Chapter 105 Review: Stephanie is disappointed to find that Kristen is the only person to go to court to support her. She promises that Eric will come around when he here the truth. Kristen offers her mother support however states that if she finds that she is lying she’ll never forgive her. Brooke and Ridge connect and she wonders if he will turn on her if she goes after his mother. Eric, Ridge and Bridget tells a disbelieving Bridget the truth while Eric tells a story of a woman whom he believes is the real reason Stephanie hates Brooke. Taylor on the other hand, blames Brooke for the mess they are in. Caspian asks Pharren about her uncle and Brooke however Pharren says she knows nothing. He doesn’t believe her. Eve is scared that her past will one day ruin her relationship with Rick. CJ blasts Thorne for Kimberly misdeeds but finds that he knows nothing of her ruining Spectra while Kimberly starts drinking at the bar. Brooke convinces Eric to stay at her house while Stephanie waits in vain for her husband to come home feeling all alone.

Chapter 106 One Step Closer

The early morning sun hadn’t even started its welcoming rays when Brooke opened the front door and started her morning run. She ran down her winding drive opened the remote to the gate and then started the rigid run up the hill. It didn’t take long for the muscles in her calves, and gluts to tighten but she didn’t mind. She didn’t mind at all. She quickened her pace feeling free for the first time in days.

The ocean tide rolled in as the sun rose in the early morning sky. Trudie had never seen anything like it. It was incredible. This house was amazing. Hell, her entire life was amazing. She was living with her best friend. She had a fabulous job with Forrester as a model. It was everything she had ever wanted.“ Not bad for a girl like me.” She said sipping her coffee. She moved out of her newly furnished bedroom down the stairs to the first floor. The room was sparsely furnished; she still had delivery from the Bombay Company, not to mention Pier One. Feeling stangely content she thought this was just the beginning of her new life.

Rick stared down at Eve as she slept gently caressing her light brown hair. She was such an incredible woman. Last night she had taken such good care of his son. She had bathed him, sung to him and read him a story. Then, he thought with a grin, she had taken good very good care of him. He skimmed his fingers up her taught thighs up the curve of her buttocks. Eve’s eyes fluttered open slowly and her face glowed with love when she found him lying next to him. She reached out and stroked his face and he took her hand and kissed the palm. “ Good morning beautiful.”
“ Good morning.” She stretched and looked about the sunlight room. “ What time is it?”
“ It’s around 7.”
“ Seven.” She didn’t understand why she was so tired. There were days that she got up much earlier than that. “ You know what I think?” She started to sit up against the pillow.
“ No.” Rick pulled her back in the bed. “ Tell me what do you think?”
When he looked at her like that it was so hard to think clearly. Rick was no doubt handsome with his chisel cheekbones; his toned body looked better and betters through workout. Even with his blonde hair askew, he was sexy. Very sexy.
“ I think that I’m spending too much time with you because I’m sleeping late.”
“ I like thinking about you sleeping late.” He traced her collarbone with his tongue. “ In bed. With me.” He kissed slowly down her body as he cupped her breast. Her nipples were already hard. “See.” He murmured as he took her nipple inside of his mouth. Suckling gently he took his time to savor the taste of her.
“ Not fair..” She moaned. “ Ohh” He slid his hands in between her thighs and stroked softly. Finding her already wet shivered. He was hard and wanted to be surrounded by her wetness.
“ I don’t plan to play fair with you. I want you Eve. I need you.” He rubbed her slowly wanting her to become more ready for him. “Please.” Eve opened her legs wider as he played with her nub. She lost herself in his arms. He massaged her nub to allow him access to her beautiful body when he pressed himself between her legs. Eve pulled Rick’s head away from her breast toward her mouth as he slowly pushed himself inside of her warmth. They both groaned in unison as the friction of their bodies heated them.

Thorne stood over his wife’s sleeping form looking at her in pure disgust. He couldn’t believe the night that he had endured. His pregnant wife had been pulled over for a DWI on her way home. She had already had certain complications with her pregnancy yet she had dared to risk the life of their child by getting drunk. Obviously, he’d been blinded by his own guilt and his refusal to believe that he could help her. God knew he had tried however the situation had gotten out of control. He wasn’t happy and he knew that something was very wrong with her for her to risk their child’s life. Thorne became angrier as the moments ticked by. He wasn’t going to let her hurt his child. Not now, not ever.

KC logged into her computer to review the notes that she had made for her designs. Rick, bless his heart, had one of the employees to install a new computer program that scanned her designs and updated any changes she made allowing her to make notes electronically. Normally this would be something she’d review at night however she had been up in the wee hours since she was too wired to sleep. She was somewhat anxious about her interview with Yvette and had decided to channel some of her excitement into pure creative zeal and created a new design. Unlike the others it was classic elegance without the sexual appeal. Classic line, a blue sink formal empress dress with a hint for full cupped breast. She was going to show it to Ridge later for future use maybe in the couture line. Sipping her peppermint herbal tea that she had opted for instead of her coffee she heard the water running above her head, she knew that Connor was in the shower. Unlike her, he had slept like a baby most the night snoring lightly.Last night they had stayed up late making plans for their wedding. After a day of court battles and reporters Connor had wanted to focus on something positive so they planned for a lovely December wedding right here in L.A.. She clicked on the fringe beaded hemline and added a comment when the telephone rang; she was just about to pick it up when it stopped ringing. Connor must have picked up she thought, turning her attention back to her design.

Connor grabbed the towel he was wearing with one hand and picked up the phone in the other. “Hello.” He said shaking his head to rid them of the water that clung to the edges of his hair.
“ Connor.”
“ Tray.” Connor looked around to assess that the bedroom door was closed. The last thing he needed was K.C stumbling upon this conversation. Hearing the music downstairs he knew that she was working in her office.“ How are things going so far?”
“ Hey I’ve only been here two days. Even I can’t work that fast but I think that I’ve found something but I wanted concrete evidence before I present it to you.
Connor bowed his head as he sat on the bed. Sending Tray to Italy was the only option that he had to find out more about Caspian DeAngelo “ Not too many people open up about him however I think that I’ve found someone could possibly help me.”
“ Good. Italy is our only hope. The man grew up there.”
‘ Yes, but his family isn’t an option. From what I gathered his sister is in L.A and so is his mother.”
“ His mother?”
“ Yes. Olivia DeAngelo. She has a suite at the Renaissance.” This was news to Connor. Brooke had never mentioned Caspian’s mother. “ I have to go. I have lunch planned with a contact named Alfanso Resittie. He works for Microtech office here in Italy. I also have a contact of mine who works for Interpol; maybe he can help if I can’t get any information the conventional way. He says that he would have something for me in a day or so.” Tray paused for a moment then whistled appreciatively at a woman no doubt. “I’ll tell you something else. The next time that I come to Italy, it won’t be on business.”
“ Italian women?”
“ God certainly knew what he was doing when he created them.”
Connor laughed. “ If you get me the information I need on Caspian. I’ll pay for the trip myself.”
“ I’ll have to remember that. I’ll check in with you later.” Tray hung up his cell phone took out his wallet and threw the bills down on the table where there were the remains of his coffee and pastry Standing tall and looking devishly handsome he made his way across the piazza and disappeared in the mass of tourist and local people. What he didn’t notice was the man who picked up his paper and disappeared along with him.

