just coincidence Missy." He said. "Just a bunch of cute blonde kids."

"Yes," She said. "I’m sure you’re right." She walked out of the office obviously very embarrassed.

"Oh Taylor, why didn’t you tell me? How could you have kept this from me?"

 

Chapter 10

 

 

"I’m sorry I burdened you with all this." Brooke said as she disengaged herself from Sean. "You’ve been such a good friend to me and I know you don’t deserve this."

He looked at her thoughtfully. "You know something Brooke, sometimes we can recreate the past and sometimes it’s just destined to stay there. You and I, we had our time. I wanted more but I can see we’ve moved too far. But I’ll always be here for you. And I’ll always support you."

"Sean." She started.

"No, let me finish. I knew then what I still know now. You love him. Maybe it will never happen but you still love him."

"And that too is destined to stay in the past." She said. "We had a taste of what might have been and it was, it was, I’m not sure what it was."

"It was everything you ever wanted in life." He supplied.

"Yeah." She said sadly. She leaned over and kissed him. "Thanks Sean." She said getting up.

"See you later." He said as she walked out of his office.

 

 

"I was pretty shocked too." Taylor said to Ridge. "I can’t imagine what he and Brooke could ever have in common. Not that I’m putting her down but he’s so much more sophisticated then she is. He’s so different."

"Brooke isn’t interested in that quack. She just used him to make me jealous."

"And it worked." She laughed. "But that is ancient history and she is no longer in the equation. And sweetie, it feels so good knowing that."

"Where is all this coming from Taylor?"

"I don’t know, your mother I guess. She is forever thinking that you still have any feelings for Brooke. I know you don’t, I mean you respect her but you really aren’t even friends anymore."

"We are friends Doc. Brooke is a good friend. Why would you think differently?"

"Now are you trying to make me feel insecure?" She asked teasingly.

"I think I’ve had about all of that a man can stand in a lifetime Taylor." He said.

"Why are you fighting with me? I came here to try and fix things from last night and all you seem to want to do is argue."

"I’m sorry Doc." He said pulling her into his arms. "I know you did. I guess I’m just way too stressed out. Forgive me?"

"Always." She said. She pulled him closer and kissed him deeply and tenderly. "I love you Ridge." She said as she reached to touch him. He moaned as she took hold of him through his pants but again was surprised to get no reaction. "Ridge! What’s wrong?" She asked.

"Just leave it alone." He said pulling away. "Look we can talk about this at home. I’m overworked and stressed out and this isn’t helping it Taylor."

"Alright." She said angrily. "I’ll see you tonight." She grabbed her purse and stormed out of his office.

"You are treading on thin ice Forrester." He told himself.

 

"Megan, Megan he asked me out. He asked me to lunch." Becky said to her friend.

"Who? What?" Megan said excitedly.

"Sean. He asked me to go to lunch with him and I don’t think it’s a business thing."

"Are you sure? I mean I don’t doubt you but he is sort of into Brooke."

"I know but he did ask me. Maybe he’s only dating her. Maybe he’s playing the field. Oh Megan maybe I have a chance with him. God he is so sexy."

"Becky be careful, I don’t want to see you get hurt over him. And I would also hate to see you and Brooke becoming enemies."

"I never thought about that." Becky said. "No, if it’s serious with them I won’t get involved but maybe it isn’t. She was in his office before and she was crying when she left. Maybe they broke up."

"She didn’t come back here." Megan said. "I wonder where she went. She’s been getting calls all morning and I don’t know what to tell anyone."

Ridge then walked up to them. "Hi girls. Is your boss is?"

"Sorry Ridge, I have no idea where she is. She was with Mr. Damon before but not anymore." Megan told him. "She never came back for her breakfast."

"Well I better go find her." He said. "Maybe she’s trying to smooth things with Dad."

Becky and Megan looked at each other.

"I know, I know. That didn’t go very well did it?" Ridge said. "But it will, Brooke is right, things have to change." He looked thoughtfully. "Lot’s of things have to change."

"Well if you find her please tell her she has about fifteen calls to return." Megan said.

"Yeah." He said distractedly.

Ridge walked to Eric’s office and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Eric said.

Ridge opened the door and entered.

"Oh, if it isn’t my traitor son. Here to give me the pink slip?" Eric said.

"Actually I was looking for Brooke."

"She’s not here and furthermore she is not welcome here. That woman is making me the laughingstock of this industry."

"Calm down Dad. It’s completely inside. No one at all knows what’s going on. Brooke is only trying to increase sales."

