Against All Odds Chapter 110 Things Fall Apart

Rick wiped his mouth with the linen cloth. “ I’m stuffed. I can’t eat another bite.”
Isabelle nodded with a small smile on her face. Sipping her hot coffee she leaned back on her expensive Wellington chair, which matched the valences hanging above the arched doorway. “ I’ll have to tell cook she did a wonderful job with the stuffed French toast.”
“ Too bad you didn’t eat any.” Rick noticed that she only had water, coffee and oatmeal.
“ When you get my age, French toast is treat. Though I have known to sample it from time to time. She noted his concern. Isabelle had felt a sense of loneliness that she couldn’t express the last day or so. Maybe it was what had happened with Pierce had affected her. Who was she kidding? She knew it had. She couldn’t get the look of him out of her head. That worried her. She shouldn’t have cared a bit if he were hurt. That had never stopped her for anything in the past. Why should he matter to her when nobody else did? But it did. Clearing her haunted thoughts she focused on Rick.
“So, what’s on the agenda for today?”
Rick had been surprised to get a call yesterday evening for the invitation for breakfast. After what the bad day he had yesterday. It had been hard for him to focus at work when all he could do was ever since Eve had told him no to his proposal. It cut and hurt deep. He didn’t like to admit to but it did. Yesterday he had successfully avoided her. It wasn’t because he didn’t love her, he did. It was just the pain of rejection. He thought that he understood her reasons but in the light of the day it just didn’t wash with him. Together they could accomplish anything. He just didn’t understand why she wouldn’t marry him.
“ I’ve got a meeting with Deacon Sharpe again.” He said before he took another sit of his hot coffee.
“ You do.” Eve hadn’t spoken to Deacon since the other night however he had tried to contact her just to make sure she was all right. She didn’t blame Deacon for what occurred. She still was fond of him in weird way, more importantly he filled her need for sex but it was best for him not to come around for a moment. Maybe it was the sense of lost or the guilt that she felt over the pain that she caused Pierce that caused her to reach out to Rick. Honestly if she thought that it would have helped she could have apologized to Pierce but that would only make things worse in the long run.
“ To tell you the truth with everything going on in my life. I don’t want to play games with him.”
“Sometimes that’s what business is. You’ve got to be able to play with the big boys. Isabelle said nibbling on an orange slice. “ But you’ve got to know you opponent, his strengths and weakness and then you’ll know how to strike.”
“Tell me what you’ve learned so far.”
“Deacon Sharpe was born in Furnace Creek, his mother Rose, was a stripper and show girl who worked for the Bellego up until ten years ago. His father is unknown. Rose married twice. Once to Frank Miller whom she shared a son with.”
“ Deacon has a brother?”
“ It seems. He’s around 17 years old. That’s all that I’ve heard. I’m not sure of his name.”
“ Have you learned anything else about Deacon that will help you deal with him in business?”
“ Deacon basically grew up in Las Vegas. He’s had some time dealing with the illegal end of the Vegas business but I’m not exactly sure. He however seemed to raise money single handedly to start his own clubs. Although he didn’t go to any school with formal training, his clubs do very well showing a huge profit.”
“ What does that tell you about him?”
“ That he knows what makes a club successful.”
“And.” She prodded.
“ It also tells me that he wants to make a name for himself. So, he isn’t likely to turn down a profitable deal with a lot of publicity like Forrester.”
“No, he isn’t. Just give him time. Lay your trap and wheel him in but don’t try to rush things. Remember you need him more than he needs you.”
Rick shook his head. “ In other words be patient.”
“ Yes.” She sipped her coffee. “ You will learn there are times when you need to relax and wait. Study Deacon. Get to know him. Watch his body language.”
“ Body Language?”
“ Yes. Sometimes you have to watch a person. Watch how they react, look at their body signals. Study how their pupils dilate. How their breathing changes. Listen to the inflections of their voices. It can tell you a lot about a person.” She titled her head to the side and studied him for a moment. Rick felt slightly uncomfortable at her penetrating stare with those startling blue eyes of hers. It was as if they could see deep inside of his soul.
“ What do you see?” He asked. He couldn’t help himself. There was something about this woman that made him yearn to learn as much as he could.
“ I see that although you are dressed very well today there are slight hint of shadow under your eyes. There was a bit of nervousness when I mentioned that you could read someone’s body language. You tensed slightly. Took a drink. You avoided eye contact. That lets me know that you have something that you don’t want me to see.” She paused. Tell me, what’s bothering you.”
Rick was floored. Damn, she was good. “ Nothing.” He wanted to forget about everything that had transpired the last couple of days.
“Really. That’s not what your body language says.” Isabelle gave him a knowing look.
Rick however was silent. Their conversation was interrupted by the knock at the door from the maid.
“ Excuse me but your have a visitor.”
“ A visitor?”
“ Yes. It’s me Bella and before you tell me to leave know that I don’t plan to go anywhere until we talk.” Olivia said as she walked into the room. Olivia paused looking at the young man her daughter was eating with. “Excuse me.” She paused. “I didn’t know that you had company.”
Rick turned to find a very beautiful woman in her fifties wearing a cream colored trench coat with matching cream colored wide legs pants and blush colored boat neck top. Her dark hair was swept up. There was a regal air about the woman. She was also had very stylish flare about her.
Isabelle stood. “This isn’t the time for this.”
“You don’t know why I’m here.”
Olivia turned to Rick. “ I guess she isn’t interested in introducing us. Not that I’m surprised.” She held out her hand. “I’m Olivia, Isabelle’s mother. You are…”
Rick stood. “ Rick Forrester.” Suddenly there was a great deal of tension in the room radiating from Isabelle and her mother. “ It’s nice to meet you Mrs. DeAngelo.”
“ Oh. Call me Olivia. I’m not much on formality unlike my daughter. Though I must say it isn’t like Bella to have gentlemen callers like yourself in her private abode.” She gave her daughter who was dressed almost casually in simple slipknot blouse and emerald green riding pants, a knowing look. “Riding dear?”
Neither Rick nor Isabelle missed the double meaning.
“ It ugh..It isn’t what it looks like.” Rick stammered slightly embarrassed.
Isabelle wasn’t amused.“ Don’t pay Olivia any attention. She likes to play games. What do you want?”
“ It’s a private matter.” She said nonplussed.
The last thing Rick wanted to do was to get in the way of a family matter. “ I had better get going. We’ve got a big press conference. Thank you for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind when I talk to Deacon.”
Isabelle stood and nodded. “ Good luck Rick.”
“ Thank you.” He left quickly.
The woman was the easier disposition disappeared the moment he left. Isabelle’s face became hard. “ You’ve got five minutes and then I want you gone.”