Brooke pressed harder up the other hill. Sweat poured down her back and between her breast but she felt great. She maintained her breathing in and out allowing her diaphragm to contact as she let air out of her lungs. She continued her run and went around the curved road until after ten minutes later she was running back down her drive and to her house. Brooke cooled off and stretched her legs before she put her running weights down and strolled to the kitchen. She took a small towel and pressed it against her brow and neck allowing it to mop up the perspiration from her run. Opening the refrigerator door she stood for a moment allowing the cold air to rush against her warm body. Leaning down she looked at the contents for only a moment before she took out the glass pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice. She was in the drinking the glass of juice when Marta came into the kitchen.
“ Good Morning Miss Brooke.”
“ Good morning Marta.” She had tried to get Marta to call her Brooke to no avail.
“ It’s good to see you out and about. If you are running then you must be feeling better.”
Brooke swallowed a little more juice. She did feel a lot better today than she had felt the last couple of days. “I’m feeling more like myself.”
“ How about breakfast this morning? A omelet? Or how about one of your favorites? French toast stuffed with bananas.”
“ Mmm, that does sound good.” Her stomach growled at the sound of food. Thank god she had just run or she’d feel guilty. “Alright. That sounds positively delicious.”
“ Good, it will be good for you to eat.”
She smiled as she took a handful of green grapes out of the fruit basket.“ Marta, we will have to set an extra plate.”
“ For Miss Eve? I like that girl. She doesn’t eat enough. We need to fatten her up.”
“ Between you and my mother. I think we’ll be able to do just that. Set one for her. Set one for Eric as well he is staying here.”
“ Mr. Forrester.” Marta smiled ash she finished folding the hand towels that she was placing on the kitchen rack. “ It’s good for him to have somewhere to go in all of this. I’ll make sure that I have some fresh oatmeal with strawberries for his heart. Some Seven Grain bread toasted as well. We want to take good care of him.”
“ Thank you Marta.” Marta nodded as she closed the pantry doors. She took out the large bowls and eggs. She also took out the griddle and fresh French bread. “ Do you need any help?”
“ No. Not today. I can handle the crowd.” Marta said with authority. She had a family of five. “ You go and relax. You need it.”
Brooke laughed. “ I don’t know what I’d do without you and my mother to help me through this.”
“ You’d do what you always do. Be strong and handle it all. BUT this time you don’t have too. You have a family to help you and you have me. You also have that wonderful man Mr. Caspian. He’s good to you. He stands by you. Not like the other one.” She frowned. “ You’ve been through enough at the hands of that horrible woman. Miss Bridget should have had a real family. It’s her fault that everyone is suffering. If it were up to me I’d give her a good kick where the sun don’t shine.”
Marta’s loyalty touched Brooke’s heart. Brooke nodded. “ Belive me. I think that you’ll have to stand in line. Right now we should focus on Bridget. She’s going to need lots of love from all of us. ”
“She’s a good girl. Now get going. Breakfast will be served in twenty minutes.”
Brooke saluted Marta quickly before she headed upstairs. She decided to stop by Little Eric’s nursery to check on her grandson. Finding him up in his little bed, he clapped happily as he grandmother took him out. “ Grandma.” Brooke couldn’t help but to melt.
“ Yes sweetheart. It’s grandma.” She kissed his dark head and took him to one of his favorite books. “Good night Moon.” “ Do you want me to read it?”
“ Read. Read.” He handed her the book. Brooke cuddled him up in his arms and she couldn’t help but to remember when she held both Rick and Bridget just like she was holding Eric. “ Grand ma. Read.” His little face looked up at her and Brooke started to read her voice filtering softly in the nursery.

Trudie had just finished setting the table for breakfast outside on the patio when CJ finally arrived. She licked the syrup off her fingers when it ran down the pitcher. “ You know I was about to call a search party for you.” She turned around and was pleasantly surprised. “ My my. Look at you.” CJ wasn’t in his normal jeans and T-shirt instead he was dressed in a suite. “ What’s going on?”
“ I’ve got a meeting with my mother’s lawyer and maybe the bank.”
“ Your mother’s lawyer? Why?”
“ It’s a long story but basically Kimberly asked for the money that her father invested into Spectra.’
“ Kimberly? That bitch.” She uttered. “Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know but I plan to find out. But right now, I’ve got to help my mother.” CJ forked three pancakes onto his plate and loaded it down with butter before he poured syrup. He cut them up gave a moment thanks to God and started to devour them.
“ This doesn’t make any sense. Kimberly doesn’t need any money she’s married to Thorne. How much shopping can she do?”
“ I don’t know what was going on in her head. At first I thought that maybe the Forrester put her up to it but Thorne shocked when I told him. I swear if she weren’t pregnant I’d strangle her.”
“ I just can’t believe this. She’s knew that capable of just about anything but is going to far for even her.” Trudie hated the fact that she personally knew what kind of deception that she was capable of. If it weren’t for Scott, she’d be more than willing to tell the truth.”
“ I just don’t understand her anymore. My mother has been good to her. She was there for her offered her a place to stay and this is how she repays her. I will tell you one thing. I won’t let Kimberly get away with this.”
“ I hope you don’t. Kimberly’s nothing but trouble.”
“ All the Forresters are, if you ask me.”
Trudie was surprised by the bitterness in CJ’s tone. “ The Forresters. I don’t think the Forrester have anything to do with how crazy Kimberly has become. She was well on her way there herself.”
“ The Forresters have proven not to be trust worthy. Look at what Thorne did to Macy. I certainly feel for Rick and for Bridget, especially now.”
“ Especially now? What’s happened now?”
CJ stopped eating. “Don’t you know what’s happened? Trudie, don’t you watch the news or read the paper?”
“ I’ve been dealing with my move. The cable isn’t in and paper is being delivered to my old apartment. Instead of taking your anger out on me, why don’t you tell me what happened.”
“ I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take my anger out on you. I’ve been busy.”
“ So, what’s happened?”
“Stephanie Forrester was arrested for having Bridget’s paternity changed.”
Orange juice slipped down the wrong windpipe of Trudie’s throat causing her to start choking. CJ jumped up and held Trudie’s hand over her head to clear her air passages. After she finished coughing. Tear burned her eyes. CJ poured her a glass of water and handed it to her. She took a huge sip before she sat back down. “ Sorry.”
“ It’s alright. It’s pretty shocking the lengths that woman would go through just to ensure that Brooke didn’t get Ridge. It didn’t matter what she did to Bridget as long as she get Brooke in the process. Hell, I don’t like Brooke. I don’t give a damn what happens to her but Budge is different. She’s like a little sister to me. I can’t believe that Stephanie would want to do this to her.”
Trudie could hardly pay attention to a word that CJ was saying. Her head was spinning with the news. “What do the police have on her?”
“ I’m not sure. They have some records that proved that she bribed some lab technician to have Bridget’s test changed. I think that they are going to look through all of her finical records to find the connection. According to the news, it was the hospital who started this investigation when Bridget’s test were relieved to be compromised.”
“ So what did they find?”
“ They haven’t said publicly but it must be something because they hauled Old Queenie’s ass in jail. It’s too bad that they let her out.” CJ finished off his pancakes and wiped his mouth. “Sorry that I had to eat a and run.”
“ No it’s okay. I’ll see you later.” She stood up and kissed him goodbye. CJ was so preoccupied that he didn’t notice how agitated Trudie was.

Bridget tried her cell phone again but it still was out of service. “ Damn it.” She kicked a chair in her room. Sometimes the service didn’t work in Big Bear and it proved not to be working now. She wanted. No, she needed to talk to Scott. After what had transpired yesterday, she needed him. Tears threatened to fill her eyes and she pushed it away. Her eyes are aching from all the crying that she had done the night before. Last night had been emotionally taxing for her. She still had so many questions that she wanted to have answered. Her mother honestly believed her grandmother had changed the paternity test but she wasn’t going to believe it until there was proof. Still, she wanted to talk to Scott. She wanted him to ell her that everything was going to be all right. Bridget put her phone back into her backpack and silently opened the door to her bedroom. The cabin was quiet. Her father and Taylor must still be asleep. Good. She crept to the phone, looked around and dialed Scott’s number. She waited as the phone rang and rang hoping that he’d pick up the phone but he didn’t. Bridget’s heart crashed as his voicemail picked up. She decided to leave him a message. “ Scott. This is Bridget. I’m…I’m not sure how much you’ve heard about….well about what’s going on with my family. I wish that you were home because I just really need to hear your voice. Please give me a call. I miss you.” She hung up a phone quickly as Taylor came into the room wearing her robe and reading a physiological magazine.
“ Bridget.” Taylor looked at her suspiciously when she noted how jumpy she was. “What are you doing up so early? Did you have problems sleeping?” She looked at the phone. “ Were you on the phone?”
“ What? I can’t call my mother?”
Taylor was surprised by the harshness of Bridget’s tone. “ No. I didn’t say that though I have a feeling that you weren’t calling your mother.” Taylor headed quickly over toward the girl.
“ You were calling Scott, weren’t you?”
Bridget rolled her eyes.“ So what? If I was calling Scott? It’s none of your business. You aren’t my mother.”
“True. I’m not your mother but I do care about you.” She patted the sofa next to her to encourage Bridget to sit next to her. Bridget knew there was no point in arguing so she sat next to her. Taylor turned to her. “ I know that you’ve been going through a rough time lately. Finding out that you have cancer has to be tough.”
“ I’m fine.” Bridget shrugged.
Taylor didn’t believe her. “ I wouldn’t have been fine if it had been me. And I know it isn’t fine.”
“ If this is a talk about my cancer. I’ve have plenty of them with my mother.”
“ I’m sure that you have. But I wanted to let you know that I admire you.”
She was surprised by her stepmother’s admission. “ You admire me?”
“ Yes. I do. You are really strong young woman. You are facing a battle with grace and poise.” Bridget rolled her eyes.“ Well..” Taylor laughed. “ Maybe with strength.” She touched Bridget’s face lightly. “I know it’s been hard on you.” She said quietly.
Bridget nodded slowly.“ It’s kinda scary but now I don’t have to worry.” She looked at Taylor with a honest smile.. “ And that’s because of you. You decided to let Thomas and the girls be tested and the doctor thinks that one of them will be a match to me. That makes me luckier than a lot of others in my group session.”
“ Group session?” Taylor inquired.
“ Charlie told mom about it and we checked it out. It’s for teens who are dealing with cancer. Some of us have it others have parents that have it.”
“ Charlie?”
“ Morgan’s sister. I know that Morgan’s nuts but her sister a really good doctor. She’s given my mom a lot information.”
“ She’s an intelligent woman and a very good doctor from what I was told. She’s right about the therapy sessions.. I think they can be very helpful because they become a source of support.”
“ They are or at least were…” Bridget stood up and walked over toward the kitchen staring off into the early morning. Taylor followed her.
“ Were…Bridget are you thinking about leaving the groups?”
“ I don’t know how I’m going to go back there. How can I with all of them talking about me. Whispering about my family and how my own grandmother..”
“ Shh.” Taylor turned Bridget toward her. “ Bridget if you created relationships with your group you need to stay. I’m not saying that having your personal private business exposed to the world isn’t painful. It is. However you can get past it. There might and notice I said MIGHT be stares but people who care about you won’t be looking at you because of the gossip. You might find that they are looking at you to show you support.”
“ I don’t know…”
“ But I do. You are talking to a woman who a videotape of her husband’s transgression showed at your brother’s birthday party for the entire world to see. I think that I do know a little about public humiliation.” She stood walking to the fireplace. “ I’ve had my entire life sprawled out on the covers of Globe, Star and countless of others tabloids.”
Bridget looked away. She felt a mountain of guilt for the pain that she caused her stepmother.
“ It really hurt you, didn’t it?”
“ Yes. It did. It was difficult to know that strangers knew about Ridge’s indecision with Morgan. It was a very painful time of my life.”
“ I’m sorry.” Bridget stated honestly.
Hearing the sincerity in the girl’s voice touched Taylor. “ Sweetie. You aren’t to blame for what happened just like you aren’t to blame for what’s going on now. None of this is your fault.” Bridget didn’t say a word because she knew some of it was.

