Against All Odds Chapter 101 Stephanie’s Downfall

Caspian had a lot to do and a small amount of time to do it in. He called his sister’s voicemail and left a message for her to make the Forrester Stock Holder’s meeting for that day. With Lark’s personal records missing, he had to make some adjustments. He didn’t believe in coincidences and knew that the records had gone missing for reasons, but he didn’t have time to investigate that matter at the moment, but he would. He had a trip to make. The doctor’s whose name was on Brooke’s birth certificate was still alive and he intended to find out if there had been another baby born to Beth Logan that day.

“Don’t ask questions that you aren’t ready for.” Was what Brooke had said to him in her office over an hour ago? What in the hell did that mean? He was used to a lot of things with Brooke because she wasn’t predictable, however, he wasn’t used to her being evasive. He wished that he had time to figure out what she had meant but he hadn’t had the time to give it a lot of thought. Between, Bridget, his father, his marriage and work, he just didn’t have time to figure out her cryptic message.
“ Ridge, did he hear what I just said?”
“What?” He hadn’t been listening.
KC gave him a quizzical look.“ This is about your design. I asked you about the material, are you sure you want to use just champagne colored silk because I think that it will look better if it was done in sequin and silk, especially around the bodice. It will give it a more dramatic look.
“ Oh. Sure, you’re right.”
KC doubted that he had heard anything that she had been saying. Ridge’s mind certainly wasn’t on business. “ Do you want to do this later?”
“ No. Sorry. I know that this has to be done because the board meeting will be in a few minutes.” He looked over his design and agreed with KC’s initial assessment. The sequin would give it a dramatic flare. Add some vintage jewelry, a brooch, would give this a classic elegance.“ You are right. I’ll contact Thorne to let him know to make the order the sequin.”
“You mean Lamar.”
“Lamar?” Lamar worked under directly Thorne, in the materials division.
“ You still aren’t reading your interoffice e-mail, are you?” KC shook her head. Brooke sent one, this morning, which stated that, all orders for fabrics will be sent to Lamar from now on. It seems that he is got a promotion and will be in charge of fabrics from now on.

Megan placed the chilling bottle of champagne in the fully stocked min-bar/fridge behind Thorne’s new office desk. “ I still can’t believe what she has done to this office. It’s amazing, isn’t it?” The walls were painted in a rich chocolate color, which matched the dark stained furniture. An opulent chocolate and bronze rug covered the floor, designer chairs faced the desk while the plush chocolate sofa on the small platform right in from the bay windows which now opened up to a balcony. The brash and wooden lamps, office décor along with a huge bronze map hung on the wall identifying Forrester in LA, Paris and all the subsidiaries boutiques. Toward the right of the office, there was a door that opened to private conference room that would be used to conduct business. Brooke touched the fresh flowers, which sat on top of a table. “She did am amazing job and in such a small amount of time. I should have her redo my office.”
“ Your office? Your office is beautiful.”
“ I know but it would be nice for a change of scenery. Anything different at this point and time would be nice.”
Megan noted the weariness in Brooke’s voice. Touching her slightly on her shoulder, she looked at her with concern. “ Are you alright?”
“ It’s nothing. I think that I’m just a little overwhelmed with everything going on. However I’m glad that I can do something for Thorne. He at least deserves something for all the hard work that he has done here.”
“ Are you sure that is all that it is that you want to do? It seems like when you mention him; you are carrying around a lot of guilt. For no reason, I might add.”
“ I still care a great deal for Thorne. I’m not saying that I wasn’t upset of finding out that he had affair with Kimberly but that it seems like a lifetime ago. So, much as happened since then.” Brooke had a chance to offer Thorne his freedom, but she had given it away in order to save Bridget. Sighing heavily, she picked up a framed photo of the Forrester family that sat on the mantelpiece behind the desk. “ It’s all in the past, right now. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t care about Thorne or the baby that he is going to have.”
“He’s going to love your surprise for him. It’s a wonderful gesture.”

Sally frowned as she and her attorney spoke over a cup of coffee at Insomnia. “Are you telling me that the bank turned down our loan?”
Fredrick shook his head. “Sally the company is always teetering on the brink of financial disaster. They can’t use the company itself as collateral and you don’t have stock in anything else nor do you own anything worth any value.”
Sally put her hands on her hips. “ My company is worth a great deal of value. I’ve put my blood sweat and tears into that company. I put my soul into that company! It’s worth a great deal to me.” She dramatically sat down in her chair. “ Even when my sweet Macy died, I had my company. I can’t afford to lose it.”
Fredrick touched Sally’s hand lightly. He felt so sorry for the woman. Sally was sometime brass and over the to but she meant well. She had a good heart. Losing her company might kill her. “ Is there anything you can do? Can’t you talk to Kimberly?”
“ I just don’t know. I tried but she won’t listen. ”
“ I don’t understand it. Kimberly is a Forrester, why would she need money.”
“That little bitch doesn’t need money. This is probably some scheme of the Forresters to take the competition out.” Fredrick wasn’t sure that Sally was right. Forrester had never been too concerned about Spectra. Still he had to find a way to help Sally. “ Sally, we have one option to take.”
“ Yeah, what’s that?”
“ An investor. We need to find somebody to invest into Spectra.”


Scott opened the door to his apartment to find a very distraught Bridget. Seeing her beautiful yet tear stained face made his heart hurt with regret to what happened earlier that morning. She launched herself into his waiting arms as he held her tightly. “ It was so horrible.” She cried against his chest.
“Shh. Bridget.” He kissed the top of her head. “ Don’t cry.”
She looked up into his face.“ I can’t believe that she acted like that. My mother’s so unfair. She didn’t even listen. She just made a rash decision.”
He closed the door behind her and fingered a tear that ran down her cheek. “ I’m sorry that you had to go through that Bridget.”
“ It isn’t your fault. It’s hers.” Bridget stated poutedly as she stalked to the sofa.
The last thing that Scott wanted was to come between Bridget and her mother. “ Listen, I know that you are upset right now but I don’t think that your mother wanted to hurt you.”
Bridget stood shell-shocked. “ Not you too. First Caspian and then my grandmother too. Scott, please. Please tell me that she didn’t get to you as well.”
“Get to me?”
“ When you were talking with her earlier. What did she say to you?”
“ Bridget, she didn’t say much.”
“ You are lying! I know her, she was persuasive, wasn’t she.” Panic set in. There was no way that Bridget was going to let her mother ruin things for her. “ Please, don’t listen to her. She doesn’t understand.”
He had never experienced anything like this. He didn’t want to hurt Bridget; he cared too much however he didn’t want to destroy her relationship with her mother. “ Your mother. She isn’t a bad person.”
“ But she’s wrong. Just listen to what she thought about you and us. She thought it was nothing more than about sex when it’s further from the truth. You’ve treated me with respect, love and understanding that no boy my age has ever has. Scott, you understand me and my love for art. You’d never pressure me to do something that I wasn’t ready for.” Grasping his hands, Bridget pulled him toward her. Lightly stroking his hair, she looked at him with pure love. “ I’ve never felt this way about anybody before, have you?”
He couldn’t deny the truth. “No, sweet Bridget, I haven’t. But you mother ….”
“ Shhh. She doesn’t understand. My mom, like your mom, hasn’t really had an easy time with love. She sometimes confuses it with sex so hard for her to understand this or us. I’m at a time in my life where everything is complicated and confusing but when I’m with you it all fades away. I don’t care what my mother says. I can’t stop seeing you. Please tell me that you feel the same way. Please don’t cut me loose when I need you.” Her mouth quivered as she tried to hold back the tears that she felt in her heart. Scott couldn’t watch her being in so much pain. Not when he was falling in love with her.