Forrester was bubbling over with excitement and nervous energy as the reporters entered the building. Megan hurried into Eric’s office to find Brooke straightening Eric’s silver tie. “ Now that is something that I don’t see everyday. Normally he’s the one fixing the clothes.”
Brooke peeked around Eric to look at Megan. “ I’m just putting on the finishing touches.” She looked at Eric. He wore a gray suit with a silver tie. “ You look handsome.”
“ Thanks.” He smiled.
“ Well you two had better hurry up. It’s packed down stairs. You’d think that you were having a fashion show the way those reporters are lined up in the showroom.
“ Eric is big news.” Brooke said as she moved away as Megan handed her the press release. “ His return to Forrester is the best medicine for him and for this company.”
“ I’m not sure how much help I’m going to be.”
“ Are you kidding.” Brooke picked up the design of a caplet skirt and top that he had worked on the entire day before. “This is stunning.”
“ Brooke’s right. When I sent notices to press yesterday the phones kept ringing all day. I’m honesty surprised that you could put this entire thing together in such a short time. One day for all of this. You should have see her Eric, she was like a woman possessed yesterday.”
“ Well, this is important.” Brooke checked over the itinerary with professional skill.
The door opened to the office and Rick strutted in. “ Have you guys seen the parking lot. It’s packed. You are big new dad.” He said before giving his father a quick hug.
“ Thanks for your support son.”
“ Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Although I’m not sure if you want me standing up there beside you. I’m not an executive like you, mom, Thorne or Ridge.”
Eric placed both hands on his son’s shoulders. “ But you are a very important part of this family and company. You are working your way up. I want the world to know it. I want all of my family standing beside me. It’s just too bad that Ridge can’t be here.”
As if on cue Kristen came into the office. “ Daddy..” Eric hugged her. “ My beautiful daughter. Just what I need.”
She smiled as she hugged him. “ It’s about time. I’ve been dying to have my master critique my work.”
“ She right Eric. Nobody has an eye likes yours. Not even Ridge.” Brooke added.
Thorne came into the office flipping off his cell phone. “Sorry I’m late. He winked at Brooke.
“ How the did it go?” She asked.
“ It went well.” He kissed his sister and turned to his father.
“ Is it something that I need to know about?” Eric asked not missing the secret look between Brooke and Thorne.
“ Nothing to worry about dad. Just a little finishing touches on a project that I started. Anyway.” He rubbed his hands together. “ Are we ready?”
Eric looked at his family. Thorne was standing beside Kristen with his hand around her. Brooke was smiling ever so beautifully at him with her silent encouragement. Then there was Rick, who was honestly a pure joy to have working for him. They were the people who gave him source of strength and power. With them he could do anything. “I’m more than ready.”


“ Is that anyway to talk to your mother?” Olivia asked her daughter as she took Rick’s empty seat.
“ I don’t have much patience.”
“ Tell me. Why was that young man having breakfast with you? Don’t tell me that you are sleeping with him. He’s a tad bit young even for your taste.”
“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black. I seem to recall that Luca was twenty years younger than you. Not that anything that I do is any of your business.”
“ He’s Brooke Forrester’s son, isn’t he? What does your brother have to say about this?”
“ I’m not sleeping with Rick.” Isabelle turned to look outside at the house across the street. ‘He’s not my type. Too green and too young.”
“ Then what are you doing with him?”
She turned back to her mother. Her eyes ran cold with very little emotion. Damn, Olivia thought. Her daughter was good at hiding her emotions. “ That is none of your concern. But don’t worry MOTHER. I don’t plan to eat him.”
“ Well I certainly hope not. That young man has gone through enough.”
“ What are you talking about?”
“ Obviously he’s going through a lot with his sister and that horrid scandal. Though I’m sure your brother is doing all he can to help Brooke.” She paused giving her daughter a slight glance. He is isn’t he?”
“What Caspian does isn’t your concern. He’s off the topic list. Besides, I thought that you didn’t want him with Brooke.’
“ I don’t want him hurt, there is a difference.” Olivia steered the topic back to Rick. “Then lets talk about young Rick Forrester. How well do you know him?”
“ Why?”
“He seems like a nice young man.” There was more to it of course but being direct with her daughter wasn’t the way to go. Olivia was going to investigate Rick’s girlfriend on her own. The last thing she wanted was for one of her children to even get involved in this matter. She’d take care of it. “It’s a shame what happened to him the other day.”
Isabelle turned to face her mother. How she hated when her mother tried to outwit her.
“What happened?”
“ I was at dinner the other night at the Café Rouse with a friend of mine Andre when Rick Forrester asked his girlfriend to marry him in front of the entire restaurant. It was very sweet. However she turned him down.”
Isabelle was silent. “That might explain the shadows under his eyes. That must have been very awkward for him.” She said with a hint of compassion.
“ You care?” Olivia asked. “Bella, that isn’t like you.”
“ Rick is a special young man. I will admit that. It must have hurt him to be turned down.”
“ DO you have any idea why she’d turn him down?”
“ No. Isabelle answered. “ Neither Rick or I discuss our personal lives with one another. I do know that he is in love with his girlfriend.”
“ Have you ever met her?”
Her eyes narrowed.“ No.” Why all the questions?”
“ I’m merely curious.”
“ Stop being curious. And tell me why you are here. Surely it’s not to talk about a young man that you met only this morning.”
Olivia knew what to drop the subject. “Okay then. I’m here because I’m considering taking residence here in L.A. I want to be close to my children.” Isabelle showed her distain. Olivia ignored her. “I know that you may not like it but I’m here to stay. But simply being here isn’t enough for me. I’m an active woman and I want to do something other than lounging, shopping, sparing with you. I want to do something with my time. Recently I’ve come up with a business plan that I think is sound. I’d like you to look over it and give me your professional opinion.”
“What makes you think that I would even look at your business plan?”
“ You don’t have to but I know that you have a creative mind.” Olivia ached to reach out and touch her daughter however she knew better. “ I wanted your opinion. You have a brilliant business mind. Both you and Caspian take after Sonny that way.”
“ Trying to flatter me.”
“ No. I’m only being honest. This plan will cost me a great deal but I have the funds. Your brother and you have made sound business decisions with the stocks. I’m independently wealthy even without your help.”
“Of course it helps that Caspian has seen to your bills.”
“ Little comfort when he doesn’t even speak to me.”
“ Can you blame him?”
Olivia shook her head. If only she could make things better. “ I’m not going to get into that with you.”
“Can’t stand the truth.”
Olivia stood. She was done with taking abuse from her children. “No. I can. I’ve tried countless of times to tell you both how sorry that I am. I know that I wasn’t there when you needed me. I didn’t protect you. A mother’s job to protect her young. I know that I can’t make it up to you but I tried. At this point.” She sighed heavily. “ I’m tired of saying that I’m sorry. Look at the proposal let me know what you think. Or don’t. I just wanted some help.” Olivia moved closer to her daughter. She reached out as if to touch her but pulled her hand away from her daughter. “ I just want some sort of contact with you.” Emotions went through her. Her throat became tight with unwashed tears. “No matter what you or your brother think. I do love you both.” Olivia picked up her purse. “I’ll call you later to see what you think.” Isabelle said nothing to her mother when she left. Truthfully she didn’t care how many tears her mother had shed. There were nothing compared to the innocence that she had lost all those years ago. It certainly wasn’t anything compared to all the pain that she felt when she lost Benito and her daughter.