Thorne took a washcloth and soaked it into cold water before he slapped it hard on top of Kimberly’s forehead. Kimberly jumped up assaulted by the cold wet cloth. “What that hell…!” She stared up at Thorne’s furious face. Seeing her husband angry staring down at her she turned her head not wanting to see the look at his face. “Thorne. I uh…” She stammered.
“ You what? Tell me are you thinking about the story or the excuse you are going to come up with. What ever it is it better be a good one because I can’t think of any reason that I would have to come down and pick you up for a DWI.”
“ But…”
Thorne cut her off. “ What the were you thinking about! How could you do this? Have you thought at all about OUR baby that you are carrying!” He grabbed her roughly by the shoulders. Looked at her with pure disgust and threw her back. “My god. What kind of mother are you going to be?” He was beyond furious with her. “ It’s clear that you don’t care about this baby.”
“ That isn’t true. I love this baby more than you even know. He’s all that I have.” Tears spilled down Kimberly’s cheeks.
Thorne didn’t care if she was upset. She had endangered their child. “ You can save the waterworks for someone else because they don’t work on me. Not anymore.”

London
Vivian Murphy carried a steering silver tray with her grandmother’s tea service to the gentlemen sitting in her parlor. It was well after noon tea but it had been so long since she had company she was excited. Especially a man who looked like the man. Vivian pulled at the collar to her tight-necked blouse and looked into the antique mirror that had belonged to her grandmother. She peeked around the corner to look at the man again. He was certainly good looking. Steadying herself, she brought in poppy-seed cake, scones and hot tea. She poured a cup of tea. “ How do you take it?”
He smiled at her and she swore her heart skipped a beat. “ With lemon.”
She placed the lemon in the tea cup.“ Milk?”
“ No thank you.”
“ Sugar?”
“Two lumps.” She placed the sugar in the tea and handed Caspian the cup. Vivian noticed how large and dark his hands when he took the tiny little china. “Please sit down. I hate that I’ve taken you away from your gardening.”
Vivian blushed. It was amazing that at sixty-three years of age she could do so. “I was just pulling up weeds.”
“ You’ve done more than that. Your garden is beautiful.”
“ Thank you.”
Caspian sipped his tea and ate his scone. It was delicious. “ Now. Where were we?”
“ We were talking about Lark.”
“Yes. We were. She was a sweet girl. Very quiet and very lovely. She liked to read though and even paint from time to time. She always was the apple of her parents eyes.” Vivian sipped more of her tea. “ I had worked for a few families a couple of years as a nanny but when I worked for the Huntington’s it was different. It was like I was part of the family.” She said proudly. Moving to a drawer she took out a photo album where she opened to show him pictures Lark as a toddler. Caspian fingered the album and watched the display of photos that showed an innocent teenaged Lark smiling with a much younger Vivian.
“ Yes she was an extraordinary woman.” He said with emotion.
“ When her parents died, she never came back to London to stay. I was very worried until I found out she was getting married. Knowing she was married gave me comfort. She was very sweet and fragile. I didn’t want her to be alone in the world. You were a good husband to her. Weren’t you?””
“ I tried to be.” He said honestly. “ She was a wonderful wife to me. She was very loving and kind.” Vivian leaned back in her chair smiling fondly with the memories of the little girl who she watched grow into a beautiful young woman.“ Vivian. I’m here because out of all the staff who worked for the Huntington’s you are the one who was the closest to them and to Lark.”
“ I was close to them. After all, I worked for them full time until she was eighteen.”
“So you had the ends and out of the family.” He drained the rest of his tea.
“ Yes.” She said proudly. “Cassie and I were close. She never acted as if I were the help instead a godmother of sorts for Lark. We worked together to her ballet lessons, her painting lessons, and went to all of her riding shows. Cassie adored her daughter very much. She completely doted on her.”
“ That I know.” He said warmly. “ She was very close to her mother.”
“ Cassie and Lark were very close. Cassie always loved children.
“ How come she didn’t have anymore children besides Lark?”
Vivian knocked over her saucer and hurried to clean it. “Oh dear.” She mopped up the remains of tea.
“ Here let me help you.” He took the napkin rag and wiped up the mess.
“Thank you.” She allowed him to finish mopping up the mess. When he carried the tray to the kitchen and placed the dish in the sink. He turned back to Vivian. “ If you could, please tell me why they didn’t have anymore children?”
“She couldn’t.” She whispered. “ She couldn’t have anymore. After Lark.”
“ Lark was an only child.”
“ Of course she was.” Vivian was suddenly uncomfortable.
“ I don’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to know if Lark was the only child that Sam and Cassie had or was there another child.”
Vivian turned away. “ I don’t know what you are suggesting. Samuel was committed to his wife.”
“ I never suggested that he wasn’t.”
Vivian’s heartbeat faster. She had cared deeply for the family and she wasn’t about to divulge any secrets to anyone including Lark’s husband. “ I’m very tired. It’s been a long day. I think that it’s best that you go right now.”
He had upset her. He hadn’t meant to but he wanted to know the truth. “ Vivian. I know that you have been very loyal to Lark’s parents and to Lark.”
“ I cared for them.” She stated proudly. Her chin came up.
“ You kept their secrets as well, I assume. As any good friend of a family would do.”
Vivian nodded slightly. “ What you are asking…”
“ Is the truth.” He stated. “You know more about Lark, Samuel and Cassandra than anybody and only you are left to help me answer some questions.”
“ What questions?”
“ Questions on whether or Lark was an only child.”
Vivian closed her eyes painfully. “ Why does it matter?”
Caspian opened his jacket and took out the photo of Brooke. He placed it on the sink next to the table.
“ Because she matters to me.”
Vivian looked down at the photo of a very beautiful woman. She studied the picture in silence before she finally spoke.“ This isn’t Lark.” She whispered.
“ No. It isn’t. It’s a picture of a woman named Brooke Logan.”
“ Brooke?” She paused in confusion. “ I don’t understand…”
“ Nether do I. I need to know how two women who were born in separate countries by two separate parents look exactly alike. I need to if there is a chance that Brooke and Lark are related.”
“Why?”
“Because I love her.” He saw the surprised look on her face.
“Love her. It’s because she looks like Lark. That isn’t real love.
“In my life I’ve only loved two women. One was Lark and believe me no body can take her place. She was a very sweet and special woman. I didn’t go looking for Brooke. I’ll admit that I wanted to see her because she looked like Lark.” Vivian said nothing she only listened. “But something extraordinary happened. I met a woman who challenged me and got me to open a heart that I long though was dead. It didn’t matter that she looked like my dead wife because I felt fell in love with her based on who she was. I should have investigated the connection between Brooke and Lark before now but I guess deep down I was afraid. But now I want to have a future with Brooke. I can’t do that without having complete honesty with her. I can’t do that if I don’t know the truth. I need to know if they are somehow related or even sisters.”
“ I’m sorry…but I can’t help you.” She gave him back Brooke’s picture. “I don’t know anything that could.”
Caspian studied her long and hard for a moment trying to his best to read her expression. Harassing older women wasn’t his style however she had been Lark’s nanny and had a close relationship.” All right.” He left the picture of Brooke on the bureau. “ If you remember anything that could shed some light on this situation please call me at this number.” He handed her his card.
Vivian took the card and was surprised when he then took out his checkbook and tore off a check. She opened her mouth to speak but he interrupted her. “ This isn’t for any information or some sort of bribe. As you can see it was already made before I can here because it’s something that I owe to you. Lark loved you. She had wonderful childhood memories about you. She would have wanted you to have the check to help to see to your comfort.”
“ No. I cannot take this check. It would be wrong.”
Caspian understood however he honestly felt that he owed it to Vivian for all the years of service that she had given Lark. “ I’ll tell you what. I’ll leave the check and if you want to use it then use it. If not, rip it up.”
Vivian nodded and walked him out. A part of her felt bad. The man only wanted some information but she couldn’t tell him. She had made certain promises to Cassie and she couldn’t break her word even now. She pulled the curtain back and watched as the black car drove away.