"She’ll be the death of this company and you know it." Eric said.

"Obviously you aren’t in the mood to discuss this. I’ll talk to you later." Ridge said walking out. As he shut the door he felt someone grab his arm. He jumped and turned to see Stephanie.

"Mother, you startled me."

"Can we talk?" She asked.

"If this is about the meeting I am totally in agreement with Brooke and Sean."

"Let’s go to my office, please." She said.

 

 

"Good morning Taylor." Pierce said getting up from her chair as Taylor entered her office.

"Pierce? I didn’t expect to see you here today."

"I hope you aren’t disappointed." He smiled at her.

"Not in the least. I had a rather grueling morning and I’ll take all the friendly faces I can get."

"Is Ridge still giving you a hard time about the job?"

"Yes, but I didn’t expect differently. I just hoped."

"Come here." He said walking to the window.

Taylor followed him over.

"Look." He said to her. "See the sun shining on that building over there? It looks like it’s on fire and yet it is beautiful isn’t it?"

"Yes." She said. "It is."

"And look down at the gardens. Have you ever seen a more spectacular arrangement of colors? I hired someone to do that. To pick the most perfect colors and put them side by side. Now look at the sky. It’s a beautiful shade of blue. Now Taylor, how can you be unhappy on a day like today?"

"You certainly have a way of seeing the best in things." She said.

"It’s what I, no it’s what we do for a living. Taylor you and I are so alike. We see things the same way. We can look at something and see beauty in it where no one else can. Do you have any idea how lucky we are?"

"I think I’m the lucky one." She said. "I’m so glad you’ve come back into my life." She smiled at him.

"You may not be for long Taylor." He said.

"No why would you say that? Because of Ridge? Don’t worry about that. He will get used to this. It’s a job, a wonderful opportunity for me. He will learn to accept it."

Pierce walked to her desk and picked up the picture of her children and looked at it. He then put it down again.

"I know." Taylor said. "You’re worried about my family. That is so like you Pierce. But Ridge and I have a good solid marriage. We’re a happy family and my taking a job he isn’t fond of isn’t going to change that."

"Taylor, I have to ask you something." He said seriously.

"What?"

"Did you ever tell him? Does he know about us?"

"Us? Pierce there is no us. We made a mistake, we shared something special one time but something we both regret. What good could ever come of my telling my husband?"

"I don’t regret it Taylor. At least I didn’t until I came back."

"Are you saying that you think something is going to happen between us? Pierce it can’t, it won’t. I love Ridge and that’s all there is to it."

He picked up the picture again. "Taylor, why didn’t you tell me?"

 

"I hope this is important Mother cause I’m really busy." Ridge said as he sat down in Stephanie’s office.

"It is Ridge. It’s about Taylor."

"What about her?"

"Why are you letting her do this? Why are you letting her work with that man again?"

"I tried to stop her but she made up her mind. She doesn’t seem to care how I feel about it."

"You know that he is a danger to your marriage."

"I wish people would let me worry about my own marriage."

"People? Who else is concerned?"

"Mother Taylor and I can work out our own problems."

"You shouldn’t have to have problems."

"That would be real normal now wouldn’t it?" He said. "What did she say to you?"

"That you were upset but that there are no threats to your marriage. Now you and I both know that is not true. Pierce Peterson is a threat. You don’t like him and he has an unhealthy interest in your wife. And then there’s Brooke."

"Would you leave Brooke out of this. She’s having a hard enough time lately without you on her case."

"I don’t like the way you two seem to be working together lately."

"Well it’s helping the company. Brooke is a smart woman mother. She and I work well together. Don’t make more of it than there is."

"I’m worried about her making more of it."

"I don’t have time for this." He said getting up. "I have to go now."

He walked to the door and let himself out. "She’s not with Dad, she’s not with Sean or Mother. Could she be with Thorne?" He asked himself. He headed to his brother’s office. When he approached the door he could hear the sounds of a sexual encounter. He gritted his teeth in anger as he heard his brother cry out.

"God yes, you are the best. Yes, like that oh yes, yeah baby."

"You bastard." Ridge said under his breath as he put his hand on the knob. He was just about to open the door when he heard Kimberly scream in passion.

"Thorne, oh Thorne I love you. Please, please harder baby harder."

"Kimberly?" Ridge said. "Baby brother you are one sick puppy." He said as a smile replaced his anger. He started to head back to his office when he noticed a light on in the lab.

"Logan?" He said as he walked in.

"Ridge I am so excited." She said. "I was going to call you but I wanted to work on this a little bit longer."