Jared of Fashion First made sure that he got a good front row seat in the Forrester press conference room. “ I wonder what announcement will be made.”
“ Do you think they are going to address the Stephanie issue?” Starla a for Eye On Fashion asked him.
Jared licked his lips as if we were savoring a piece of fine meat. “ Ohh. I wish. It would make the best headline. You know I heard from a friend that People newest issue would be detailing the rise and fall of the Great Stephanie Forrester. I even hear that they have her mug shots and she doesn’t look all that glamorous. I just can’t wait. ” There was chatter among the different reporters when the Forresters finally arrived. Eric and Brooke to front and center while Thorne, Kristen and Rick stood at the sidelines.
“ Ohh. No Stephanie Forrester. I wonder what that means.” Jared purred with delight over the latest scandal. His eyes devoured Brooke Forrester. “Mm. How does she do it? That woman is able to make the simple of looks elegant.” She looked so effortlessly beautiful in a lime green colored silk camisole top with her tailored white pants and matching short jacket. Her long golden hair down her shoulders and back with a part in the middle of it. Dangling crystal lime colored dangling earrings finished off her perfect ensemble.
‘ Ladies and gentlemen. I want to thank you for coming to our press conference. I know that you, just like we are, are very busy. However I to make an announcement.” Brooke paused for a moment. “Forrester Creations have gone through a lot of changes in the last years. We’ve hired new designers. Started a new line. We expanded in areas and weathered just a few scandals.” Brooke stopped as the crowd snickered giving them a gracious smile. “ However the key element to our business and success has been the man whose vision and mission was to see women dressed in the finest fashion. Eric Forrester has been no doubt the driving force in our company. He’s spent countless of years giving his heart and soul to this company as well as training his children to continue with the legacy. As you know Eric had certain health problems that caused him to take some time off work. Today as a CEO and friend I am proud to stand here today and say that Eric Forrester is officially back where he belongs as President and Creative Controller of Forrester Creations.”

 

 

Stephanie flipped through the channels of her television when she caught a moment. It was Eric. She filled back to see Brooke turn and smile and clasp Eric’s hand as he came forward. Eric turned and smiled before he kissed her softly on the cheek. Stephanie’s heart dropped. What the hell was going on?

Photographer’s cameras flashed and the audience owed as Eric kissed Brooke on the cheek. “ Mmm. Chummy. I haven’t seen him look at her like that in a long time.” Said Jared. “ Stephanie Forrester must be fighting mad.”
Eric took the podium and smiled at the audience. “ With an introduction like that I’m almost embarrassed to come up here and speak.” The audience laughed. “ But I thank you Brooke. I also would like to make a correction. You aren’t just CEO and a friend but you are family.”
Brooke nodded and mouthed the words thank you. Thorne who was standing next to her put his hand and her waist. “ He’s right.”
Eric turned back to the crowd. “ There isn’t that much to say that I’m back. I’m here to get the focus back on Forrester and giving you the quality and beauty that only our designs can do. I’m excited about being here. Not to mention our new line. K.C Hunter is a fabulous designer whose talent and vision is bringing a fresher look for our market and customers.” K.C who was standing in the back of the press conference room next to Megan was looking a beautiful as ever. She had finished her photo shoot and had quickly come to the conference. She smiled for the flashing cameras that took her picture. Eric bless his heart was still thinking of others. “ I’m very excited about working with the rest of my family. Thorne the new Vice President of International Affairs.” Thorne nodded. “My daughter Kristen had rejoined our designer team.” Kristen moved next to her brother allowing a few photos. “ Not to mention my son Rick who had joined us on the business end promoting the new WOW fashion show. I must say that both he and his mother are very proud of the work he’s doing here. With family and talent like this you can see why it’s so easy for me to come back to work.” The reporters scribbled down notes. “ Now, I’m sure that you have a few questions. I’ll take a couple then the press conference will be over. I’ve got a showing to take care of.” The reporters stood up all hands raised. “ Yes, Cathy.” He called a young woman in the front.
“ Eric. Has your doctor approved you coming back to work at such a short time after your heart attack.”
“ Yes he has. I’ve modified my schedule so I will only be here for three days a week at first. I have a new exercise regiment. Not to mention a few stress reduction classes and entire new diet.”
“ Which he’s sticking to?” Brooke added putting her hand on his shoulder. “ We’ve already told the lunchroom staff not to sneak him any goodies.”
“ You did?” Eric asked looking forelonged.
“ Yes.” Brooke said winking at the audience. The reporters loved it. “No more chocolate chip cookies.”
“ What about the showing?” Another asked. “ I noticed that Ridge is missing. How are you going to get things done without him?
“ Ridge is talented. No doubt. He will be back to work but I’m fully confident in the work that K.C Hunter has done. She will work with Scott Grainger, one of newer designers along with Ridge. The collection is in the final stages.”
Damien stood. “ Rumors have it that you’ve got something special planned for this show. Care to give us a taste of what’s in store.”
Rick stepped forward. “ Not on your life. Right now all we can tell you is that we guarantee that you haven’t seen anything like the showing we have planned. The press will be talking about nothing for months to come.”
Ah AhsCame from the crowd. Jared waved. “ Yes Jared.” Eric stated.
“ I’ve noticed that you’ve got your entire family surrounding you minus Ridge who’s out of town from what we’ve heard and Felicia who doesn’t live here. But someone very important to the vision of this company is missing. Care to tell us why Stephanie isn’t here?”
Eric’s face changes slightly. His lips drew a taunt line. “ My wife is at home right now. We think it would be better if you focused on other things…”
“ Like me.” Brooke said pointing to herself while the crowd laughed.
“ Then why don’t you answer this question Brooke? Do you think that Stephanie Forrester is guilty of changing the paternity of your daughter Bridget?”
The room became quiet.
Thorne frowned stepping forward to stand in front of Brooke. “Jared, that question has nothing to do with the company. We are here to discuss Forrester Creations and my father’s return. NOT my mother.”
“ Forresters are news especially when a source of mine says that your father has been staying at Brooke’s home and NOT his with your mother.”