Kimberly had never seen Thorne like this before. He was furious with her. “ Your little crying game that you pull whenever you don’t get something your way isn’t going to work this time.”
“ I can’t believe you’d say something like that to me.” She walked away.
“ You got drunk Kimberly. Do you even comprehend what that means? You are four months pregnant with my child! Damn it, do you even care what your drinking could cause our baby to have fetal alcohol syndrome? Have you ever seen what it does to babies?”
She hadn’t thought of that.“ Our baby will be just fine. I just had a few drinks that’s all.”
“ Fine. Fine!” He paced back and forth gripping his hands to keep himself from strangling her where she stood. He turned his back for a moment not wanting to look at the child that he was married to. Did she not understand the enormity of her act? “ My sister was born with a handicap that made her life a living hell. She suffered daily and couldn’t enjoy her life because of an illness that ate away at her brain and her body. I will not.” He slammed his hand hard down on the table. “ Let you do this to our child. Do you understand?”
“ Thorne. I”
“ Do you understand!” He grabbed her roughly by her shoulders and shook her.
“ Please.” Her teeth chattered. Tears formed in her eyes as she bit her tongue. “ Thorne. Please Let me Go!”
He snapped out of his haze and let her go. Kimberly rubbed her shoulders. Thorne looked at her and saw the wounded look on her face. Tears streamed down her eyes. ‘ I didn’t..” She hiccupped. “ I didn’t know about any sister of yours who was ill.”
“ Her name was Angela. She suffered and died never knowing her family. Never living the type of life she should have lived.” He said with anguish I won’t let you do the same with our baby.”
“ I would never hurt our baby.”
“ Then why were you drinking?” He demanded with little sympathy.
“ I was upset.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Upset? About what? You have everything you want. A home to live in. Enough money to spend on whatever you want? Closets filled with clothes. You eat at the finest restaurants. You don’t have to work. I’m paying for your tuition. I take care off of your bills even the ridiculous ones like the manicure and facial that cost $400 dollars. What else could you want?”
“ How can you ask that?” She was floored that he didn’t understand. “Don’t you get it? I went to that bar because I was alone. I just wanted some company. I didn’t mean to get drunk. I just wanted to ease my mind because I can’t keep thinking about everything I’ve lost. My father. Macy.”
“Save it. I’ve heard it all before.”
“ But did you listen? I thought that maybe things would be different if we were married but it’s worse. I’m lonely. You always gone at work or something. Anything it seems as long as you are far away from me and the baby.”
“ I’m working. We are getting read for the fashion show for a line we’ve staked our reputation on and sunk a lot of money in.”
“ Working. Yeah right.” Kimberly wiped the tears on the back of her hand. “ Making up excuses not be home. Or better yet. Making up excuses to be with Brooke.”
“ Brooke?” He wished that he could be spending time with Brooke.
“ Please what do I look like a fool. I see the way that you look at her. Every little movement she makes you devour with your eyes.” She laughed bitterly. “ It’s pathetic because she doesn’t even pay you any attention. She has a new man.
“ Kimberly. This is not about Brooke.”
“ You are pinning for a woman who doesn’t even care how much she’s hurt you. She moved on in a matter of months. In fact I think that it’s kind of funny how quickly they got involved. She probably was sleeping with him when she was seeing you.”
Thorne whirled around looking at her. “ Not another word from you.”
“ What are you going to do to me if I don’t shut up!” she screamed. “ You want to know why I got drunk? It’s because I see the look in your eyes. I see how much you hate me. You blamed me for this life we have. You raped me and I forgave you because I loved you.” Her words hit him like a slap on his face. Seeing the look of hurt in his eyes she ran to him. “ I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I was just angry.”
“No.” he said silently. Moving as far away from her as possible.
“ I’m really sorry.” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. I promise you that I’ll never drink again.”
Thorne looked at her. She looked worn out and out of control. There was real panic in her eyes. How could he have missed that before. He took her hand and lead her to the sofa. ‘ I know that lately it seems like I haven’t been around.”
“ You haven’t been. You’ve been very distant. Especially on the night we made love. It was my first time for real. It was special.” She took his hand and kissed the palm of it before she placed on her breast. “See. I need you. I want you. We can make it really good just like that night.”
“Kimberly I can’t.”
“ Why not. I can you happy. I know that I can.” She leaned forward and kissed his neck where the shirt was open.”
“ No.” He pushed her way gently. “Kimberly that night was a mistake.”
“ No it wasn’t.”
“ Yes, it was. Listen. I’ve told you before …” He paused before he detangled himself from her. “I’m your husband because I wanted the baby to have my name. I also wanted to look after you. After all that happened I owed you that much. But that’s it. I care about you. But I’m not in love with you. And you don’t love me. I know that you think that you want to be with me t but you aren’t thinking clearly. You are confused.”
“ I’m not confused. I know that if you’d just try that things could be different.”
“No. They won’t be. I don’t know how to be a husband to you because I don’t think of you as a wife.” He could see that his words hurt her however he pressed on. “ I’m sorry. I’ll try to be here for you more. I can’t promise you that for the next couple of weeks because of the mess that mother’s in.”
Kimberly nodded. “ Okay. I promise you that I won’t drink anymore.” She hugged Thorne happy that he had forgotten his anger and promised to spend more time with her.
Thorne wore a distant look on his face. He would allow Kimberly to think that things were getting better. However he was going to keep a very close eye on her from now on. Kimberly was losing all grips on reality and he wasn’t about to trust her with the life of his unborn baby. Getting drunk while pregnant had proven that she wasn’t capable of making a rational decision.

Brooke and Little Eric were playing with one of his Tonka trucks when Eve opened the door to the nursery. “Oh.” She was surprised to find Brooke sprawled on the floor on her stomach with the tot.“ I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Brooke sat up and ruffled Eric’s head. “ You weren’t bothering us. Eric and I are just spending some quality time with together. She motioned Eve in.
Eve stepped in the room. She looked so adorable in a pair of tan parachute pants and a short baby T-shirt that read Hawaii in hot pink. With her hair pulled back away from her face and twirled up with a pink orchard she gotten from the bouquet of fresh flowers downstairs looked naturally pretty. Brooke liked the girl very much. Unlike Amber who had managed to bring out the worst in her son Eve brought out the best. Eve was intelligent, graceful and very sweet. She was NOTHING like that money groupie tart that her son had been married to.
“ I just wanted to get Eric up and dressed for breakfast. Then maybe we’d go swimming or something before I left to go to work. I don’t have to go in until the later tonight.”
“ That sounds wonderful doesn’t it sweetie?” Brooke cooed to her grandson who dumped the manicure rocks in his truck. “ You want to go swimming with Eve?”
He nodded and dropped his truck.” Swimming. Swimming.” He chanted. His eyes lit up. There was nothing that he loved more than water. With the truck long forgotten he ran to the corner and pulled out his orange arm floats.
Brooke laughed. “ That sounds like a yes to me.”
“ Yes it does.” Eve said sweetly as he ran to her to show her his organ swimming arm floats. She leaned down and picked him up. “Let’s go buddy and find you some clothes to wear and pick out some swimming trunks.” Brooke watched as she found Eric’s clothes and gave him his favorite toy to play with while she ran the water for his bath. Brooke followed her in the doorway keeping her eyes on Eric as he played. Eve tested the water with her elbow. “ You are really good him with him.”
Eve wiped her elbow. “ No. It isn’t anything. I figured that everyone would be pretty busy this morning. I just wanted to help.”
“ I appreciate it. All the things that you’ve done to help my son and my grandson.”
“ It’s nothing.”
“ No. It IS something. Rick relies on you and depends on you. And you always seem to come through for him. I won’t tell you how long that I’ve wanted someone like you to be in his life. When he got involved with Amber, he always had to carry the load. Be mature for her. Make excuses for her mistakes. And take care of Eric. Watching my son suffer at her hands was like hell to me. Amber lied and manipulated my son in so many ways. I never could forgive myself for not seeing what was going on under my very nose.”
“Rick told me about what happened. I doubt that you could have guessed what was going on.”
Brooke moved to sit on the counter. “ I don’t know. I was pretty busy with my life falling apart.” Seeing the confusion in Eve’s eyes, she elaborated. “ Long story short. I was losing Ridge. He had found out that Thomas was his son and decided to leave us. I just wanted him back. Do you know what is sad? The night that Rick slept with Amber and lost his virginity, I was too busy sneaking in to Ridge and Taylor’s wedding. Pathetic huh?”
“ That’s not pathetic. You loved him. You were hurting.”
“But I didn’t pay attention to what was going on with my children. My son lost a huge part of his life and had to grow up pretty fast. He didn’t get the chance to be a regular teenager.”
“ I don’t think that you should be so hard on yourself. He’s always bragging about what a great mom you are. So, don’t worry so much. It seems that you were going through a tough time losing the man that you loved in all. That’s got to be hard. Besides it’s a lot better than…” She paused embarrassed that she almost divulged information to Rick’s mother.
“ It’s better than what?”
Eve shrugged as she dropped two of Eric’s water toys in the water. “ It’s better than what I got. My mom dumped me when her boyfriend started the practice of watching me take baths. I guess that she didn’t like the competition.” She said bitterly. “ She left and never looked back.”
Brooke was taken aback. Poor Eve. She knew that she didn’t have any connection with her family but hearing the comment from Eve rocked her. “ Eve. I’m so sorry.”
“ It’s okay. I’ve learned that family isn’t always the people who share our blood. Sometimes we have to make our own family.”
Still, Brooke was incensed that any woman would leave her child behind for a man who was willing to hurt her child. “ Yes. Sometimes we have to make our own families.” Stepping closer to her son’s girlfriend, she opened her arms and hugged her. Eve at first was hesitant but allowed her the moment of feeling like she was part of a family. “Like I stated before. My son is very lucky to have found someone like you.”
“Me Too!” Eric ran into the bathroom and squeeze in between his grandmother and Eve. Holding his arms up, Brooke picked him up and hugged.
“ See what I mean. Giving Eve a meaningful smile.”