Taylor had been reading up on the bone marrow transplants when Katherine opened the door to the den. “Taylor, there is a visitor for you. It’s Pierce Peterson.”
“ Ask him to come in.” Katherine quickly left the study and a few minutes later, Pierce arrived. Taylor hadn’t seen him since the night that things got out of him between them yet she couldn’t think of anybody else she trusted enough. Funny, she thought. In all the time she had been married to Ridge, she hadn’t made any real women friends. Only Stephanie and Morgan and they weren’t her friends. She regretted not making another other friends but them.
Pierce waited unit Katherine closed the door before he spoke.“ Taylor. I’m so glad that you called. I’ve been feeling bad since the last time that we were together.”
“ Pierce, I owe you an apology for that night. I don’t know what got into me. What almost happened wasn’t your fault.”
“ You can to me for advice and we kissed.”
“ That all that happened. It was a kiss…”
“ That could have turned into something else. The last thing that I ever wanted to do was to make you feel uncomfortable around me.” He looked somewhat embarrassed.
Pierce had been pleasantly surprised to get Taylor’s call. He didn’t want his past attraction or their foolish mistake to get “ So, we are still friends?”
“ Yes, Pierce. We most certainly are. What happened between us is forgotten. The way that I feel lately, I think that you may be my only real friend.”
He heard the trepeditation in her voice. “ Taylor. What’s wrong?”
“ Everything. Everything was perfect and in one false move, thing went to hell.”


Thorne was on a conference call with a buyer when he opened the door to his office. Everything was gone. He stopped. “Listen, Rene, I’ll have to call you back.”
He looked around in disbelief. “What the hell is going on here?” He stepped of his office to see Marlo walking past. “Marlo, do you know what happened to my office.”
“ No.” She peeked inside of the office. “ You got cleaned out, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. I got cleaned out.” He said annoyed. “ I can see that.”
“ What did you do? Piss off the boss.”
“Very funny Marlo. I’m going to fine out what has happened.”


Caspian opened the door to the small office of the Chesterville Health Clinic. Making his way through the throng of people, he went to the small desk enclosed behind glass. The slightly graying African American woman in a nurse’s uniform glanced at him.
“ Excuse me. I’m looking for Dr. Potter.”
“ Take a number honey and then fill this out. Make sure that you have your insurance card ready because it will make things a lot easier.” She passed him an application and slide the glass window. Looking down at the application, he pushed it aside and knocked on the window again. She looked at him and pushed the window aside. “ I already told you honey. Fill out the application, and then you’ll come back to me. After that, if your insurance checks out then you’ll be on the waiting list to see Dr. Potter.”
“ I’m not sick.”
She tilted her eyeglasses down and giving him a hard stare. ‘Then, what do you need to see the doctor for?”
“ It’s a personal matter.”
Laughing, Millie body jiggled. “ Sweetheart. I’ve been working here for 30 years and you best believe that there isn’t a personal thing around here that I don’t know about. So, Mr. Expensive suit, there is only one way that you are going to see Dr. Potter, is if you fill out that application and then we can talk. Because nobody gets to see him without the proper paperwork. He knew that there were other ways to get what he wanted but he didn’t have time. He also was sure that his good looks or charm wasn’t going to work on Millie. He took the application and took a seat next to woman holding a feverish little girl. The little girl sneezed hard, on Caspian. “Sorry,” the woman murmured.
“ It’s alright, she can’t help that she isn’t feeling well.” He handed the little girl a handkerchief, smiling softly at her. She was cute as a cherub. “ Don’t worry little one, you’ll be feeling better soon.”

Kristen opened the door to Thorne’s new office. “Get ready he’s coming this way.” Thorne’s new office was filled with staff that was ready to congratulate him. The door opened and everyone was ready when Ridge stepped in.
“ Ahh, they groaned. It’s only Ridge.” Lamar cried out.
“ Only Ridge? Is that anyway to greet me?”
“ We thought you were Thorne. Now, get out the way.” Kristen stated playfully.
“ Your first day here little sister and you are already giving orders.”
“ Just get out of the way Ridge.” Megan said, he is coming.

Thorne had tried to find Brooke but Sharon said that she was in one of the offices down the hall. He opened the door when suddenly he heard the yell of surprise. There some of the staff, Ridge, Kristen, KC, Megan and Brooke. “ What the…” He looked around at the newly decorated office. “ What’s going on here?”
“ Take a look little brother, this is your new office.”
“New office?” Thorne looked around at his surroundings. His office was impressive. The décor, the tone that it set, it was an office for a man of importance.
“ It is something, isn’t it little brother. Hell, its better than mine.” Ridge opened the bottle of champagne and started to pour for everyone. Thorne looked around and found Brooke standing on the balcony.
“You did this.”
Brooke said softly. “ I thought it was time that you had an office to match your new position.”
“ New position?
“ Yes, Vice President Production for National and International Forrester.”
“What?” He was floored by this news.
“ You did a wonderful job with your assignments at International Forrester. You’ve always had good relationship with the people there. We made the decision of putting production for both companies under one umbrella is a huge one but one which will help the company. I need someone who can make tough decisions, has the instinct and the desire to do well, and knows this company. I think that your potential has been neglected and I’m sorry for that. Both Eric and I are.”
“ Dad knows about this?”
“ Yes, I talked with him about this. We both think that you are more than capable of doing this. However it means that you’d spending a lot of time in International so we already have one of our penthouses set up for you for residence when you are there. If you’d like we could make arrangements for a doctor for uh…Kimberly.” Brooke colored.
“That won’t be necessary. I don’t want to bother her in her condition.”
“It’s up to you. Just enjoy the promotion and all of the hard work. Because there is going to be plenty of it.”
“Thank you.”
“ I know that you needed…something.”
He rang his fingers through his hair. “Lately, I’ve been out of sorts.”
“ Because of me.”
“ You?’
“ You wouldn’t have married Kimberly if it hadn’t been for me. You made a mistake however you don’t deserve to be married to a woman you don’t love.”
“Especially when I still love someone else.” He whispered. Looking into her beautiful face filled her with longing.
Seeing the longing, Brooke turned away. “ I had better get going, we’ve got a stock holders meeting in a few minutes.” She turned to leave, when Thorne pulled her back toward him.
Ridge watched Brooke and Thorne together feeling a sense of dread. His brother was still in love with Brooke. But it was a lost cause. Thorne was married to Kimberly. “ Hey you two. Thorne, you better got your butt out here to celebrate.”
Thorne looked at his brother before he turned his attention back to Brooke. She gave him a sheepish smile. “ We better get going.” She untangled herself from him and made her way back down to his office to mingle with the employees. Looking over her shoulders found him looking at her with wanting.

Scott handed Bridget a cup of hot steaming tea. “Here, drink this, I think that it will calm your nerves.”
Wiping the reminisce of tears off her face, she took the tea.
“ I don’t think that anything can make me feel better.”
“Try.” He was worried about her. She was very pale and he knew that stress was not good for her condition.
Sipping softly, she allowed the warm liquid to spread through her body. The tea, Scott had made was a calming tea, make specifically to ease the nerves. He watched her as she finished off the cup. Noticing the pallor of her face, he tucked strands of her hair behind his ears. “ You’ve got to calm down Bridget, getting upset isn’t good for your health.”
“ Being away from you isn’t going to help me.”
“ Your mother, she’s just concerned and worried.”
“About the wrong thing.”
“ But t her, it isn’t the wrong thing.”
Turing to him, her eyes widened. “ What are you saying?”
“ Bridget, I think that you have to give your mom some time to think about things. Right now, she was shocked and her reaction is predictable considering…”
“ Considering what?”
“ Considering your age.”
Pulling slightly away from him, Bridget was hurt. “ My age. Since when did it matter to you? I thought that you said that it didn’t matter.”
“ It didn’t?”
“ Didn’t..” Fresh tears formed in Bridget’s eyes. “ It didn’t this morning. But now it does..”
“ It’s complicated. Your mother and father would certainly disapprove. Brooke’s right about your health being an issue. I don’t want to get in the way of your relationship with either of them especially at this time.”
“ You aren’t. You aren’t getting the way of anything. This is my mom’s doing. She’s the one who doesn’t listen. She won’t even try to understand. Our relationship isn’t about sex. Its about something more. It’s about us caring for each other and finding each other. It’s nice to have someone that I can turn to. A person to discuss my problems. My family is so screwed up most the time that I don’t know if I’m coming or going. We’ve all done things that we aren’t proud of, including me but lately, I’ve been feeling like I’ve gotten cheated out of so much. Cheated out a father and family I should have had. Cheated out of having a normal relationship with my grandfather. Hell, I’m even cheated out being totally healthy. I can deal with all of that. But I can’t deal with being cheated out of you. That’s what my mother is doing. She’s cheating me out of a chance to find real love with you.” She leaned forward and kissed him on his mouth. Pulling away slightly, she looked up into his eyes. “Please, don’t let her come between us.” Gathering her in his arms, he knew that he couldn’t let go. “ I won’t Bridget.”
“ So, we’ll find a way to see each other?”
He knew that he was jeopardizing everything that he had. His career at Forrester, even his mother’s relationship with the Forresters. He was risking it all but he knew that he couldn’t let go of her. He loved her.