“ What!!!!” Stephanie couldn’t believe what was being played on her television. It couldn’t be true could it? No, never. Her husband wouldn’t stay at that slut’s house.

“ This press conference is over.” Thorne stated angrily. The last thing he was going to allow was this to become a spectacle for them to feast their greedy appetites.
“ No Thorne.” Brooke whispered. She turned to Eric who nodded. “ Well. I see that we aren’t going to be professional about this. So, I’ll answer your two questions and then we are going to put the focus back on where it should be. Forrester Creations and NOT Forresters scandals.”
“ Well, you DO have so many of those Brooke. Why do you think that you are so popular? We never know what you’ll do next.” Jared said smug while the crowd cackled. Thorne wanted to pull him by his long pony tailed hair and throw him out of the press conference but the look from Kristen stopped him with a worried look.
Brooke seared Jared with a steely golden gaze.“ Yes. I guess I’m considered unpredictable however I do have a sense of class and dignity. Now, on to the question. First, of all I have no intention to use the Forrester Press conference to air my personal opinion about my daughter’s paternity situation. As for Stephanie Forrester’s guilt…well that’s between she and God not to mention the law. I’m sure that justice will be served.”
“ So, you DO believe she’s guilty.” Another reported asked.
“ I didn’t say that.” Brooke calmly stated.
“ Then you think she’s innocent?” Jared not believing that was the case.
“ I most certainly didn’t say that. As I stated before. There may become a time in which I give the press my opinion about this matter but I won’t use my company press conference to do it. Now on to your second question. Yes, Eric Forrester is staying at my home along with my son, my parents, and my daughter. He needs a place to recover and I’ve offered it to him. As a friend and a mother to our son. And before you ask there is NO romantic involvement. Eric’s married and I’m in a committed relationship.”

Eve was trying her best to study she had an accounting exam however she couldn’t seem to focus. Her mind was preoccupied on Rick. Though he said that he understood that she didn’t want to marry him yet she knew that someone had changed. He had been so sweet that night even though she had said no to him. He had held her and told her he’d be patient but there was something in his eyes that died. That, is what killed her. If only she could be honest about everything. Her past. Trudie’s blackmail. Then she’d be able to gleefully say yes. She wanted to be his wife more than anything. But Eve lived in reality, not in a fantasy world and right now there was no way that she could marry Rick. A part of her questioned if she’d ever be able to do it.


This was new and the crowd jumped on it just like Brooke wanted them too. She owed it to Eric to get the conversation off of his living situation. ‘With someone new Brooke?” Jared asked. Brooke’s involvement was news.
“ Yes. And No. My relationship is not under discussion.”
“ That’s the first.”
“ Yes, that might be. But it isn’t any over your business.”
“ How do YOU feel about that Thorne? Brooke’s new man.”
Thorne looked Brooke for a moment. Brooke felt sorry for him however he had caused this situation the moment he touched Kimberly. There was no going back. “ I think the lady has answered your question with grace and dignity as well as my father. It’s time we focus on Forrester. NOT our personal lives. Now if anyone else has any questions pertaining to Forrester we will answer them before we give you a special sneak preview of our line.”
“ The WOW line?” Jared asked.
“No. We aren’t ready to unveil that line yet. We still have a month to go although some of you in the fashion world will be getting a special invitation for this event. Today we are previewing the Bedroom Line.” Brooke nodded, the lights dimmed while the logo for the bedroom line splashed on the stage. “ How about it? Will a preview satisfy your appetites?”
The reporters gave their stamp of approval with applause. They all knew getting the scoop for the Bedroom Line was news. Sultry music sounded as a tall leggy brunette model appeared at the edge of the stage wearing a sultry black and cream gemstone jeweled demi bra with matching panties wore low on her hip line along with a cream silk robe. As she walked down the runway she put an extra bounce to her step causing her breast to move in an erotic rhythm as the moved. Next, Eboni appeared in a classically beautiful champagne satin single shoulder long nightgown with its bodice edged with delicate black lace. Like a swan she floated down the staged, turned to show off her partially naked back that gave the gown an even more sensual quality along with its high slit to show off her stunning legs. She then heard the crowd gasp as “Trixe” appeared in a scandalous bustier, thong panties, garters all in blush. The delicate roses on each garter combined with Trixie’s pixy-like look gave it an ethereal quality. Eric noted that Ridge had chosen to use a material with a slight simmering sheen to it. On Trixie’s voluminous body it was stunning. Brooke noted the looks of the faces of the reporters; they were impressed, as she was. This had been some of Ridge's best work. He may be married to a prudish bitch but he still knew that looked sensual and felt good on women. However Ridge wasn’t the only one responsible for this line, Scott too had added two designs of his on. Brooke sighed. Scott was another issue. She was going to keep a very close eye on him. Bridget was off limits. Scott she reluctantly admitted did a wonderful job with two designs. Eric squeezed her shoulders as he came up from behind her. The attention was back on Forrester and not on them.