Connor was eating a breakfast roll when KC came down the stairs. . His dropped hung open as she descended in a turquoise twisted halter two piece dress in which the top ended just above her flat stomach and the matching skirt rode low on her hips with a fanned layered hem showed off her fantastic legs. Dangling antique earrings adorned her ears while she wore no other jewelry expect her engagement ring. WOW, she was breathtaking. Seeing the look on Connor’s face she smiled and turned to around so he could see her naked back. “ You like?”
He pulled her into his arms. “ I love.” He murmured before he caught her mouth in a kiss.
“ I’m glad that you do.” She whispered when she pulled her mouth away.
“ So what time is the interview?”
“At one we are going to have lunch at Zenith. I have a some alterations to make this morning before I do.” She poured herself a glass of apple juice. Noting that he had given her dry toast with marmalade and had cut up some cantaloupe and berries for her she started to eat.. “ Thanks. I’ll need it for my nervous stomach.”
“Are you actually nervous? I find that hard to believe.”
“ Just a little. I want this to go well. This could mean a lot of publicity for me and for the line. In the past, I’ve worked for design houses that got most of the credit for my work. That is how the fashion industry works. Not this time. Forrester’s name attached but this article is about me. My vision. My work.” She touched her stomach. “ I’m a little nervous.”
Connor took her hand. “ You have nothing to be nervous about. You are talented and your work speaks for itself. Just look at that dress you are wearing. It just a sample of the work that you’ve done. Forrester is very lucky to have a designer like you.” He kissed her hand nibbling on her fingers.
KC smiled. “ Thank you.” She touched his face. “ It’s good to see you smiling again.”
“ I have a lot to be thankful for. You’ve agreed to be my wife. We finally set a wedding date. I’m happy.”
“ I know.” She gave him a sideways glance. “ I also know that last night you were pretty worried about Brooke. Are you feeling a little better this morning?”
“ A little. Things are going to be pretty rough for a while.”
“ Did she see Bridget?”
“ She was going up there last night. She didn’t want the press to tell her before she did.”
She forked a bit of melon and ate it. “ I just can’t believe that Stephanie would do something like this? To deny your own grandchild just to get what she wanted. It’s sick and demented.”
“This time she’s gone to far.”
“ Do you honestly think she will? You and I always know that the law is not always fair. Stephanie has a lot of money and great deal of power in this city. She has some very influencal friends as well who will refuse to believe that she did this. And with a good lawyer she could get out of it.”
“ I know.” He wiped his mouth with is napkin when he finished off another breakfast roll. “ That’s not all that scares me. Part of it is Brooke.”
“ Brooke?”
“ She was very different yesterday. She was aggressive and determined to see Stephanie pay no matter what.”
“ Can you blame her? My god, this was her daughter.”
“ I know that. But Brooke has got to play by the rules. She can’t go barging into the D.A’s office making demands. Nor should she be bribing her way into seeing Stephanie. Those tactics aren’t Brooke’s…”
“ Then who tactics are they?”
“Caspian’s. It’s him. Brooke never would have thought to even have…” He stopped.
“ Have what?”
“Have done some of the things that she has done.” Connor didn’t want to get into the whole situation with K.C after all Brooke was his client. “ I can’t really divulge the details but I will tell you that after all these years, I know how Brooke operates and this isn’t her. This is Caspian.”
KC put her glass of juice down and followed Connor into the living room and outside on the patio. It was obvious that he was worried. “ You can’t blame him for wanting to her help her.”
“ No but I can blame him for the tactics that she’s using. Brooke has got to play it straight because if she doesn’t she could ruin any chances we have in seeing Stephanie behind bars.”
“ Sweetheart. I know you are worried about Brooke. She’s your friend and your client. But Caspian has brought her a lot of happiness. She and I have had long talks about her past relationships. She feels differently about Caspian. He doesn’t expect her to be perfect. He accepts her for who she is. More than that he’s very supportive among other things.”
“ I’m glad that you and Brooke are friends. She really needs to support.”
“ Yes she does. And she doesn’t need mean her well-meaning friends casting doubts about the man she loves. Take it from someone who knows first hand.”
“That isn’t what I was doing.”
“ Isn’t it?”
“ I’m just looking out for her.”
“ I know you are but Brooke’s a grown woman and she certainly can chose who she wants to be with. Besides its difficult when someone wants to talk you out of being with someone.”
“ Someone trying to talk you out of marrying me?” Connor wrapped his arms around her and playfully bit her ear.”
“ No. Not you. It was when I was engaged to Coron. Jackson tried to persuade me NOT to marry him.”
“ Jackson.” He kissed her on the top of her soft hair. “ There is a name that you haven’t spoken in a long time.” He cleared his throat. “ I saw his magazine the other night.”
“ It good isn’t it? He always had a vision of what he wanted I’m sure this magazine is making him extremely happy.”
“ What about you?”
“ Me. I’m extremely happy.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to nibble on his ear. “What about you.”
“ You know how I feel sweetheart.”
“ Good. Because we have everything to celebrate.”
“We do. We have a wedding to plan and you my dear have a reporter to meet one that I have no doubt you will impress.” He ran a finger down her soft cheek and looked into her chocolate colored eyes.

Brooke hesitated only a moment before she knocked on the door to guestroom that Eric had occupied. He had been very quiet most of the morning. She would have left him alone however she was worried about him. Knocking a couple of times. “ Eric. Can I come in?” She opened th door slightly to find an empty room. “ Eric?”
“ Over here.” The voice carried in from the balcony adjacent to his room.
Brooke stepped out on the balcony to find his staring off toward the coastline.
“ Hi.”
“ Hi.” He turned to look at her.
She moved to stand directly next to him. “ How did you sleep last night?”
“ Don’t you mean to ask me if I slept at all? He countered. “I slept very little.”
“ I’m sorry.” She said honestly.
Eric patted her hand. “ You aren’t to blame. It’s going to take some time that’s all to get used to all the changes.”
“ You take all the time that you need.”
“ Time is pretty much all that I have left.” He noted her change of dress. She wore a champagne colored blouse that sloped one side of her arm barring her right shoulder while a golden diamond encrusted half-moon pin was pinned on the other side, tailored champagne colored pants and high slip on heels. Her hair however lay in mass of curls pushed to the side with a hair comb falling across her and below her shoulder right shoulder. It was a very simple style yet on Brooke somehow it looked somehow looked regale. “ Finished your run.”
“How did you…”
He pointed to the road down below.“ I’ve been up for hours. I saw you running from here. That’s a pretty hard hill you’ve tackled.’
She shrugged. “ I know it like the back of my hand. I’m used to it.”
There was a moment of silence. “ I know it’s hard and the next couple of days aren’t going to be easy however things will get better. You’ll see that.”
“ It’s like I’ve lost everything. I just don’t know how I am anymore.”
“ You are the same man you’ve always been. You are a father. A grandfather. A friend. A designer. You are still all of those things. That hasn’t changed. Who you are and what you’ve done for this family hasn’t changed. Hold on to the things that have brought you joy. Look to friends and family to support you. Don’t focus on things that you can’t change. Or on people who won’t change.”
“ You mean Stephanie?”
“Icnay on the Namsay. We aren’t going to mention that name here. But we are going to focus on something that I know that will bring you joy.”
“ What is that?”
Brooke held out her hand. “ Follow me.” When he hesitated but then followed. She led him out of the room and down the hall to the first floor. Down the hallway leading from the kitchen she opened the door to a sun lit room decorated in cherry wood. There in the room was a drawing table, a pallet of colored pencils and easel and even some of his old designs hung on the wall. There was also a cloth covered dressing dummy in the middle of it with different swatches of materials pinned to it. “ Years ago this was the room that Ridge made into his home office. I never got rid of the drawing table so this morning I had Jarred from Forrester to bring some of your things that you had in your office moved here.” Brooke picked up the sketchpad. “ I thought that maybe you’d need something to help you to remember the simple things that has always given you joy and your strength.” She caressed the materials on the dummy. “You’ve always amazed me with your ability to create something as extraordinary as your gowns from nothing more than a vision in your head. You are the heart and soul of Forrester Creations. It’s your vision and your insight that has set the fashion world on its ear. Forrester needs you. And you need it.” She stated knowingly. “ You need to focus your attention on something that you can control. This is a good start to remind you who you are.” Not wanting to pressure him anymore than she had already did. She handed him the sketchpad leaded up on her tippytoes and kissed him on his cheek before she left him alone to think about what she said.