Stephanie picked up a framed photo of the Forrester family that Eric had on his office desk. She couldn’t help but to walk around and pick up his awards, his coloring pencils. She kept expecting him to come through the office door but he was at home. “ Eric, we built this company together. We had so many dreams for this company and our children. Dreams that she ruined.” Stephanie’s thoughts were interrupted when the office door opened and Brooke came in.
“ Oh, I’m sorry. I was wanted to get a file before the meeting.” Brooke made her way to Eric’s files and found the one she had been looking for. Stephanie watched her with disgust as she went through the files.
“ It’s so easy for you isn’t it?”
“Excuse me?”
“ It’s so easy for you to go on and run this business like nothing ever happened. My husband spent his life on this business and now he can’t even do this. But doesn’t matter to you does it?”
“ Stephanie. The last thing that I want to do today is fight with you. Regardless what you think I’m sorry that Eric is ill. Eric is going to get better and be back here at work in no time.”
“ Just what do you think that he is going to come back to? Only being a figure head in a company that he created?”
“ Eric is much more than a figure head here. He is part of the life’s blood of this company. I know that you are upset about his heart attack but there is no reason for you to attack me.”
“ That heart attack was your fault. He was upset because of what happened with Bridget and then that Caspian man owing more of our business.”
Brooke was getting sick and tired of being blamed for everything that was happening with the company.“ I’m not to blame for what happened with Eric and neither was Caspian. If you ask me, I think the stress of being involved in a scheme to strip Bridget of her stock along with the guilt he carried caused that heart attack. I’m not glad that he had his heart attack, but at least it helped him to clear his mind and realize just how important his family. Family is more important than any money or any stock. But you don’t see it that way, do you. In all of this, you are still blaming me for everything bad that has happened. What about the sins that you’ve committed? The letter you forged all those years ago? How about your part in my attack with that deranged girl that you blackmailed your own son to marry? What do you think that Eric would do if you found out?”
“ You can’t ever speak of that, you and I made a deal.”
“ I deal I made for my daughter, one I clearly remember. But tell me why we can’t speak of it? Eric has no chance of ever taking my daughter anymore. He isn’t her father. Ridge is. Something that Eric doesn’t even know.”
“Don’t you dare tell him!” Stephanie was afraid of how Eric was going to take the news and wanted to wait until he was stronger.
Brooke rolled her eyes. “ You really don’t get it, do you? I care about Eric and his health and I’d never risk that. Even to get back at you. He isn’t ready to find out such a thing now. We all know painful it will be to him to find out truth.” She said sadly. “ I remember all those years ago, the pain that Ridge felt when he lost his daughter. He was inconsolable. It worse than losing a wife, he had lost a piece of himself. The last thing that I want is for Eric to go through something like that.” Brooke sighed heavily. “ This family has been through enough pain right now.” Stephanie remembered that time. Her son was in such pain and the guilt that she felt had almost eaten her alive, however she still thought it was best for the family and for Ridge to keep the secret. Brooke stepped in Stephanie’s line of vision. “ I thought that we put or war on hold, remember You’ve got a husband and a granddaughter to think about. You do care about Bridget, don’t you?”
“ Did something else happen with her?” Stephanie said with honest concern.
“No. She’s been going to the doctors regularly and they think as well as she does her best to stay healthy, she’ll stable for the meantime. Things however are looking up since Taylor has finally allowed he children to be tested.”
“ I knew that she would. Right now she and Ridge are stronger than ever. They are planning to remarry.”
“ Of course you’d see it that way. You would never have seen her reluctance as any sign of selfish, would you?”
“ There isn’t a selfish bone in her body…”
Brooke warded off Stephanie’s comment with her hand. “ You can save the “Saint Taylor” speech for someone who cares. I know what exactly what kind of person that Taylor is. Just like I know what kind of person that you are. Still, I’m willing to put my personal feelings aside because your are my daughter’s grandmother. Like it or not, we are family. I suggest that you do the same or suffer the consequences.”

Pierce had listened to Taylor’s story not saying anything at all, just being the good listener that he had always been for his patients. It wasn’t until Taylor finished that he finally spoke. “ This entire situation is complicated.”
“When I slept with James, it happened so many years ago.”
“ Taylor, I’m not passing judgment on you. I know how much you love Ridge and during that time your mental state was clearly at question because you were faced with death.”
“ I just thought this situation was behind me. After everything happened with the kidnapping, I never wanted to think about that night with James.” Twisting her engagement ring with nervousness, she paced back and forth. “ I so insecure during those days. Seeing Ridge so happily in love with Brooke it broke my heart. I felt that he had forgotten our commitment to each other. Once I got him back, there was no way that I was going to risk my relationship with something that happened more than a year before.”
Pierce felt for Taylor. It was more than disconcerting was the fact that this information could to a great deal of damage to the marriage that she wanted to rebuild. “ What surprises me is that Brooke would blackmail you. I know Brooke, she is a very direct person and can be rash at times, however I’ve never known her to be outwardly vindictive to anyone.” He remembered that Brooke was the one who told him of Bailey’s scheme to ruin Ridge and Taylor’s relationship when she could have sat back and watched the marriage fall apart.
“ You had better believe that bitch is more than vindictive. You should have seen how she paraded that letter in front of my face. She was more than happy to see me suffer.”
The stress was clearly getting to Taylor. He saw the desperation in her eyes and wanted to help her. “ Taylor, you’ve got to listen to me. Based on what you’ve told me, Brooke has had this information for years. She could have showed the letter to Ridge a long time ago, but she didn’t. There has to be a reason why she has decided to do this now.”
“ I don’t know why she does half the things that she does.”
“ But that is important. You are a doctor, you have to find the reasons behind her actions. What is motivating her is her fear?” He put his hand on her shoulders. “Fear for Bridget.”
“ You are siding with her?”
“ No. I’m not. I don’t like what is going on between either of you. You and Brooke have a very complicated and entangled history. You’ve both stepped on each other toes for many years. You both have also loved the same man. Now you are both mothers to his children.”
“ What are you getting at?”
“You both need to sit down and talk about your issues because you and Brooke are a powder keg waiting to happen.”
“ I have nothing to say to that woman. She is trying to ruin family.”
“ And she thinks that you are trying to ruin her family.” Pierce said softly. “ This is about Bridget. I’m sure she felt that you were stalling.”
“ I already made the decision to get the children tested.”
“ And you should. Get the children tested. Then, you need to clear the air with Brooke. You need to build some sort of relationship with her because in a strange way, you are family. You both need to find a way to relate with each other in a peaceful manner. Then after you have done that, you need to focus on your relationship with Ridge. There is only way that you can do that.”


“Caspian DeAngelo.”
Caspian stood up and followed the nurse between the doors to the examining room. After getting his blood pressure checked and his weight taken, he waited for another ten minutes before an older balding man with a slightly pudgy stomach came through the door. “ What seems to the problem?”
“ I don’t have a problem or at least a physical one.”
“ Excuse me?”
“ I’m not sick.”
Dr. Potter took his glasses off. “ You aren’t sick?”
“No, I wanted to talk to you about a matter. It’s one of importance.” Caspian took the birth certificate out of his pocket. “ You were the attending doctor for the woman, Beth Logan, many years ago, the mother of the baby mentioned here. I want to know if it were possible that there was another baby born at that time by the same woman?”