Jared took notes capaciously. “Forrester had done it again. They have proven to be the top in fashion with their Bedroom line. Sexy, sultry and appealing are some are while the chemise, and other gowns have a sensual yet elegant flair. No doubt Ridge Forrester creative juices are inspired the mother of his love child, Brooke Forrester.” Jared almost cackled with glee. He knew as his photographer snapped pictures of model in a cream colored gown coming down the runway. He was going to get the front cover of his magazine with that quote and the Queen Stephanie would be having a total cow. Not to mention the Ice Princess, Taylor Forrester. It didn’t matter to him. Fashion was his life. Brooke Logan and Ridge Forrester no matter what, created a sensation even when they weren’t in the same room. Now that it was official and Bridget was declared to be Ridge’s daughter he knew like others, that it was only a matter of time before the Brooke and Ridge saga started again. It really didn’t matter whom Brooke was involved with. History never lied. She always went back to Ridge.

Nicco spotted Eve sitting alone in Insomnia and headed over to her. “ Hey.” She plopped down in the seat across from her sipping on her hot skim Mocha Frapachinno.
Eve looked up. “ Hey.” To find Nico in a black sports bra and drawstring running pants.
“ I thought that you were going to come to my kickboxing class yesterday. You should have seen some of the kids they are really getting the hang of it.” Nicco honestly was proud of some of the street kids. They were taking the class pretty seriously.
“ I was busy.”
“Studying?” She pushed at Eve’s accounting books.
Eve looked up and Nicco could see the little circles under her eyes. “ Hey.” She paced her hand over Eve’s. “ Is everything alright.”
“ Yeah.” Eve tried to give a fake smile.
Nicco sat back. “ You aren’t fooling me with that fake ass smile. I invented it. So, you want to tell me what’s up?”
Eve wished that she could but she couldn’t. Right now she could only think about getting Trudie out of the blackmailing business. That and Rick. Rick whom she hurt so much that he hadn’t spoken to her since he left her house yesterday. “ I’m sorry Nicco.” She closed her book and put it in her bookbag. “ It’s just a relationship thing.”
“ Your boyfriend, Rick, he isn’t treating you right? I thought…”
“ No. It isn’t that.”
“ It isn’t that “He’s too good for me crap again, is it?”
“ No. Not really. It’s just something we’ve got to work out…” Eve’s cellphone rang.
“ Just a minute.” She took out the phone. “ Hello. No. I’m not busy. Alright. Sure it’s the least that I can do.” She hung up the phone. “ Sorry Nicco. I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.
“ Maybe we can hang out or something?”
“ Yeah. That would be great.”
Nicco watched ad Eve picked up her jean jacket and left. “Damn.” She fingered the badge that she hadn’t had time to slip back into Eve’s bag. Well she’s just find a way to get it back from Brooke. With her technological skills and connections, she was able to duplicate the badge and use it. Unfortunately it had gained her nothing, not a damn thing. Using sleuth, she had snuck into hidden floors. It had been hard to disable some of the video systems but using the 564 that she had ordered she had taped a digital reel of revolving five minutes and tapped into the system. It had been hair raising but with years of experience she’d been able to pull it off. Creating duplicate eye scan of Brooke Logan’s from her medical documents from laser surgery that Ms. Logan had two years prior and fingerprint from that gotten from the records of the police department. It had been way too easy. BUT what hadn’t been easy was finding anything in MicroTech’s secret areas that had anything to do with governmental codes, arms or anything else. She had only found documents for different computer prototypes programs. Of course these programs would no doubt cost Microtech a lot of money if there were to be given to a competitor company. But she hasn’t there for industrial espionage. She was there for the goods on Caspian and Isabelle DeAngelo. But it seemed if there were on the up and up. Either they were in the legitimate business world or they were expertise at keeping their business operations covert. Either way her boss was going to pissed.


Stephanie felt her pressure rising. She had to be mistaken. She couldn’t have heard what she thought she heard. It wasn’t the trashy obscene lingerie that had upset thought she cringed at the fact that Brooke was once again dragging the image of her company into the mud; it had been the announcement before that. She paused the rewind button on her TiVo to rewind live television. She played back the press conference to listen to the part that Brooke gleefully told the press that HER husband was staying at HER house. Her eyes darkened with fire and hate. “ No.No!”

Helen heard a loud screech followed by a huge crash. Dropping her basket of towels she had been folding she ran to the den. “ Mrs. Forrester, what is the matter?” Stunned she found the new television set smashed by a picture of the Forrester family. “Moi Dies”
“ Be careful.” It was as if Stephanie didn’t hear her.
She led the distraught woman over toward the couch. “ What is wrong?”
“ That woman. She thinks that she can have anything she wants by wiggles that young thin sexy body of hers and get what she wants. Well I’m not going to let her get away with stealing my husband.”
“ Stealing your husband. Mrs. Forrester what are you talking about?”
“ That bitch Brooke! She’s stolen my company, invaded my family. She’s slept her way through both my sons and my husband. BUT for her to try to take my husband away again is too far!” Helen knew that she wouldn’t be able to keep Mrs. Forrester calm. So she dialed the only number of the person she knew would be able to help her.