“ It’s imperative that you take care of this matter for me. I’m counting on you.” Thorne listened to the other side of phone for a moment before he hung up the phone. Kimberly was in for a rude awakening. He hadn’t forgotten about the drinking and nor had he forgotten about the money that she was demanding from Sally. He picked an old picture of he Kimberly and Macy at Macy’s birthday party from the previous year. It was like a lifetime ago. So many things had happened. “ Macy. I wanted to do right by her. But it’s not enough.” He held his head down and sighed. “Kimberly has changed Mace. There is something very wrong going on.”

‘This isn’t good enough. The full report on the codes aren’t up to par.” Isabelle said to the head of development. ‘ We have a reputation of excellance and I’m not going to have that compromised.”
“ We tried our best but…” Don stammered as Isabelle’s cold eyes met his.
“ This isn’t the best and if it is I will replace the entire development staff that if needed. We have spent a great deal of money for best computer engineers and the most comprehensive supplies, computers and software available. I not going to accept this excuse that this is our best because it isn’t. Talk to your staff about quality or I will.”
Don nodded.“ Also let the systems analysts know that Caspian wants a full report on the newer products on his desk by tomorrow. He had a meeting with the Tuskimi company and we will be working together on a new system. We won’t be embarrassed in front of anyone by the lack of quality.
“ I’ll get right on it.”
“ Good.” Isabelle wrote down a few notes and then circled a date in her planner. “ Let the heads know that I’ll personally be coming to all of the design meeting for next week.” Shit, he thought with a chill to go up Don’s back. The last thing he wanted was the ice princess looking over his shoulder. She stared at him with those cold blue eyes.“ I know that I won’t be disappointed.”
She turned back to her flat screen computer screen dismissing Don. She heard him to leave her office. Pressing the buzzer her assistant came into office. “ Please let Caspian know that we have a meeting in two hours with the prototype team.
“ He isn’t in the building.”
Isabelle frowned. “ Get Helena.”
Helena entered the office five minutes later. “ Yes.”
“ Where is my brother?”
“ He’s out of town.”
This was news to Isabelle. “ Where is he?”
“ He’s in London.”
“ London?” Isabelle wondered what her brother was doing out of the country. She knew his schedule and a trip wasn’t part of his plans. “ Was this about business?”
“ He didn’t say. He’ll be back later sometime this evening.” Helena laid a leather booklet on her desk. “ He left the questions he wanted have addressed in the meeting. He was sure that you take care of any potential problems. If you need anything else.’
“ I don’t. Thank you.” Isabelle turned away. She didn’t like finding out her brother was gone from Helena. Why hadn’t he said anything about leaving. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took it to her desk. She studied the questions that he wanted her to ask in the meeting. “London.” It didn’t make any sense. He had said nothing about being in London. “ What is your purpose of being in London?”


The phones were ringing off the hook at Forrester just as they had the day before. Everyone and their brother wanted a comment about Stephanie released especially since Brooke had refused to answer their questions as she had pushed her way through the masses when she had arrived.
“ I’m doing the best that I can it seems that Thorne’s statement to the press isn’t enough for them.” Megan lamented to her boss.
“ It will have to do for now. Right now I’m certainly not in the mood to give a comment. It wouldn’t clearly make trouble for Forrester and I don’t want to do that.” She admitted.
“ Being CEO and wanting to try to keep the company’s image and trying to seek out justice for Bridget must be conflicting.”
“ More than you know.” Brooke sat down on the sofa. “ I’m trying my best to keep my mind focused what’s best for Bridget and for the company.”
“ There has been talk” Megan admitted. “A few of our best clients have called.”
Brooke sighed.“ I’m sure they have. That why we need the focus attention on the quality of our work, our past reputation and on the new line.”
“ You sound like Thorne.”
“Well he’s right. And really focused. I saw the reports that he left my desk. He’s really into his new position.”
Megan nodded.“ The promotion has been good for him. I think that it gives him something other to do than to be with Kimberly.”
Brooke frowned. She had made a pack with Kimberly to protect her daughter however that meant that Thorne would never know the truth about the woman he had married.
“ He deserves better than her.”
“ She has really changed. I remember how sweet she used to be. I hardly recognize her now.”
“ I know. She really unstable. That poor baby having a mother like her.” A knock at the door interrupted them.
“ Come in.”
Scott came into the office. “Brooke. I wanted to know if you had a moment to speak with me.”
Megan gave Brooke a questioning look. She nodded and Megan put her cup of coffee that she had been drinking and left the office.”
Brooke stood. “ Whatever you have to say you better make it fast. I have a meeting in ten minutes.”
“ I just wanted to know how Bridget was doing.”
“ She doing the best that she can considering everything’s she’s been through.”
“ She always loved Ridge but find out that Stephanie a woman she’s respected my have hurt her like this has to be devastating to her. She really looks up to her.”
“ I know.”
“ Nobody should have to go through all that she’s gone through. I know that you didn’t like what happened.”
“ You mean sneaking around with my daughter. No. I didn’t like that.”
“ We weren’t sneaking around.”
“ Really. It didn’t look that way to me.” Brooke said shortly. She stopped busing herself with the files on her desk and looked at him. She saw the honest concern on his face. Sighing heavily she shook her head. “ Listen. I know that you care for my daughter but right now are a VERY difficult time for her. I think that it would be best if you were to stay away.”
“ I’m just asking how’s she is doing.”
“ She isn’t your concern Scott. Your focus she should be on your job NOT my daughter.”
“What are you saying? Because I’ve worked very hard for you and your company. I hope you aren’t implying that I’d lose my job just by asking about Bridget.”
Brooke pressed her palms down on her desk leaning forward. “ No. I am suggesting that sort of thing. I am professional if not anything else. Yes you have worked hard for MY company and in turn we’ve paid you well for your work and will continue to do so as you make a name for yourself. But the only relationship you will have with me or my daughter is a professional one only. She’s seventeen and too young for you.”
“ I’m worried about her.”
“ I know and I thank you for your concern but I’m there for Bridget and so is her father. The last thing we need right now is your concern.”
“ Are you really that heartless to think that I wouldn’t inquire how she’s doing. Damn it I care for her! More than you know.”
“I do know.” She said sternly. “ That’s the problem. Bridget is confused. Everything that she thinks that she knows has changed. There is very little consistency in her life right now. Her whole world has been turned upside down. It would be so easy for her to reach out to you and for you to respond to her. But it could do so much damage to her in the long run.”
“ I would never hurt her.”
“ You wouldn’t mean to but you could. She’s my baby. She bright, talented and very innocent.”
“ You can’t hold that against me. I’ve never touched her.”
“ It’s about so much more than that. It’s about her feelings. It would be so easy for fall for the someone like you. Someone older. More experienced and worldly. It would be like a fantasy. A handsome, older designer who could have anyone he wanted. Including a myriad of Forrester models.” Brooke gave Scott a sideways glance as she moved around her office. “ I know about the talk around here. The interest that you stirred up here when you started. I even think that you took Julie out a couple of times.”
“ It was coffee. That’s all. What are you doing having me checked out or something?” Scott didn’t like the idea of anybody prying in his life.
“ No. I just talk. Rumors spread around this place so easily.
“ Honestly, I think that maybe you’ve be interested in the rumors that go on about you.”
Brooke’s head snapped up. “Well, well. I see that you are starting to cut your teeth aren’t you?” She glared at him almost amused. “ You are correct. There are always rumors going on about me. Some are true and many of them false. It comes with the territory. I have tough skin and used to playing hardball. Tell me, do you really want to get in the ring with me?”
Scott so the glint in Brooke’s eyes and knew that he had gone too far. He sighed. “No. I don’t. I didn’t mean…I’m sorry for my comment.”
Brooke nodded accepting his apology. She knew that he was frustrated. “Scott. It isn’t that I don’t like you. I do. I think that you are talented. You have great promise as a designer.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “ You are a good person and I don’t think that you would hurt Bridget on purpose but in the end she would get hurt. She’s too young. Too impressionable. Right now she’s so confused and her family is torn apart by the actions of one bitter hateful woman. Not only that, there is the matter of her cancer. She had got to say focused on getting better and she can’t do that preoccupied with you. She needs time to get well, to figure out who she is and to mature. When she does that if you are still interested in having a relationship with her I won’t stand in your way. But until then I want you to stay away from Bridget.” Brooke went to the office door. She paused for a moment seeing the look his face and honestly felt a moment of indecision. It was clear that he cared. “She is hurting. She doesn’t want to believe that Stephanie changed that test but I know that she did. Bridget will figure out the truth but she’ll be all right. She has her family. That’s all that she needs right now. So I’m asking you to Please stay away from Bridget. Now if you don’t mind I have a meeting to go to. ” Brooke left her office leaving Scott.
“Damn it.” He whispered. He had to find a way to convince Brooke to let him see Bridget but he wasn’t sure how to do that. She had fully resolved herself on the matter. Still, he had at least found out where she was and he had been very worried about her. Looking around in the empty office he went to Brooke’s electronic Rolodex and found the number and address for Big Bear. Brooke was wrong. He wasn’t going to hurt Bridget and he wasn’t going to let go of Bridget when she needed him the most.