The stockholders’ meeting stated directly at 5 p.m. Brooke and Kristen were involved in a heavy conservation when Ridge arrived. Thorne quickly followed in my Megan. Finding their seats, they looked at the portfolios that were at each of their seats. “Where’s mother?” Ridge asked Kristen.
“ I’m not sure.”
“ I saw her around a half an hour ago.” Brooke supplied.
“Lately, she been spending all of her time with dad. Maybe she decided to go home.”
“ I thought that he was getting better.”
“ He is.” Thorne added “But you know how mother is when it comes to dad.”
The door to the office opened and there stood Stephanie along side of Eric.
“ Dad.” Kristen cried.
“Eric.” Brooke was genuinely happy to see him.
Eric still looked somewhat pale, however he looked better than he had when he had been in the hospital. “ Did you really think that I was going to let a stockholders’ meeting happen without me? I’ve never missed a meeting and I don’t intend to now.”
Ridge clapped his father on his back. “ As you can see, your seat is available to you.” He pointed to Eric’s chair at the head of the table. With pride Eric sat down at the head of the table.
“ This certainly calls for some champagne. I think that we still have some left from the celebration in Thorne’s new office.”
“Thorne’s new office?”
“You didn’t know mother? Brooke gave Thorne a promotion and a new office.” Kristen squeezed her brother’s hand.
“ A new promotion.”
“ Yes Vice president of International and National Production .It was long overdue and well deserved.” Eric supplied.
“Yes it was Eric.” Brooke said softly. Sitting up straight, she turned to Megan. “I guess that we can officially start this meeting.”
Megan looked at Brooke. “ Is Caspian coming?”
At the mere mention of his name, Brooke felt a sense of unease. She had left messages for Caspian however he hadn’t returned any of them. IT was so unlike him. “No, I don’t think that he’ll be able to make the meeting.”
“What’s this? Trouble in paradise.” Stephanie commented.
“Good, he doesn’t belong here.’ Ridge muttered. Brooke ignored the comments.
Megan gave Brooke a sympathetic look. “ At the last meeting, we decided that…” The buzz of the intercom went off.
Ridge stood up to answer it. “Yes Janet?”
“There is a woman out here, who states that she belongs in the stock holders’ meeting.” Ridge opened the office door. Stepping in the doorway an extremely beautiful red headed woman wearing a silk black and white Como blouse with triangular sleeves, a black tie belt overtop of a tight black strapless dress holding a briefcase.“ I’m sorry to be interrupting your meeting, however I’m here to represents Mr. DeAngelo and his shares of Forrester Creations at this stock holders meeting.” She stated in an accented voice.
“As I told your administrative assistant, I’m sorry about the delay, however it couldn’t be avoided.”
Ridge crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve got to be kidding. We don’t know who you are and just expect to be privy to confidential business meeting.”
“ Who I am isn’t really your concern, is it Mr. Forrester? All that matters is that I represent Mr. DeAngelo.” She headed to the desk and opened her black leather satchel and pulled out some papers.
“ As you can read in the documents addressed, you can see that I can and will represent Mr. DeAngelo in his business dealings with Forrester Creations.”
All eyes went to Brooke. Brooke was startled by the beautiful woman’s appearance, however she wasn’t about to let the others see it. Why Caspian would send someone else to a stockholders meeting? Why didn’t he come himself? Who was this woman? She had no idea what was going on. “ Ridge, as you can see, she does represent Caspian who owns 10% of this company.” Questions rattled along in Brooke’s head, however she pushed them aside. “Please sit down.”
“Logan.”
“ Ridge. Sit down and let the meeting start. It’s clear she represents Caspian.” Brooke said with full authority.
Stephanie gawked. “ I’m not having our company’s finical records divulged to this woman.”
The woman turned her steely cold eyes on Stephanie. “ Mrs. Forrester, I already know about your finical status and believe me although your company is one of the most lucrative fashion houses in the world, your millions can’t match the money that companies that Mr. DeAngelo owned as made so, I’m sure that I can easily comprehend your numbers.” Isabelle elegantly murmured as she slid in her seat, which was directly across from Stephanie’s.
Brooke watched Stephanie turn a purplish color at the woman’s comment and if she wasn’t unsure about the woman’s presence, she it would have given her joy in seeing someone finally put Stephanie in her place. Stephanie finally found her tongue. “ I don’t care about that thug of a man or his whore, I…”
‘ That’s enough Stephanie. Your ranting won’t change the fact that you and Eric own only 39% of this company. We’ve a business to run and I personally don’t have the time for the bickering.” Brooke looked to Megan, “ Let’s get started.”

Ridge glared at Isabelle for the beginning part of the meeting until she turned her cold eyes on him and stared back so hard that he finally turned away. Megan had gone through the minutes of the last meeting. They were discussing the revenues on the latest lines.
“ The Men’s Line is doing well. In fact, we’ve been approached by a few stores to have our own shop.” Eric stated.
“ Right now, I don’t think it’s a good time to expand in that direction. Lets think about it in maybe six months until we know the WOW line is a full success. Our Brooke’s Bedroom boutiques in L.A, Paris and New York are doing well. We should focus on that.”
“ The profits for those store are increasing. Look at the numbers.” Thorne pointed out. “We even outsold ourselves in the last month, the only months we’ve done better is February.”
“ February, the month of love, and lingerie.” Kristen said. ‘ I actually have a question. What are we going to do about Morgan’s line? Her designs sold very well.”
“ Well discontinue it. Morgan isn’t going to work here anymore. It think that it’s best for the company if we part our ways.”
“ I agree with that.” Eric stated.
“ Me too.” Stephanie nodded.
“ Excuse me, I don’t understand the business rational for this decision.” Turning toward page 4 of the portfolio Isabelle looked again at the figures. “Her designs are out selling. The cutting edge reaching a younger buyers, why would sever ties with this woman?”
“ It’s a personal matter.” Stephanie stated angrily. “ You have nothing to do with this.
“ But this is a business matter, Mrs. Forrester.” Isabelle stated. “I represent a man who doesn’t allow his person feelings to get the way of business.”
“ Well, to answer your question. It’s my decision.” Brooke leaned back in her chair. “Yes, I see how you could feel that it’s a mistake to let someone of Morgan’s talent go however, the stress that she would bring into this building would certainly cause my other designers and line to suffer. I can’t allow that to happen. I made an exclusive decision not to rehire her. Some things aren’t worth money. Besides my 51% of this company gives me license to make all the final decisions.”
“ Even if the decision is one that Mr. DeAngelo may not like?”
“ Mr. De Angelo doesn’t run this company. I do. I don’t cater to anyone, not even to him.”
Thorne and Ridge exchanged grins, they loved it when Brooke kicked ass. If there was a battle between the two women, it was Brooke who won. Brooke was owner of Forrester and couldn’t be easily intimidated by anyone not even Isabelle. Isabelle nodded slightly. “ You are correct. It is your company.” Inside she was impressed, she liked Brooke’s tenacity. The rest of the meeting went off without anymore hitches as the hours went by, it was only when it was almost over that they were interrupted by Rick. He knocked on the door.
“ Excuse me. I know that you have a lot to do, however I wanted to use this time, since all of the stockholder’s are here to run an idea by you.”
“ An idea son.” Eric was surprised.
“Yes, for the WOW fashion show.” Rick handed portfolio to each person and blinked when he saw Isabelle sitting at the conference table. What was she doing here? She gave him no look of recognition instead she looked through the portfolio. He shook the feeling off and turned to the electronic screen that he used by remote.