"What are you doing down here?"

"What I was trained to do, what makes me feel smart and good." She said. "Come here and help me."

He walked over to her. "So what are you working on?"

"Okay." She said. "This material is the most basic cotton you can find, good real earthy cotton. But you know how it can get stained and shrink right?"

"Yeah?" He said.

"Get that bottle over there." She said.

Ridge grabbed the bottle she pointed to. "What is it?"

"Oh lots of things, iodine, cooking oil, chocolate syrup. Now pour it on that piece of material." She said.

"Okay." He said as he did as she requested. "Now what?"

"Rub it in. Make sure it really is ground in." She said with a smile.

He grinned at her as he did it. "How’s that?" He asked.

"Oh give it to me." She said. She took it from him and put it on the floor and stamped on it and started to laugh. "Now it’s ready." She picked it up. "Now we let it set for a day or so."

"A day or so? Come on Logan, I want to see what happens."

"You will. I did the same thing two days ago. Now look." She pulled another piece even more stained then that one. And then one that was totally clean and untouched. "I did the same thing to both of these."

"What?" he said. "That one looks brand new."

"I know." She said beaming. "And I washed and dried it in hot water. Ridge it works! Put that on in the washer, go ahead."

"Okay." He said taking the stained one. He put it in the washer.

"Set it to hot and we wait, that is if you can stay for awhile."

"Nothing could tear me away." He said. "You know I just love seeing you this excited about something."

"I never should have gotten so far from my roots."

"What made you come back?" He asked.

"I had an idea. I started looking into it and then Sean said something to me about choices and I just had to do it. But Ridge, this is so exciting. This is when I feel whole. Do you understand at all?"

He looked into her sparkling eyes. "I understand so much more than I did before Brooke, so much more."

He pulled her into his arms and held her. She looked up at him. "What? What is it that you understand?"

"That I love you. That I’ve always loved you. That I can’t pretend that I don’t anymore. That I need you in my life."

"Ridge no." She said trying to pull from him. "You promised me."
"Logan." He said softly as he brought his lips to hers. She tried to pull herself away but instead her arms went around him and they intensified their kiss. Brooke shivered when she felt the zipper on the back of her dress go down. She stepped back slightly to let the dress fall to the floor. She then moved closer to him and felt herself melt into his arms.

"We weren’t going to do this anymore Ridge. It’s going to ruin everything." She said but still she couldn’t tear herself from his arms.

"We’ll fix it, we’ll make it right." He told her kissing her face. "Somehow we’ll make it all right again."

"And I’ll be alone." She said pulling herself from him.

"No." He said. "That isn’t what I meant." He grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. "I love you Brooke Logan."

"I love you too Ridge, but what good does that do either one of us? We have an affair? We have wonderful sex and then you go home to your wife and family and I go home alone. Is that really what you want for me? Because Ridge, it’s not what I want. I want you but not that way, never that way."

He pulled her over to a chair and sat her on his lap. "Brooke, I’ve made mistakes in my life. Some big and some small. I’ll never think of my children as mistakes because I love them, I love them so very much. But the biggest mistake I ever made was when I walked away from you."

"Wwwwhat?" She asked him with widening eyes.

"I love you." He said as a huge smile crossed his face. "I love you so very much Brooke. I’m just so damn sorry it took me so long to see it."

"What are you telling me?" She asked.

"I want it back, I want us back. I want you, you Brooke. I want our life back."

"Our life? What does that mean Ridge? Tell me, what does that mean?"

"This is happening so fast. I haven’t had time to think. All I know is that I can’t be without you anymore. Not for another day."

"Oh God. Ridge, please. I can’t go through this if you don’t mean it."

"I mean it with all my heart Brooke."

"And Taylor?" She asked.

"I’ll have to deal with that, it won’t be your problem, it’s mine."

"How? How can we do this? Ridge I won’t be your mistress." She said.

"What?" He asked her. "Don’t you understand me? I want you to be my wife."

"No." She said. "This is cruel, you are so cruel Ridge, this is Venice all over. Why are you doing this to me? What more is there for me to give you? You can’t keep playing these games with me."

"This is not a game, you have to trust me Logan."

Brooke got up from his lap.

"Trust you? After everything you’ve done you want me to trust you? How can I ever trust you again? You want to f*ck me Ridge, I let you, you want to do it again, fine, I’m too weak to fight you. But trust you? No, I’ll never trust you again. So come on." She said. "Let’s f*ck Ridge. That what you really want isn’t it." She tore at the ties on the teddy. "Come on, I’m ready for you. I’m hot for you." She pulled at her teddy until she tore it off and stood in front of him with just the thigh high hose and her heels.