Connor and Mona finished their negations for the McNeil case. Mona Carter, a talented lawyer who had gone to law school with him closed her briefcase and gave him a knowing smile. “ How about lunch. After these negotiations I’m dying for a chili dogs.”
“ You and those chili dogs. I can’t believe you still eat those things.”
“ Honey, I’m not going to spend my life eating salads and grilled chicken trying to diet my way into some size 4 dress. I’m proud of my body and my baby likes me the way that I am.” Mona winked shaking for hips for effect. Full figured dressed in beautifully in a tailored black dress with a lavender trim. around the bodice of her full breast and the around the trim of the flaring hemline. She was the epitome of a real woman. She was also beautiful with chocolate colored skin, shoulder length hair that she had swept up with a few circles escaping while one carats princess cut diamonds adorned her ears. Mona also had a face that rivaled Monique from the “Parkers”. She didn’t mind telling you off when she thought you were wrong. But she was also a in her words and the words of other, a kickass lawyer. “ All right then how about lunch instead of chili dogs. You owe me”
“ I owe you?”
“ Yes, I went easy on you on those negotiations.”
“ Easy? You were like a pit bull trying to keep her bone.”
“ Yeah” She smiled. “ I got it like that. Now come on and buy me lunch and don’t try to order me any of those mousy meals that K.C eats. She’s too damn skinny.” ”
Thinking of KC Connor got an idea. “ Actually I know the perfect place.”
Mona held her hand out. “ Lead on big spender.” She sashayed out of the office building.

Isabelle entered her office and was surprised by the large potted plant of a white orchid wrapped in a big bow on her desk. “Where did this come from?”
“ It was delivered while you were at the meeting.” Her assistant answered.
Isabelle fingered one of the petals. “From who?”
“They didn’t say. I think they are beautiful.”
Isabelle did too however she was sure that they were coming from Pierce. Still, they were beautiful. And she was almost tempted to call him however she had no plans to do that. It was over between them no matter how hard he tried nothing would change her mind. The door opened to and her other assistant peeked his head in. “Mrs. De’Angelo there is a gentlemen wanting to speak with you. He wasn’t on the secured list. Security escorted him up.”
“I’m very busy today. If he isn’t on the list then I don’t have time to conference.”
“ Even if it’s me?.” Rick stepped into the office. “I know that you have a lot to do but I wanted to see if you got the flower.”
Jill looked at her Isabelle and back to the very young man wondering what was going on. However it wasn’t her business. She stepped out of the office leaving them alone.
Isabelle nodded him in. “ So now you are buying women flowers.” She leaned to caress of petal. “What will your Eve think of that?”
“I don’t think that she’d mind especially with all the help that you have given me.”
“ They were your ideas. I only helped you to make things run more smoothly.” She studied his dress. “ Looking good today.”
Rick looked the large mirror that was off to the side of her fabulous office. He looked handsome in Forrester Men’s collection with the dark hunter green suit and the mustard tie with the matching flecks of green.“ It was by your tailor. I figure I should dress the part if I am going to act the part. If fact I have another fitting set up. He does good work.”
She smiled despite herself.“ I like the confidence that I hear in your voice.” She sat down on the sofa looking beautiful in a cream colored form fitting wrap around sleeveless dress with cream colored heels in which a strap that wrapped around her ankles. Her hair was lay in a mass of beautiful curls around her shoulders. It gave her a look of the 1940 especially with the touch of dark eye makeup. Every time he saw her she was elegant, sensual and confident. Even her name was sensual in a way. Isabelle. He had never met anyone like her before.
“ From what I’ve heard you’ve got a new office and lots of new responsibilities to go with it.”
“ How did you know?”
“ I have my sources.”
“Tell me how did you know that orchids are my favorite flowers?”
“ I too have my sources.”
She laughed. Honestly Rick was a delight. “Your sources. Well, they did a excellent job. Tell me what’s on your agenda today.”
“ I set up a meeting with some of the clubs owners of the list. I’ve already had a meeting with the owner of Excalibur and one other. I’ve been trying to get in touch Deacon Sharpe. His club is number one on my list. It’s one of the hottest clubs. I really want it for the fashion show.”
“ So get it.”
“ I’m going to. It’s been a little difficult lately. I’ve called the club but I’ve been told he’s out.”
“ Maybe it’s because you don’t have the right numbers.” Isabelle stood and went to her desk. She took out a card. “This may help you.” She handed out the card.
“ You have his private number?” Rick inquired.
“ Deacon and I have crossed paths from time to time.” She teased with a smile he couldn’t read.
“ You go to clubs?” Rick was sure that Isabelle was the type to have fancy dinners at expensive restaurants. Not to type to go clubbing. However this put her in a whole new light for him. He had a hard time imagining her clubbing but a part of him would have loved to see her on the dance floor.
“ I do a lot of things that you don’t know about Rick. Never underestimate anyone or assume that you know what they are really like.” She turned her attention back to the topic at hand. “I think that Deacon will be willing to listen to any offer you have to make. However, whatever you ask. He’ll want more. So low ball him first. Let him think that he’s getting the best of the deal if you want his club. He’ll respect you more that way.”
Rick stood.“ Thank you for the insider information and Deacon’s phone number.” Rick moved in front of her amazed that she’d once again help him.“ I’ve never met anyone like you. What you are doing for me. Nobody’s ever done this before.”
“ I just want to help. Seeing you like this…” She trailed her fingers down the front tie before she pulled it back.“Looking mature. Controlled and in charge is thanks enough. I know it’s difficult with everything going on with Stephanie and your sister.”
“ We are trying to take the focus off of what’s happening with her and place it on the fashion show. That’s why I’ve got to get the perfect venue for this show. I want this showing to be sexy, hot and something totally different than any other show we’ve had. That’s why the Lair would be perfect. It had attitude. It’s the hottest spot that everyone wants to get into to. Its…”
“ Enough. I get the idea. And you don’t have to sell it to me. You are very excited about this line. Looking at the excitement in your eyes it like looking pure raw intense heat. I like it however make sure when you talk to Deacon you leave the emotion out of it. Fire is good for presentation but not good for negotiations. You must always play it cool and never let them see how much you want them. I don’t care if it’s for getting the right material you need for your designs or the millions you need to invest. Always play it cool.”
“ Is that how you play it?”
“Always. Can’t you tell?”

Caspian looked through the files once again with a frown on his face. The woman in the vital sitistics office shivered. “ Is there something wrong sir?”
“ These records aren’t complete.”
“Mr..”
“ DeAngelo.”
“ Mr. DeAngelo. I’m sorry but that’s all we have.”
“ The copy of my wife’s birth certificate is missing. Along with her death certificate.”
“ I don’t know what happened.”
This was no longer a coincidence that his files were missing in Italy and now the files in London as well. “ All the records, they have to be signed out correct?”
“ Yes. It’s part of the procedure.”
“ How often are the logs changed?”
“ We keep the records on computer file.”
“ Is it possible for me to see them?”
“ I don’t know. It isn’t proper.”
“ Please it’s imperative that I know what happened. These records wouldn’t just and disappear.” She looked around unsure of what to think. “ Those records may have the key to my dead wife’s family. “Please. I need your help.”
She looked into his deep chocolate eyes and just about melted. “ I can’t give you access to the computer file. But I guess that I could supply you with hardcopies but I will have to wait until my manger is out.”