“Forrester Creations has gone through a myriad of changes since the time in which this company opened. As a leader of the fashion world, we have taken hold of the couture line, expanded into a Men’s Line and even in the world of lingerie.” He flashed photos of the different designs from each of the line. “ In everything we have done has been the very top of the line, with our stamp of quality.” He flashed Trudie’s picture from one of the WOW ads on the screen. “In the new age, models themselves are becoming icons. A girl with the right look, in the right clothes can become a household name. That is what is happening with Trudie. She is becoming an icon to represent to very young, rich and sexy with the appeal of the WOW clothes. KC’s vision of sexy allure to quality clothes with the blend of my mother’s vision of strength and beauty in today’s workforce along with the standard of elegance is the look of the future in Forrester. We’ve got to embrace that future with something new. That something new is the fashion show. We have a chance to do something new and innovative. In the this time of era where MTV and VHI’s fashion shows are all the rage and Icons are made each day, we need to capitalize on what we have.”
“ What do we have Rick?”
“Ridge, we have gold mine with this line. Based on the hits on the Internet site and we need to capitalize on it.”
“ By doing what?” Brooke’s interest was peaked by her son’s bravo in this meeting . Not only that. He had a look, his clothes were much more stylish than she was used to and there was a something more confident and mature in his behavior.
“ By changing how and where we have the fashion show. For years we have held our shows in our own showroom.”
“For good reason. It’s elegant an cost effective.” Kristen added.
“Correct Kristen, but this show should be different. We need to make this fashion show a major event. A “must go to” event where the “Who’s Who” of the L.A world will fight to be invited to. We hold the fashion show at one of the hottest clubs in L.A .We start by inviting people from the film and music world. Next, we have coverage from MTV, BET, and ET. They will provide the coverage and the backstage information. You know that ET have been dying to get coverage for one of our fashion shows for years.”
“ It sounds like a circus.” Stephanie objected.
“ No, It’s not a circus but a way to get free publicity and this line ear marked.”
Eric gave his son a pensive look.“ I’ve always told them no. It was stressful enough running show without having camera backstage.”
“ Yes, but dad this would be extra publicity. They wouldn’t tape the show but before and after the show. After we hold on of the hottest shows that this city has ever seen.”
“Where would this show take place?” Isabelle asked.
Rick raised an eyebrow, she knew. They had discussed it earlier. Yet, he answered her.
“ I’ve outlined some of the places on page 7. We have four possible venues, big enough to create a full scale runway, set up dressing rooms and with the sound system we need.”
Kristen read aloud. “ Excalibur, Candies, Scorpion Room, The Lair and Remos.”
“ Each of them can hold this venture.”
“ How will it cost?”
“It’s outlined on page.
Ridge whistled. “This can’t be right.”
“ It can be if we get the club free for that night.”
“ It’s still going to cost way more than if we held the show ourselves.” Thorne added.
“ But think about the publicity.” Rick added. “We couldn’t buy this kind of publicity.
“How are we going to get the club free?” Brooke who had been quiet finally spoke.
They are going to get publicity besides we will pay for the food and drinks for the after party, so they rake in, making a nights profit. It a win-win situation.”
“ They’d agree to do this?”
“ I’ve already talked to the owner of Excalibur and Scorpion Room. If I have the okay, I can talk to the owner of the Lair and Remos.”
“ How much do you think of fashion show like this would affect the sales.”
Rick glanced at Isabelle.“ Glad that you asked. Turn to page 10 and you’ll see the projected increase of sales.”
Brooke studied the figures. “ This much based on the fashion show.”
“Mom, this is much more than just a fashion, it’s an fashion event. Think about the fashion show you had in Italy. Look at what it’s done to increase scales. It’s still being talked about to this day. This can put this line on the market. If you keep reading you’ll see the suggestions that I made for the ad campian. I’ve already talked to the head of promotions to see if some of these things are viable.” Rick looked around the room. “ So what do you think?”
Everyone was silent when finally Eric spoke. “Well, this is just a proposal.”
Rick’s heart beat heavily in his chest. ‘Yes, everything is negotiable. Anything that you want to change can be changed.”
Brooke looked at Eric who nodded and then finally at Rick. “ I think that we should vote on the motion right now. All in favor of to consider Rick’s proposal of changing the venue of our WOW fashion show, say aye.”
Kristen looked at her brother. “ I like the idea. It’s different and worth a try. Aye.”
“ Ridge.”
Ridge was silent for a long time. He closed the file and gave Rick a blank look. “Alright Rick, we can give it a shot. I’d love to see where you are going with this. I vote Aye.”
“ Thorne.” Brooke looked at him.
“ Aye.” He smiled at Rick “ Rick this idea is remarkable.”
“ Stephanie?” Stephanie was silent for a time. She didn’t like the line and she didn’t like this idea because of it. “Rick, I like the hard work that you put into the presentation however I disagree with the line and the image that it represents. Tradition states that we hold our fashion shows here. I must stay with the tradition that your father and I created. I have to vote nay.”
Brooke frowned at Stephanie or a moment. She would, of course, vote against her son’s hard work. “Eric.”
Eric looked at his son feeling a huge since of pride as he realized the work that he had done. “ I see that you have an add campaign already set up.”
“ Yes, we can discuss it some more if you like before you make your decision.”
“ Not needed son. I’ve already made my decision. I vote aye.”
Brooke turned toward Isabelle. “ Are you are voting for Caspian?”
“Yes, I am.” Isabelle turned toward Rick. “ It’s risky. Something that hasn’t been done before and probably not the most cost effective idea because of that risk. However, it could launch this line to epic proportions. I vote aye.”
Rick breathed a sigh of relief. “ Mom.”
She was smiling at her son.“ I don’t think that I’ve ever been as proud of you as I am today. This took not only a lot of hard work, but research and drive. It also took a lot of strength to face your family with something new like this. I vote aye. Congratulations Rick.” Brooke started to clap quickly followed by the others in the room except Stephanie. She stood up and hugged her son. “Great job, honey.”
Eric hugged him next. “ I had no idea. No idea at all that you’ve been working on something like this.”
Rick looked over his father shoulders to where Isabelle was sitting there quietly taking it all in. “I had some help.”
“ No no. Son, you take the credit where it is due. This was one remarkable concept and presentation.”
Ridge smiled at Rick. “ You are turning out to be one hell of a business man, little brother.” Surrounded by his family, Rick felt like he was worth a million dollars and he had one person to thank. Isabelle.