Ridge hung up the phone on his cell. Taylor turned back around from giving Thomas some Oreo in the SUV to face her husband who had sounded upset by the call. “ Who was it?”
“ It was Helen.” Ridge said driving down the highway.
“ What’s wrong?”
“ It’s mother. She’s upset.”
“ I’m not surprised Taylor said. What happened now?”
Ridge checked the mirror to see that Bridget was knocked out in the backseat. Maybe all of this had been too much on her. Yesterday that had gone skiing for a while. Bridget, like him was an expert skier, however he had noted how tired she had become. Last night she hadn’t even wanted dinner. She had gone to bed early. A sliver of fear had crept inside of his bones. What if this wasn’t just about the stress that she had been under? What if this latargic was coming from her illness?
“ Ridge.” Taylor asked again. “ What happened?”
Ridge sighed. “ Mother’s upset about Brooke. It seems that there was a press conference at Forrester today.”
“ So?”
“ Mother found out that dad is apparently staying at Brooke’s house.”
Taylor found it amusing and started laughing. Ridge glared. “ Doc, It’s not funny.” He reprimanded.
“ Oh yes it is. Brooke just doesn’t know when to quit does she? Your mother is going to have a heart attack.”
“ You sound like you are enjoying this.”
“ Maybe I am.” Taylor answered honestly.
“ Taylor..”
She gave him an angry look. “ Don’t Taylor me, Ridge. Stephanie used to be my friend but that isn’t the case anymore. Maybe she’ll understand what it’s like to have someone meddling in her marriage. Not that I think that anything is really happening between Brooke and your father.” She said picking a piece of lent off her black sweater.
“ What the hell was Brooke thinking? Mother’s going to be after her blood for this. She’ll see it as an act of war. Dad can stay with us if he needs to.”
“ Ridge I don’t think your father is the one who needs to stay with us.”
“ What are you saying that he isn’t welcome?” Ridge slowed down the SUV to look at his wife.
“ Of course he’s welcome. But right now your father as important as he is to us he isn’t the one who need us. Though he does need support. It’s clear that he thinks your mother isn’t innocent of her crime.”
“ He isn’t thinking clearly that’s all.”
“ Maybe he’s just finally realized the horrible truth about Stephanie.” Ridge was silent. After everything that happened the last couple of days, he wasn’t sure if his mother was guilty or innocent. Part of him wanted desperately to believe her. She had been so convincing the other day but now after learning about the comments she had made to his wife, he was finally starting to realize that he mother would do just about anything to anybody who stood in her way, family or not. Taylor watched the indecision on her husband’s face and felt sorry for him. He didn’t deserve this, none of them did. Truthfully she didn’t give a damn if Brooke and Stephanie went to war with each other; it would keep both of them away from her. As far as she was concerned they both should burn in hell. She reached out to touch him on his hand.
“ Ridge. There is something that we need to discuss.”
Ridge heard the serious tone in his wife’s voice. “What is it?”
Taylor turned to check if Bridget was still asleep. “ It’s about Bridget.”

 

 

Caspian looked at his watch. His plane should be landing in L.A within an hour. The trip to New York had been successful and ended up to be a waste of time. He found out that Dante had come to visit his brother. The twins had “gone out” leaving no word to where they were going or when they’d be back. If he had time he’d investigate the matter and find them. But he was in a hurry to get back home to Brooke. He’d left word with one of the servants that Dominick was to be in L.A no later than two days. Dominick, he knew would not ignore the summons.

Charlie had finished her consultation with Melanie Smith and was delighted that it had been good news. They had been able to stop the cancer from spreading from her and her body was cancer free. “ Thank you so much Dr. Dewitt.” Melanie hugged quickly followed her support husband Robert.
“ I’m just glad to give you such good news. I want you to continue our treatment plan and I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Okay?”
“ Yes.” They agreed and left the office. The bright and cheery smile on her face slowly disappeared. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy for the couple. She was, it was just her mind hand been on Dylan. She had called her mother in Italy hoping to find something with Rachel didn’t have any new news. Other than a voicemail that she was fine, her sister had left her with nothing. Fingering the silver framed picture of Dylan on her desk tears weld up in her eyes. “ How could you do this Morgan?”
“ Dr. DeWitt.” Stacey her personal assistant came into her office. Charlie quickly dried her eyes.
“ Yes. Stacey.”
Stacy pretended not to notice the tears and continued. “ There is a gentlemen to see you.”
“ A new patient?”
Charlie looked down at her appointment book on her desk. “ I don’t see a new patient on my calendar.”
Storm stepped into doorframe with a bouquet of stargazer lilies in his hands. “ I don’t. But It still hope for a little of your time.”
“ Storm.” Charlie was honestly surprised to see Brooke’s brother. She was a little embarrassed about the way she had cried all over him the other night. “ What are you doing here?”
“ I wanted to take you out for lunch.”
Stacey left the room with a quick smile at Charlie. “ He’s cute” she mouthed at her boss.
“ Lunch?” Charlie looked at the handsome lawyer. “ I’m not sure I’ve got rounds to make…”
“ Not until three. I checked with Stacey.”
Charlie frowned. “ She shouldn’t have told you that.”
Storm smiled. Even angry she was beautiful.
“ Don’t be mad with her. She wanted to help you.”
“ Help me? How?”
“ I promised her that I’d try to take your mind off of losing Dylan.” He saw the pain seep into her eyes. “ Not that I honestly think that I can do it. But…” He reached out to touch her cheek. She was so beautiful even when dressed simply in a light blue silk weaved twin set and black pants. “ I’d like to try for only just a couple of hours.”
Charlie was touched by his generosity. Not to mention caught off by his blue eyes. But even that wasn’t enough to ease the ache in her heart. “ I don’t think that it’s a good idea. I’m not very good company.”
“ I’m not asking for you to be very good company. You are missing your nephew and you sister. You feel betrayed. I can’t say that having lunch would change that. But I’m a selfish man and I want to spent time with the woman whose smile I can’t seem to get out of my mind.” He cupped her face and inhaled her heavenly scent. “I know that this isn’t the best time and maybe I won’t see that smile again. But I’d be a fool if I didn’t try. I figure there is no use for both of us to be miserable. Besides you never know. You may have a good time, if only for a few minutes.”
Charlie wasn’t sure what to say. A part of her didn’t want to be in his presence. She wasn’t in the right type of mood. How could she laugh have lunch with him when Dylan was missing? She thought about Brooke’s visit to her home yesterday. Brooke had come by with a lot of guilt about the situation. She had blamed herself and offered her support. Charlie had really appreciated it. But Brooke wasn’t to blame. Morgan had every right to take Dylan. But it didn’t change her worry. She hadn’t told Brooke about Morgan’s headaches and rash behavior. She didn’t want people to think so badly about her sister. No matter what she’d still protect Morgan but who was going to protect Dylan from her. Worse yet, she was going to tell Ridge that Morgan had absconded with their son. Brooke had offered but Charlie knew that it was her job. Thinking of what was to come maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have lunch with Storm after all. “ You promise you won’t try to make me smile.”
Storm grinned holding up both of his hands. I’m a man of my word. He helped her with her purse and led her to his convertible Mercedes. “ I know the perfect spot.”