KC strolled into the restaurant not noticing the heads that turned her way. The hostess led her to a table where Yvette was waiting. Seeing the woman elegantly dressed in a vintage crème colored cashmere and lame sleeveless cardigan with an antique jeweled rose attached. She wore a silhouette pinstriped chocolate and tope skirt that matched the colored of the cardigan Her hair was a mass of light brown highlighted curls that was just around her shoulders while chocolate two-toned heels encased her feet. She smiled proudly showing off her perfect white teeth and a face that could easily be Forrester new look. “ Hello.”
Yvette stood up. “ Hello. Ms. Hunter.”
K.C sat down. “ Please call me K.C.”
Yvette smiled. “ Only if you call me Yvette.”
“ Deal.”
Yvette scooted up to the table. “ I hope that you don’t mind I’ve already ordered a drink. The waiter convinced me to order the white wine cranberry spritzer.”
“ They are killer here. I think that I’ll have one too.”
“Good minds think alike.” Yvette sipped her drink. “ I must say that you look fantastic but I’m not surprised. Is your dress one of designs?”
“ Yes. I figured why advertise someone else. I know what looks good on me.”
Yvette laughed. “ You certainly know what looks good on women. I’ll tell you a secret.” She leaned forward. “I have two dresses done by you in my closets.”
“ Really?”
“ Yes. You have an eye. Classic designs and a sensual flair.”
“ Fashion has always inspired me. Clothes can change the woman. Make feel alluring, sexy and even in control.”
“ So is that what you feel the WOW line is like? It certainly an incredible opportunity. Having an entire line created based on your vision.
“ It isn’t just my vision. It’s more of like that Brooke and I had the same feeling about women. Don’t get me wrong, Eric Forrester’s classic flair and elegance in his haute couture line is impressive but I guess as women in the workforce who aren’t afraid of being strong and sexy we wanted more.
“ I love that. Can I quote you?”
“ Sure.”
I have to say I know what you mean about women in the workplace. I’m expected to have certain look but there are times that I want to be a little sexy.”
“ Well seeing you in the Valentino shows that you like classic elegance and style in your work clothes. ”
Yvette was impressed.“ You certainly know your designers. It is Valentino.”
“ It’s part of the business. Besides being a black woman in this industry I’ve learned that I had to be better than good. I have to know other designers work. Study them. Study the changing trends and predict what will not only look good but sells. I also learned to work on my craft and get enhance it.”
“The world of fashion can sometimes be just as prejudiced as the rest as the world at times.” She tilted her head to the side. “I’ve felt it. It’s difficult at times being the only black woman at fashion events. From one black woman to another, I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am to be sitting across the table of a successful female designer especially one who is black.”
“ I’m very honored.” K.C blushed. “ All the publicity that the line is getting I’m certainly being thrust in the spotlight. But it’s an honor.”
“ K.C Hunter is starting to become household name in the world of fashion. The Forrester have worked with other designers in the past like Clarke Garrision, Margo Linley and Morgan Fairchild but you are the first to be a head designer on a new seemly independent line. It’s no small feat.”
“ I’m very proud of that for some of the reasons you’ve named. Being a woman. Being a black woman in a male dominated industry it makes me feel good to know that I can play with the big boys.”
“ Big Boys. Are you talking about Ridge Forrester?”
“ I could be. Ridge is amazing. He has a natural eye on what looks good on a woman. A talent that can’t be mirrored by others. Sometimes I think that he designs in his sleep. Working with him and his father is an honor. Everyday it seems like I’m learning more about my craft. I love working at Forrester.”
“Speaking of Forrester. Do you have any comments about the Stephanie Forrester situation?”
“ No. I don’t.” She said with a wry smile.
“ You can’t blame a girl for trying can you?”
K.C wasn’t angry instead she actually enjoyed Yvette’s company. “ No I don’t.”
“ Good. Why don’t we take a look at some potentional questions I’m going to ask for the interview and set up the dates and time for the photo shoot.” Yvette glanced at K.C turquoise dress. “I’m sure that you will take care of the wardrobe. Make sure you look stunning because my editor has okayed you to be on the cover.”
“ Me?” K.C was floored.
“ You aren’t the only designer featured but it was hands down our choice for you to make the cover. You’re news. You are fresh, extremely beautiful and the head of a long waited new fashion line. You are the designer behind that line. They want you on the cover.’

Brooke wrapped up her meeting with the finical department when she left word for Megan to forward all pertinent calls to her cell phone because she’d be out of the office for couple of hours. She headed to the safe in her office and took out a case that held the continents that he needed. She headed down the back way out of Forrester where she had a car waiting. The last thing she needed was to be followed by hungry reporters. Taking the rental that she had ordered earlier she drove out of Forrester wearing a dark scarf and sunglasses over her eyes. Brooke drove around twenty minutes until she reached the facility that she hoped to find. Walking inside she went to the guard. “ I’m here to see Dr. Quian. He’s expecting me.” She was lead down a hallway to large lab where a Japanese man was working at a chemistry table. The man looked up and smiled when he saw Brooke. Taking off his goggles and gloves he walked over to see her. “Brooke.”
“ John.”
“ Lets go to my office to talk.” She followed him to an office and took a seat. “ I must say that I was surprised to get your call.”
“ I know it’s been a while.”
“ You look good but you always did.” He smiled.
“ And you are just as charming as you were back in college.”
“ College. It seems like a lifetime ago. I still remember those all nighters that you me and Sherri pulled back when we have Dr. Evans.”
“ Don’t remind me.” She teased. “How are Elizabeth and the children?”
“ They are doing well. In fact Laun was just accepted in the program at Julliard.”
“ That’s fantastic. I know that you are very proud of her.”
“We are.” He took his glasses off and leaned back in his chair.“ So you want to tell me what brings you to my office? You were so secretive on the phone.”
“ I know but I apologize for it but I have to be careful. You are the best in your field in forensics and I need your help.”
“ You have it. You know that.”
She opened the brief case and pulled out what looked to be a letter in a zip-locked bag. “ I need you to run a test on this letter.” He took the bag. “ The letter is years old and I’m not sure what time or the lack proper protection may have done but it’s best shot of finding out who actually wrote it.”
“I’ll run a check for fingerprints.”
“ I also wanted to have a handwriting specialist to analyze it to see if it matches this letter. She handed him another letter. “ I want to know if it’s possible that they may have been written by he same person.”
John nodded. “ I can do that but I can’t promise you if the sample doesn’t match that I can tell you who wrote the letter.”
“ I know.” She hesitated for a moment. “ I just need to know if these two letters are written by the same person.”
“ No problem. I’ll handle it myself and have a report to you.”
“ Thank you John. If possible I might need two copies. One for me and the other for the D.A.”
“ The D.A?”
“ If the results turn out the way that I think that they may. I’m going to need this to be played by the book. I’ll need a copy for me and a copy for the D.A.”
“ It’s no problem. I’ll have the results for you ASAP.”
“ Thank you John. I owe you.”
“Nonsense. What are friends for.” He left the office while Brooke stood there.
“ This is a matter that I should have taken care of years ago. I promise you Stephanie that I won’t allow you to get away with any of this.”

Caspian fingered his way through the lists of names in the logs. It wasn’t until he got to the seventh page that he saw a name that he knew. Kennedy Miller. His stomach dropped. Kennedy Miller was an alias for his sister Isabelle. “Bella, what in the hell were you doing in London? Why were you here?” Suspicion clouded his mind as anger started to course through his body. He was going to get his answers.

Little Eric splashed in the water. He was having a ball trying his best to swim. Eve made sure he was safe and had Rick to put up the pool blockers before he left to go to work. Thinking of Rick made her smile. He had looked so handsome and mature when he had left for work that day. He was revved up to meet the owners of the clubs to get a venue of the fashion show. At the breakfast table that was all he talked about until he grandmother finally told him that he needed to find another topic. Everybody laughed even his father who had been very quiet at breakfast. Eve felt for Mr. Forrester, he was always so kind and nice to everybody. He didn’t deserve what happened. Turning around she continued to play with Eric when she heard footsteps. She thought it was Marta brining limeade when she turned to find Trudie walking toward the pool. “ Hey.”
“ Hey. I hope that you don’t mind me coming here.”
“No. Why would I mind.’ Eve got out of the water put kept an eye on Eric. She looked at her best friend. “True what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t tell me that. I know that look. Something’s wrong. What is it?”
Trudie threw her purse and keys to her motorcycle down on the lounging chair. “ It’s about Bridget.”
“Bridget? What about her?”
Trudie looked around. This was the last place she wanted to do this but she had to get up out under the mess that was going on. If they investigated the matter and it lead to her then everything she tried to accomplish was over. “ I fu(ked up Eve. I fu(ked up really bad and I think that I’m in a lot of trouble.”

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