The celebration of young Rick Forrester’s new idea was just what the Forresters needed. Ridge sat back and poured champagne. Eric was engrossed in talking to Rick about his ideas. Brooke had left to clear up a matter that needed her attention. Thorne, unlike his brother, was very silent as he drank his champagne. He had been watching the woman who obviously was very close to Caspian DeAngelo. He could have sworn he had seen her before. Somewhere, but when? Isabelle felt the eyes of Thorne Forrester on her as she picked up her satchel, slipping out of the office, she made her way to hallway and waited only had to wait for a second before the door opened behind her. “I wondered how long it would be before you can to talk to me.”
She turned to find Stephanie Forrester.
“ I think that you and I have some unfinished business.”
“ Do we?” Isabelle raised her eyebrow. “The meeting is over.”
“ Come now don’t be coy, it’s beneath you.”
“ Let me guess. You would like to pry me of information about Caspian, wouldn’t you?”
“ You know about the man. Obviously if he allowed you to come to the meeting on his behalf then you are someone he trusts. I want to know about him. His strengthens and his weaknesses. More importantly, I want to know what it will take to get those shares of Forrester stock back.”
Isabelle gave Stephanie an amused look. “ The man has no weaknesses. He has enough money, so can’t bribe him. The only thing he is interested in that you even come close to is Ms. Logan and your relationship with her is strained. You are wasting your time and mine.”
“ I’m only looking for information.”
“ Information that I’m not selling.”
“ Come on. You’ve got to want something.”
“ Do you know nothing of loyalty? Tell me, how many of you’re employees or confidants would tell information about you in a drop of a hat. I’m not someone you can bribe, Mrs. Forrester. I’m very loyal to Caspian.” She pressed the elevator door button.
“ You also work very close to him. Tell me, how does it feel to see him with Brooke. T o know that he is sleeping with that whore? Tell me, are you sleeping with him too?”
“ Because I work closely with him. Why is that you assume that a woman who hold a position of high can only get there if she opens her legs? It amazes me. You claim that you built this company with Eric yet you find it hard to believe a woman can stand on her old merits.”
“ Some women can.”
“ Just not women who look like me.” Isabelle ignored the elevator door that opened. ‘You don’t see the truth, that sexually can certainly be an asset to keep certain men off their toes.”
“ Like Caspian?”
“ No, he’s too smart for that but I was thinking of a man like your husband. It’s got to be awfully hard keeping a man like Eric happy. Yes, he’s well into his prime yet he is still a very fine specimen. Why do you spend so much of your time plotting and scheming instead of spending time with him? You have your company, the children and grandchildren. In fact, you have a new granddaughter who at this time needs her grandmother’s love.”
“ How in the hell do you know that?” Stephanie gasped.
“ You have your ways, and I have mine.”
“ You are sleeping with him, aren’t you? Only he could have told you that.”
“ You couldn’t be further from the truth. You don’t see it, but can’t, can you. Stephanie Forrester, you are a woman who can’t see anything that is front of her face. I’ll give you a warning. Stop worrying about Caspian and worry about keeping your own family. You should be enjoying young Rick’s new idea and new gaunt into the family business, instead you are standing trying to make deals with a woman that you don’t know.You going to lose it all and be very alone if you don’t watch out.” She pulled back. “ You really need to ask yourself why you can’t be happy with what you have. Why you feel the need so to get back at Brooke or anybody who loves her? Caspian isn’t Ridge, Thorne or Eric. You have your precious sons and husband back.
“ Eric. My husband would never…”
“ Ahh, but you forget, SHE left him not the other way around. He leave her, the way that he left you. It would take one small moment or triumph between them and he’d probably fall in love with her all over again. I’ve seen it happen countless of times. It’s already happening for all you know. Your husband’s focus is on family, not business and if you don’t watch it, you’ll end up alone when he realizes that you haven’t changed.”
“ You don’t know a thing about my marriage or my husband.”
“ I know more than you think. It’s amazing that nobody in your family has noticed your unnatural obsession with your son, Ridge while the rest of your children are seemly ignored. The only thing that you don’t ignore is hatred eating away with you anytime you come near Brooke.
Her words were so chilling and had such a ring of truth to it that Stephanie was furious. Who was this bitch to tell her she’d lose Eric. “ How dare you call my relatinship with my son, unnatural.”
“ I call them as I see them. Often, outsiders can see things way more clearly that others.”
Stephanie’s face turned bright red. “Fine! I’ll find another way. Mark my words, I will get my company back!”
Stephanie headed back to Eric’s office slamming the door behind her.
Brooke who had overheard the conversation when she was coming back to the office stepped in view. “ I don’t think that I know too many men or women who can do that.”
“ Do what?”
“ Render Stephanie speechless.” She nodded toward the closed door. “ There is a lot more to you than what meets the eye, isn’t there?”
“ You tell me.”
‘ I have a lot of questions for you.”
“ Let me guess, it’s about Caspian and I, correct? You want to know who I am and how close we are?”
“ I did at first. But in time things began to clear for me. How much time do you have, can you stay for a drink?”
“I think that I can.” Isabelle followed Brooke into her office. Noticing the décor, she found it stylish and comfortable. Brooke poured her a glass of sparkling water. “ So, where should I start?”
“ I think we can start with what is obvious.” Brooke said as she sat down at her desk with her own drink. “ You are beautiful, highly efficient, intelligent and someone Caspian trusts. You relationship with him is an intimate one but not the way that Stephanie suggested. You are close to him more like family.” Brooke eyes squinted. “ You are Isabelle aren’t you?”
Lifting her glass in a mock toast, Isabelle nodded. “Very Nice, when did you figure it out?”
“ When you talked to Stephanie. Caspian has described you to me so many times as a person being able to sense people’s weaknesses and you really got to her.. You know that you’ve put fear into her that I’m going to steal Eric away from her once more. I don’t know if I should thank you or strange.”
“ I prefer the first option. So, what your second hint/”
“ Your business sense it was clear from your questions in the meeting that you have held high positions in business. Of course the final clue was your knowledge of my daughter’s paternity. Caspian would never have discussed with anyone but he would have talked to one person that he is closest to, his sister.”
“ I’m sorry that we are meeting like this as well as for the trouble your family is going through. I had hoped that our meeting would be a more comfortable setting, dinner or something but lately with all the on goings, it’s been impossible.”
“ Why all the secrecy about who you are?”
“ I didn’t think that was the time to come out as Caspian’s sister, there certainly would have been more hostility in the meeting. So, I kept it a secret, besides it gave an a distinct advantage.”
“ With Stephanie?
“Among others, she’s out for blood.”
“She’s been out for years.”
“ It drives, Caspian insane. He wants to protect you from her.”
“ I don’t need him to fight my battles.”
“ I know. You certainly made that position clear in your meeting. Good for you. My brother is a very strong. He’s independent and used to having is way.” Isabelle gave Brooke an intense stare. “ You are certainly going to be a huge challenge for him. You aren’t going to let him come in and take over.”
“ He would if he could.”
“ He was raised that way. Our family believed it was a man’s duty to protect his family especially the women. You are a very different kind of woman however I approve. He’s needed someone like him. Someone who isn’t going to bend to his will. Someone who is independent and not afraid of him.”
Brooke was surprised at Isabelle’s comment. “ Why would I be afraid of him?”
Isabelle stood. Secrets, there were many that she couldn’t divulge but she wanted no game playing between her and Brooke. “There is a darker side of him, it can be tad bit unsettling when unleashed. My brother has worked hard to control his emotions. He has done very well especially with you. You can’t comprehend how having such a spirited beautiful lover like yourself working with men still in love with her may gotten to him in the past. Years ago, he would gotten rid of them.”
“Gotten rid of them.” Apprehension filled Brooke. What did she mean?
“ By buying them out so they wouldn’t be working with you anymore.”
“ He would have done that?”
“ He’s very passionate and possessive especially about the things that he loves. But you don’t have to worry about him doing that now, when he lost his wife, he changed. For such a long time my brother lived a world of pain and guilt over her death. He has a second chance with you. He’d never make the same mistake again.” “He’s mentioned it.” Brooke shifted uncomfortably. “ He said there were things that he has done in the past that he was ashamed of.”
Slightly touching the black silk orchard that kept her bun together Isabelle gave Brooke look that was so sad that Brooke wondered what demons the woman carried around.
“ We’ve all done things that we are ashamed of. What lies beneath in each of us there is something dark and dank, because of the lives we’d lived. My monsters are different than his. You’ve brought color into his life. You bought love into his life again. I thank you for that for giving Caspian a reason to live again.”
Brooke felt a sense of relief at Isabelle’s words. She had wanted to meet Caspian’s sister, and although woman sitting across from her was somewhat different than she expected, she was glad to know that Isabelle supported her relationship. “ Thank you.”
“ You are surprised?”
“ A little. I guess I’m used to overbearing mothers.”
“ You thought that I’d be the same? I suppose that is natural. For such a long time it was only Caspian and I. He practically raised me since I was sixteen. He loves you Brooke. That is the one thing that I know. My brother loves you very much.”
“ Yes, I think that he does.” She said despondently.
“ What is it? Is something wrong between the two of you.”
“ It’s probably nothing. But I guess that I can’t help shake the feeling. Is everything alright with Caspian?”
“ As far as I know, why?”
“ I supposed to have dinner with him yesterday. I had to cancel.”
“ I’m sure that he understands.”
“ But that’s just it. I haven’t talked to him or seen him. He missed today’s meeting and sent you. Yesterday, he said that he wanted to tell me something, something that was important. But now, I haven’t heard from him.”
Isabelle had wanted to make the Forrester meeting herself and had called her brother to ask him if he were attending, his secretary had only told her that he’d be gone for the day. She had thought it a business matter, but could it be something else.“ No, I’m sure it’s nothing. He probably got caught up with a business matter. As you know, anything can happen. Emergencies come and go. It’s nothing. If it were something, I’d tell you.”

Bridget snuck back in her house through the back door that lead off from the laundry room. Hurrying up the stairs, she tiptoed back into her room before anybody saw her. Closing the door and locking it, she made her way back to her bed. Thank god she had been able to convince Scott to give up on then. There was no way in hell she was going to let her mother ruin her chance in love. No, way.

Pierce had been paid a great deal of money to help corporations and other companies to work out their problems and he was sure that he’s be able to do the same with Brooke and Taylor if both f the women were willing to meet. There honestly was no villain in this situation, only two determined women and of course, Ridge in the middle. The more things changed, the more things stayed the same. Pulling into Forrester Creations parking lot, he made his way into the building and gave the guard his name.

Darla was very much so worried about Sally. Every since Kimberly had dropped the bombshell on her, it seemed the life had been sucked out of her. It seemed that the drive was gone and all that was left would be a broken woman. “ I just can’t understand it all. Why would Kimberly do something like this. She was like family to Sally. Sally took her in when Adam disappeared and this is the thanks that she gets.”
Clark who knew that he’s been looking for a new job soon shook his head. “That’s what happens when you marry Forresters, they have a way of sucking you into their lifestyle and greed.”
“ I don’t know Clarke. It doesn’t make sense. Thorne, is a nice guy.’
“ Please, he cheated on Macy with Brooke.”
“ Well, look what he did to Brooke.”
“ I don’t call knocking up and marrying a give who is almost young enough to be your daughter a nice thing. The man is an idiot.”
Darla shrugged her shoulders. “ I don’t know. I always thought he was nice.”
“ That’s because you thought he was cute.”
“ True. But this doesn’t sound like him or the Forresters. They might not respect us but they wouldn’t be out to get us. “ Scratching her head with the pen she was writing with, she game the situation some thought. “ You know, I don’t think he knows about this. He wouldn’t do this to Macy.”
“ It doesn’t matter does it? The bottom line is if we don’t find someone to invest in this company, we are going to shut down for good.”
“So, we find someone.”
“ Darla, who in the hell has that kind of capital? I can’t think of one person who might be willing to bale us out, not one.”