"What’s wrong Ridge? Don’t you want me?"

"Logan." He said.

"I can see that you do. Come on big man, take me why don’t you?"

"Stop it Logan!" He shouted pulling her to him. "God Damn it stop it!"

They looked at each other and his mouth enveloped hers. She pulled at his belt and then his pants. He let go of her long enough to pull them off and them pull her back to him. Their bodies met in instant combustion as they moved with each other. Not once did their mouths stop searching each other out as they built to a long and satisfying climax. Sweaty and sated Ridge held her tightly.

"Don’t doubt me Logan, I meant every word I said."

"Only while you said them Ridge." She said. "But you got what you wanted anyway. Brooke the fool fell for the pretty words. Tell me Ridge, is Taylor going to walk in now and say I told you so? But then what would that prove. You’ve already taken everything I have. My body, my love, my dignity. Now please let go of me. I have work to do." She got out of his arms and started to dress.

"I’ll prove it to you Logan. I swear I will."

"I won’t hold my breath." She said as she zipped her dress. "Do me a favor and shut the lights when you’re done." And with her head held high she walked out of the lab.

 

 

"Why didn’t I tell you what Pierce?" Taylor asked. She took the picture from his hand, looked at it and smiled. "What was I supposed to tell you?"

"You don’t see it at all do you?" He said. What should I do Taylor? He thought. Rock our whole world? But those are my children and I have a right to be in their lives. What should I do?

"I don’t see what?" She asked. "You certainly are acting strangely."

"Taylor we need to talk about that night."

"Pierce, it was so long ago. I was so insecure in my marriage and you were so kind to me."

"I didn’t make love to you out of kindness."

"No, but that’s what it was to me. It was beautiful, but it was once and it was over. I love my husband, we have three beautiful children together. Pierce if things were different I could see me in your life but not now. Please try to understand that, or else I will have to agree with Ridge and not work here."

"I didn’t come back into your life to seduce you or to steal you from your husband. I came because I knew that you were the perfect choice. Now certain things have happened that I have to deal with, and frankly I’m not quite sure how to do it."

"Can I help? Can I be a sounding board for you?" She asked.

"Well I have a patient. I can’t tell you her name because that is against everything we hold sacred."

"Of course, but maybe someone else’s perspective can help."

"Alright Taylor let’s sit down and talk about her." He led her to the couch and they sat down. "The circumstances remind me of our night, I guess that’s why it’s so fresh in my mind."

"Alright. I’ll try and be objective."

"This woman was married and she was unhappy."

"Now see." Taylor smiled. "No comparison at all."

"Anyway, she met a man, at a bar. They had a long conversation and found that they had a lot in common. He asked her to have dinner with him the next night and she agreed."

"And she lied to her husband about it?" She asked.

"He was working so he never knew."

"Okay."

"Anyway they had dinner and a long talk and they agreed to meet again. They actually became good friends. Neither one of them planned on anything happening but one night they gave into their passion."

"And this is your similarity I suppose."

"Yes."

"They agreed that it wouldn’t happen again and they even stopped seeing each other."

"But she’s guilty? Does she want to tell her husband? Are they still together"

"So many questions." He laughed. "Well no, she and her husband started to see things better and tried to work things out. They decided to have a baby to solidify their family."

"You certainly aren’t saying that that is what we did are you Pierce? Ridge and I both agreed we wanted more children."

"Did I even mention you? Let me finish." He told her. "The husband was excited about having a child and was willing to take the time to do it all right but the wife rushed it. She wanted it now. Right away."

"Was she guilty about her affair?"

"No Taylor, she was pregnant." He said.

"Oh dear, and she passed her lovers child off to her husband as his own?"

"At first that was her plan but eventually she convinced herself that the child was her husbands and now she is so wrapped up in it that she thinks it is."

"Does the husband suspect anything?"

"No, I don’t think so."

"Then why is she seeing you? I don’t understand Pierce, if she thinks it’s her husbands and, no wait. Is this under hypnosis? Did she tell you the truth that way?"

"Do you think that would work? If she didn’t want to admit it would she?"

"I don’t know, that’s your field. But then why is she seeing you?"

"She saw her lover again."

"And they started up again?"

"No, he saw her child. And he knew, he knew it was his child."

"I don’t, I don’t understand." She said in a panicky voice.

"I think you do Taylor." He said. "I think you understand perfectly what I’m telling you."

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