Nicco pulled her car into Chinese restaurant. Her contact was supposed to meet her at 2:00. She was surprised to find that it wasn’t her normal contact but the leader of the investigation waiting for her at the table. “ You are late.” He said digging for her ever present pack of cigerattes. Nicco shrugged.What do you have for me?”
“Not much. I was able to get into the restricted sections of the company using Brooke Forrester’s I.D.”
“ And?”
“ Nothing. It’s all in the up and up. Reserch and development of comuter technology. Nothing dealing with military codes.”
“There has to be something. That company is being run by the members of the Anterio mafia family. There is something there. Find it.”
Nicco was annoyed. She didn’t like being told what to do. “ I’m doing my best.”
“That doesn’t seem to be good enough now does it? I don’t care how you do it. Cozy up with D’Angelo if you have to. Sleep with him. You’ve done that sort of thing before.”
“ It wouldn’t work this time.”
“ Why not? I’ve read his profile. The man has had legions of women. Seduce him.”
“ The man is very cautious about who he interacts with. A seduction he’d see coming. Besides, I’ve spent time studying him. Since he’s been involved with Brooke Forrester he hadn’t been with any other women.”
He frowned. “ It isn’t like you to make excuses Nicco.”
“ I’m not. I’m telling you playing the seductive angle would ruin the entire investigation. He’s see it as a set up. Not to mention that sister of his would have warning bells going off. She’s have my background even more throughlly investigated. She’s just as cunning as him.”
“ Then you’d better find something on them soon. Anything. I don’t care what it is.”
Nicco was surprised by the venom in Gus’s eyes. It wasn’t like him to act hot headed.
“ Why is this case so important to you? We’ve never even gotten any indication that MictroTech was involved in illegal activities. If it weren’t for you pushing the matter…
“ What I do is my bussiness. Is that clear? Got that?” Gus’s dark chocolate eyes darkened with emotion. “ I give the order and you take them.” He finished his coffee and plate of noddle using the chopstickes with expertise.“ You had better understand that.”
“ I do.”
“ Then act like the agent that you were tried to be. The agency took you out of that jail you were held up in and took a chance for you when you were nothing but street trash. We turned you into one of the best agents we have. Hell I espesically asked for you for this case. It can I expect results. Do you understand.”
Nicco wanted nothing more to punch the smug bastard in his face. However she kept her restraint. She was an agent and this was a really big case. Besides she had her own personnel reasons for taking it. Still it pissed her off to be taking orders from such an arrogant prick. Gus wasn’t always like this. It was something about the D’Angeloes that got to him.
“ Now get some evidence on the DeAngeloes. I want both of them behind bars. The sooner I get them. The sooner I get Grayson.”
“ What you want is impossible. He’s protected.”
Gus gave her a sadistic grin. Do you think you are the only agent we’ve got undercover. We got someone else. Someone no one would ever suspect. One way or another. That family is going down.” Gus stood up his dark leather jacket and scruffy jeans along with his short cropped hair and 4 ocolock shadwon made him look nothing like the federal agent he was. Picking up his smokes he threw double a couple of bills out of his pocket. “ I want someone Nicco. Don’t dissapoint me.”Nicco watched him. Gus Arturo was a mean son-of-a-bitch. He had unconvental ways. His transfer to head this investigation was a step down. It wasn’t that he was demoted. He opted for it. There was only one purprose for it. To bring Caspian, Isabelle and all the rest of that family down. A shiver went through Nicco’s body. If the De’Angelos were guilty then they deserved to go down but if they weren’t invovled in illegal activities then what? There was also the matter of Eve. She really liked Eve. The girl taken a bad situation an turned it around. Using Eve had been her way in on the Forrester family. She had read the file on Eve. The girl had been through hell and back. The agency would use her up and throw her away if they could. She couldn’t allow them to do it. There were some things that she wouldn’t do. This was one of them.

“ Yes Franco. I did receive the order but right now it’s impossible for me to fill it however I’ll be more than willing to that you are compensated in the future. Yes. Yes.” The door to Brooke’s office opened and she was surprised to see Isabelle in the doorway. She waved her in. “ No. I’ll see that it’s done. Thank you.” Brooke hung up the phone.
“ Isabelle.” Brooke stood.
“I’m sorry for interpreting you. Your personal assistant wasn’t at her desk.”
“ Megan’s really busy these days. Come on in.”
Caspian sister looked sultry in her ladylike chic polka hunter green top, waist clenching belt and leather skirt. She reeked of Versace. It was elegant on her. Isabelle knew how to dress right down to her brown bangles that matched her belt.
“ Versace? Tell me do you ever wear Forrester?” Brooke asked with a grin.
“ From time to time. I just love variety. Not that your clothes aren’t elegant on a woman.” Isabelle answered honestly. She took a seat across from Brooke’s desk. “Forgive me it seems that I am always interrupting you at work.”
“ That’s because we haven’t made plans for lunch. Which I want to do as soon as possible.”
“ I’d love that. But I do understand that you are busy with everything going on.”
“ You mean the scandal?”
“ No. You seem to handle those well. I can’t see my brother without someone capable.”
“ Thank you. Is that why you are here? Is it something about Caspian? Is he alright?”
“ Please don’t be alarmed. I didn’t come here about him.”
“ Oh.” Brooke relaxed. “With everything going on. I just wanted to make sure that he’s all right. I guess that I miss him.” Brooke ran her fingers through her hair. “ I know it’s silly with everything going on but I miss his presence.”
“ I’m sure that my brother misses you equally as much.”
“ Has he called you?”
Isabelle paused. “No. That is sort of strange. Normally we talk at least once a day.”
“ I just thought with him dealing with a family matter you’d know if everything was alright.”
“ Family matter.”
“ Yes. When I talked to him the other day he said that he had to go to Italy. Then he said that it was some family matter that he had to take care of. I was hoping you could shed some light on what’s going on?”
Isabelle didn’t know of any matter. She hadn’t really been herself the last day. She’s better call Grayson to see if there was a problem. “ Sorry Brooke. I can’t shed any light on it. But I will assure you that if there was a serious problem I’d know. It’s probably our uncle he may have had an errand for Caspian to do.”
“ Your uncle?” Brooke didn’t know much about Caspian’s family. “ When your brother gets back he and I need t have a long talk? I’ve only begun to realize that there is a lot about him that I don’t know. I’ve just met you. Never his uncle or your mother.”
“ You don’t want to meet her she’s complicated.”
“ Caspian told me that you two don’t have a good relationship.”
“ My mother doesn’t have a good relationship with either one of us. She was busy with her boyfriends to protect us.”
Isabelle noticed how quiet Brooke had become. She also noted how Brooke didn’t quite meet her eyes at the moment. “ He told you about why we had a falling out with our mother?”
Brooke felt uncomfortable. Isabelle’s rape had been a source of pain for her and Caspian. The last thing she wanted to do was to bring it up. “ He did didn’t he?”
“ I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be privy to your personal information. This man almost attacked me and..”
“ He must really trust you. Isabelle interrupted. He doesn’t normally discuss any of our personal matters with anyone. It’s good that he had you to confide in.”
“ I would never discuss you with any Isabelle. What happened in your past is you past.”
A small smile formed on her lips. “Thank you Brooke for your discursion.” She uncrossed her legs.
“ I guess I just want to get to know you. All of the people in Caspian’s life better. He has spent time with my family getting to know my children. I just want a chance to get know the people who have helped to make him the wonderful man he is. His uncle, this is the one who looked after him when your father died, correct?”
“ Yes. That’s Grayson.”
“ Then I want to meet him. I want to learn about Caspian past. Get to know the other sides to him. He’s a wonderful man. So strong and supportive to me. I really love your brother.”
“ I know. That does my heart good to know that after all this time he’s found happiness.”
“Anyway. I know that you didn’t come here to discuss Caspian did you?”
“ No. Actually I wanted to talk to you about your son, Rick.”
“ Rick.” Brooke was surprised.
“ Yes. Today Olivia, my mother, mentioned to me that she had been at the Café Rouse the other night when Rick asked his girlfriend to marry him.”
“ He did what?”
“ I see you didn’t know.”
“No. I had no idea.”
“ She turned him down.”