The phone in Brooke’s office rung. Turning from Isabelle, she took the call. “Yes. He is. Oh, certainly, send him in.” The office door opened and Pierce Peterson walked in. Brooke had always liked the attractive doctor and inspirational speaker and though things never quite mapped out with him romantically, it didn’t detract him from being a good friend. “ Pierce, it’s so good to see you.” Pierce smiled softly as the always beautiful and elegant Brooke embraced him in a hug. Looking her over for a minute in her black dress, he smiled softly.
“ Beautiful as usual. It’s good to see you as well Brooke.”
Brooke turned to Isabelle who had been standing watching the exchange.“ Isabelle, I want you to meet a friend of mine..’
“ No, need. Dr. Peterson and are well acquainted.”
“ Bella.” Pierce’s eye became stormy reflecting the currents rising inside of him. He hadn’t expected to see her in Brooke’s office in all places.
“ You too know each other?”
“ Yes. We do.” He answered in a husky voice.
Brooke was floored by the obvious sexual tension as Pierce devoured Isabelle with his eyes studying her from head to toe. Isabelle on the other hand stared back with a look that seemed almost cunning. Picking up her briefcase, she didn’t even bother to look at Brooke, though spoke to her. “ It was my pleasure talking with you. I hope we can do it again.”
“ I’d like that.”
Pierce kept his attention on Isabelle.“ I didn’t mean to interrupt Bella.”
“ You didn’t. Brooke and I were finished. Besides, your visit must be a matter of importance to take you away from you busy schedule…house setting.” When she walked to the door, he made no move to stand aside, so her body brushed up against his. Instantly, a ravenous need filled his eyes. Good, she thought, let him suffer. “ Stalking, now Dr? I thought that would be beneath you.”
“ I’m not here about you. I had no idea that you’d be here.”
“ Sure you didn’t. Just like you didn’t move into my neighborhood. It’s all coincidence.” She slid past him out of the office.
Brooke had watched the exchange in awe. “ The temperature in here went up more than a couple of degrees. My god Pierce. Who would have ever thought that underneath that veneer of yours was all that sexual yearning.” Waving her hand in front of her face, she pretended to be hot. “ And all from a woman who seems so cool on the outside. My, my, my. Tell me, how is it that you know Isabelle?”
Brooke’s amusement was less than funny. “ It’s a long story.”
“ I have plenty of time on my hands and the day that I’ve had, I think that I’d like to hear you story. Isabelle is no ordinary woman. She has claws.”
“ Ones that I’m well aware of Brooke. My relationship with Brooke is somewhat complicated.”
“I’m sure that you find the same with your relationship with Caspian.”
Brooke nodded. “ You are right. Caspian is different than any other man that I’ve ever known. Who would have thought that I’d find happiness.”
“Especially without Ridge.”
“ Well, my relationship with Ridge is more complicated than ever.”
“ I know.”
Brooke stilled. “ You know. How do you…”
“ That’s why I’m here Brooke. I’m here about the situation between you and Taylor.”
The cheery disposition that Brooke had toward Pierce changed instantly at the mention of Taylor’s name. “ She told me what happened.”
“ All of it?”
“Yes.”
“ And let me guess. You are here on a mission for poor victimized Taylor who couldn’t help herself against the big bad Brooke.”
“ No, Brooke. I’m here as a mediator of sorts between you both. I think that you and Taylor both need to find a way to relate to one another. I care about the both of you.”
“ Pierce, I really do appreciate what it is that you are trying to do. You are probably one of the few people who actually says what he means. However, this situation between Taylor and I is that, just between us.”
“ Brooke, what you are doing is wrong.”
“ What she did was wrong! She endangered my welfare for her own selfish reasons. So, don’t defend her to me because I’m tired of that.” She snapped. “ Look, Pierce, I don’t want to discuss this matter anymore You and I are good friends however I’d appreciate it if you would stay it. Please.” Seeing Brooke’s resolve, he knew not to press any further.
“ If you change your mind. I’d willing to help.”
“ I know that you would” Brooke smiled softly. “But it’s too late for that.”

The long ride home gave Caspian a chance to think about the conversation that he had with Dr. Potter. Dr. Potter had not been very helpful in his quest to find out more information about Brooke or Lark. The doctor had claimed not to have remembered being the doctor to Beth Logan since he had been a doctor for some many during his 45 years of practice. He also stated that if Brooke had been a twin that part would have been marked as twin on her birth certificate and since it wasn’t he was sure that she was the only baby that was born to Beth that day. Caspian had studied the man and deducted an air of untruth, his gut feeling was that Dr. Potter had been lying. There was only one other way of finding out the truth and he was reluctant to do so.

Rick ran to catch up with the elevator just before it went down. “ I wanted to talk to you before you left.”
Isabelle was standing inside the car watching him.“ I was just talking with your mother.”
“ So, you finally had a chance to meet.”
“ Yes, she is remarkable woman. I see that has rubbed off on her son.”
Rick blushed with Isabelle’s comment. “ I had a lot of help.”
“ No, you didn’t. You just needed a little direction and I pushed you.”
“ I still owe you for what you did in there. When I saw you I was a little floored.”
“ But you didn’t let that deter you, did you? You stayed focused and impressed your stockholders.”
“ It is your first step of many. Congratulations Rick Forrester. You are on your way to making your mark in this company. I hope that you enjoy the ride. Go and enjoy your celebration with your family, you deserve it.”
“ Alright. I will be seeing you later, won’t I?”
A part of her wanted to say no, she ought to leave the boy alone. “ Of course you will.” Isabelle walked on the elevator and waited for the doors to close before allowed herself to feel the unease that seeing Pierce had done to her. He shouldn’t be able to get to her, but he did. She also wondered what had brought him to Brooke’s office if he hadn’t known that she were there. She liked to pretend that he was nothing to her but deep down she knew that he was something more than she’d ever let herself get close to in years. Still, it didn’t change the fact that she was no good for him.


Brooke finished off her conversation with her mother. “How is Bridget doing?”
“ She’s very upset honey.”
“ I know she is mom. I’ll be home soon. I think that she and I need some time together.”
“ She does love you.”
“ I know. She’s angry but I’m doing what’s best for my daughter. I’ll have to wrap something up her at work.” Pausing for a moment, she then asked about Caspian. “ He hasn’t called me, has he?”
“No, he hasn’t.” Beth told her daughter. She didn’t mention that he ha been by earlier.
“All right, mom. I’ll see you in a little while.”
Brooke hung up the phone. She should be celebrating the fact that Eric was doing better and that her son had come up with an enterprising idea for the company but with everything going on with Bridget, she couldn’t. Brooke felt weary. Sighing heavily she noticed the stack of mail on her desk. She had been so busy that she hadn’t been able to get through it. Sorting the mail to the postmarks that she knew she could wait, she noticed a letter addressed to her. It was like the one she had received the other time. Opening it with her letter opener, a piece of a puzzle fell out. Brooke picked up the piece and looked at it. She couldn’t tell what it was. Looking at the note, it only stated. A piece of the puzzle with start the game, after it’s done you will never be the same. What in the world did this mean?

“ Was Taylor home?” Stephanie asked. When Ridge hung up the phone in his father’s office
“Yes, I’m getting ready to home. Katherine is going to watch the kids, while I take her out to Café Rouse. Say, do you and dad want to join us?”
“ I’d like to honey but I think that your father has all the excitement that he can take for the day. I think we are going to go home. Besides, I think that you and Taylor need some time alone.” Patting her son on his cheek and then kissing him. “ I’m just glad that you and Taylor are getting things back on track.
“ Me too mother.”
Stephanie looked to where Kristen was talking to Eric. “ Honey, are you ready to go? It’s been a long day and you need your rest.”
Eric was reluctant to leave however he was feeling tired. “ I just want to say something to Brooke before we leave.”
“Honey, is that nesscassary? You can talk to her later.”
“Mom, if dad wants to talk to Brooke. I’ll get her.” Kristen made a call to Brooke’s office. “She’s on her way.”
There was a knock on the door. Thorne opened the door to find Police Lieutenant Burke standing in the doorway. “Lieutenant Burke, what are doing here?”
“ I’m sorry for bothering you but there is a matter that has to be addressed and it can’t wait any longer. He was flanked with two police in uniform officers.
“ What matter?”
Burke had dealt with the Forresters from time to time. He wasn’t sure what to make of them. But this time, the evidence was stacked against Stephanie Forrester. “ I’m here to arrest Stephanie Forrester.”
“ What?” Kristen cried.
“ What the hell is going on!” Ridge stepped in between Lieutenant Burke and his mother.
“ Ridge I think that we should take care of this down at the station.”
“My wife is not going anywhere.” Eric railed.
“ Look, Mr. Forrester. I don’t want to upset you but it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve got to take to arrest her.”
“ For what? Is this some kind of joke?” Stephanie put her hands on her waist. “ What am I being arrested for?”
Lt. Burke looked around at Thorne, Eric, Kristen and Ridge. He didn’t want to do like this but he didn’t have any choice. “ You are being arrested for fraud and bribery.”
“Bribery. Who?”
“ Bribing a lab technician at the hospital to change Bridget Forrester’s paternity test.”
There was a large outcry as shock reverberated around the room before Ridge finally spoke. “ This is some sort of mistake, my mother wouldn’t do something like that. The hospital was the one to make mistake with that paternity.”
Eric was confused; he didn’t understand what was going on. “ Paternity test, what is going on?”
Ridge saw the confusion on his father’s face. He didn’t want his father to find out the truth this way but he wasn’t about to let them arrest his mother for something that she didn’t do.“ Dad, we didn’t want you to find out like this.”
“ Find out what?” All of Eric’s children looked at him. Seeing the sympathy in their eyes filled him with alarm.
“ To find out that there was mistake with the paternity test.”
“ What kind of mistake?”
Stephanie put her hand on his shoulders. “ We wanted to wait until you felt better. You had been through so much.”
“ What kind of mistake Stephanie?”
“ It’s Bridget honey. She isn’t….” Tears filled Stephanie’s eyes. She didn’t want him to find out this way. “She isn’t your daughter. She’s Ridge’s.”
The weight of Stephanie’s words hit Eric like a punch in his stomach. “No. It can’t be she’s…” His voice trailed off.
Brooke walked into office, which was stone silent. She was surprised to see Lieutenant Burke and two armed officers. “ What’s going on here?
Kristen turned to her. “Dad just found out.”
“ Found out what?”
“He found out about Bridget.”
“ Oh no.” Brooke’s heart broke as she walked over to Eric.
He looked up at her, his face pale. “ Tell me it’s a mistake.”
She bet down next to him. “I’m so sorry. We didn’t want you to find out like this. There so sort of mistake at the hospital and when Bridget had some test done at the hospital for her leukemia and found out that Ridge is actually her father.”
“ Leukemia? What leukemia?”
Brooked looked around the room feeling lower that she did before. It was obvious that he hadn’t known before she opened her mouth. “When Bridget had her accident, we found out that she has leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant.”
“ Oh god.” Eric bowed his head down. His body began to shake.“ Why wasn’t I told any of this? Am I not important to this family.”
“ Dad, of course you are. Brooke didn’t want to add more to your condition. None of us did.”
“ My little girl she’s sick.” He paused to look up at Stephanie. “She isn’t my little girl anymore, is she?.”
Stephanie’s heart ached she never wanted to cause this much pain. “ Eric, she’s still your granddaughter.”
“ She still loves you.”
“ Is she going to be alright?”
Brooked looked at Ridge. “ Taylor is going to get the children tested, one of them may be a match for her. Rick can’t be a donor because of his kidney. We have high hopes that either Thomas or one of the twins should be a match. I know that she is going to be all right. After all, she has Eric and she has you.” She slipped her hands in his and squeezed it tight.
“ Does she know?”
“ Yes. She does know.”
Lieutenant Burke stepped forward. “I don’t want to interrupt here but there is a matter of an arrest.”
“ An arrest. What are you talking about?”
“ Burke here thinks that mother had something to do with the paternity test.”
Brooke stood up. “ No, there must be some mistake. Stephanie didn’t even know that Ridge was Bridget’s father. She was just as surprised like the rest of us.”
“ I’m sorry but that may not be the case. We have proof that she had something to do with paternity test.”
“ What kind of proof?” Brooke asked.
“ Bank records.” He answered.
“ It’s some sort of mistake.” Stephanie stated.
Brooke was deathly still. She turned to face Stephanie. A chill went down Stephanie’s spine as she watched Brooke watching her. Brooke mind went back to all the things that Stephanie had down to her over the years. The letter she had forged. The cover up of Taylor’s affair. Then the numerous physical and verbal attacks. The night that she tried to murder She remembered Stephanie’s acts to try to steal her children.“ You did it didn’t you.” Brooke whispered full of rage.
Stephanie turned away. “ I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“ Yes, you do. Don’t turn away from you me, you bitch.” Brooke forced Stephanie to turn and face her. “ After everything you put me through, that wasn’t enough was it? You couldn’t stand the fact that Ridge and I were to be married and were going to finally have the chance to be happy. So, you did the only thing that you could do. You bribed someone to change the test.”
Stephanie tried to pull away from Brooke. “ You are deranged. Get off of me.”
“ No, you admit it. Admit what you did.”
“Brooke calm down. Mother didn’t do this, it was some sort of mistake. Brooke, mother would never do this.”
“ Yes, she would. Open your eyes Ridge. See what she’s capable. I’ve protected her far to long. None of you know what this woman is capable of but I do. I’ve years of abuse at her hand to know that she’d do this. She’d confuse my daughter striping away her only father in order to get me out of your life. She’d do anything. She has done everything that she could do to destroy me!” She spat. “She has lied to you all.”
“ Brooke stop.”
“Years ago when I was married to Eric she forged a letter. You remember that letter, don’t you Ridge that letter that Eric had supposed written to me telling me that he didn’t want me anymore. The letter that we thought freed us, was forged by her.” Brooke anger erupted. “ But Ridge begged me not Eric to tell Eric what you’d done, so I protected you. For years, I’ve taken abuse from you. You’ve attacked me physically and even tried to kill me by strangling me.” Brooke ignored the gasp in the room. “ Thorne can testify to that. But that wasn’t enough was it. There are much more to your crimes that they ever know. You ought to be prepared, be prepared for all of your dirty little secrets to come out. But even then, I never thought that you’d hurt your own granddaughter out of your selfish greed. You bitch!” Brooke slapped Stephanie hard across the face. One of the female police officers grabbed Brooke and pulled away from Stephanie.
“Miss Logan, you’ve got to calm down.”
“ I’ll calm down when that wolf in sheep’s clothing if hauled out of my building!” Brooke’s chest heaved with her anger.
Lieutenant Burke had seen enough. “ I think that it’s time that we take Stephanie downtown.”
Stephanie looked at Eric. “ Eric…”
Eric had heard so much for that day. Too much. He had lost his daughter to find out that she was his granddaughter and she was sick. He looked to his wife. He loved her but he had learned do much. “ Is it true Stephanie?”
“Dad, mom , wouldn’t do that.” Ridge looked at his mother. Something began to eat away at him. “ Mom…” He looked at Thorne.
Thorne who had watched the whole scene with a sense of distaste finally spoke. “ She tried to strangle Brooke in Big Bear when she first found out about us.”
“ Thorne don’t.” Stephanie uttered.
He hardened his heart against her because he knew that Brooke was right, his mother had done this. “She told me that if I married Kimberly that she’d convince you to no longer to go after Bridget and allow her to stay with Brooke. That’s why I married Kimberly.”
“ She did what!?” Eric looked at Stephanie as if he had never seen her before. “My god. What kind of woman are you?”
“ I think it’s time that we go.” Lieutenant Burke said. The officer stood behind Stephanie and put the cuffs on her. “Stephanie Forrester, you are under arrest for bribery and for tampering with the paternity test of Bridget Forrester. You have a right to remain silent.”
The rest of the police officer’s words blurred at Stephanie looked around at the faces of those she loved and felt their distain. She finally turned her face to Ridge. “ Ridge…” But Ridge couldn’t say anything because a large part of his heart shattered. He knew, by the look in her eye that his mother was lying. She had done this to him, to Bridget and to Brooke. She had destroyed them all in one vindictive action. He had hoped that it was a mistake but deep down he knew it wasn’t. His mother had stolen his daughter from him.

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