Brooke knocked on her son’s office door. He looked up from the production spreads he had been studying. “ Mom. Just the person I need. Can you give me your opinion about these proofs?” Brooke looked at them for a moment. “So, which one?”
“ Which one did you like she asked?”
“ The one with Ebony in the cowboy hat and open shirt. It’s very sexy yet simple.”
“ I agree.”
“ So. What’s up.”
Brooke looked at her son. It hurt her that he didn’t come to her. “ Rick I know that lately I’ve been busy but I want you to know that you can always come to me.”
“ I know that mom.” He said going through another set of proofs. She stopped him by taking the proofs. “What’s wrong?” He asked her.
“ That’s what I want to know. I want to know why I had to find out by someone else that you asked Eve to marry you.” Rick closed his eyes and cursed. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me what happened?”
“ I was embarrassed.”
“ Still I would have been there for you. Why didn’t you come to me? I love you Rick. I’m your mother.” She reached forward to brush his hair. “ I want to be a part of everything that happens to you.”
“ I just didn’t want to add to your burden.”
“ You are my son. You are never a burden to me. I love you and your sister with all of my heart and soul. So tell me what happened?”
“ You already know. I asked Eve to marry me and she said no.”
“ Did you two break up? Because I’ve seen that girl with you she loves you.”
“ No. That’s the weird thing. She says that she loves me. I know that she does. She had this whole job promotion thing that she got accepted for over in London with Huntington Press.”
“ I’ve heard of them it’s a really big publishing company right?”
“ Yeah. Well she got this dream offer. Internship with more money that she makes now but she didn’t take it. Hell she didn’t even tell me about it. I found the paper. I knew when I found it that I was the reason. I though hey. She loves me. This wonderful woman loves me and is willing to keep a job as a waitress for little pay just to be near me.”
“ There isn’t anything wrong with waitressing Rick. I did it.”
“ I know but mom Eve’s smart. Real smart. Hell she did all the cover sheets and write ups for spreadsheets for the projections portfolio.”
“ She did?” Brooke was impressed. “She did very good work.”
“ Yeah she does.”
“ So, that’s why you asked her to marry you.”
“ No” Mom that’s not why. I love her. I want her to be my wife. She’s a wonderful person. She’s great with Little Eric. But it’s more than that. It’s the way that she makes me feel. When I with her I feel that I can do anything.”
Brooke touched his shoulder. “ Honey you are in love.”
“ Tell me something I don’t know.”
“ Tell me why Eve said no.”
“She said that she needed time. She wants us to take our time. She says that our family is pretty overwhelming for her. She needs time to get used to everyone. She says that sometimes she doesn’t feel that she’s good enough.
Brooke was floored. “That’s not true. I’d welcome her with open arms to this family.”
Hope sprung into Rick’s eyes. “Really?”
“Honey, I think she’s wonderful.”
“Then maybe you could talk to her.”
“ No.” Brooke shook her head. “ I think that Eve is a very wise young woman. She loves you honey. I can see that. It could have been very easy for her to say yes. It probably was a dream come true but she was wise in asking for more time. You just got out of horrible marriage that was no good for you.”
“Eve is nothing like Amber.”
“ I agree. But it doesn’t change the fact that you need time. Why are you willing to rush things? Take this relationship slow. Spend time with each. Learn about each other. Grow with each other. If marriage is in the future, it will come but don’t force it. Just be and live in your love.” There was a glow in Brooke’s face. “This is best time of your life. You are young and full of hope. Be with Eve. Don’t be mad at her.”
“ I’m not mad.”
“ Yes you are and your pride is hurt. I can understand that. But don’t take this out on Eve.” She touched his shoulder. “ The one thing that I know is that she loves you.”
“ So you are telling me to have patience.”
“ Is she worth it?”
“ Yes. She is.”
“ Then try to have patience. Be understanding. Give her time. Give yourself time.”
“ Are you speaking for yourself a little?”
“ Are you asking about Caspian and me?”
“Maybe.”
“ I’m taking my time. I’m getting to know him or at least I’m trying to get to know the other sides of him. I want to spend time with him. I love him. I never thought that I could feel this way about someone…”
“ Other than Ridge.”
“ Yes. Someone other than Ridge. I think that Caspian’s the one that I’ve been waiting for all of my life. However. I’m not rushing into anything. I’ve been married and engaged too many times Rick. If I go down that road again. I want it to be forever. No more divorces or annulments.”

Ridge tried the phone again.
“ No answer?”
“ No. I guess that Morgan’s out of her cell phone range. I’ll just call her when we get home. I’m really hoping to see Dylan today.”
Taylor was silent. She wasn’t trilled about having Dylan over but she was willing to try. Her husband loved his son. She would do her best to try to be a good stepmother to him.


“Morgan did what?”
“She took Dylan.” Brooke explained sadly. “ Charlie is a mess. She really loves that little baby.”
“ Why didn’t you tell me?” Eric asked incensed.
“ Dad you’ve been through enough. I didn’t want to add anything else to your plate but with Ridge coming home we thought that you didn’t need anymore surprises.” Thorne said backing Brooke up.
“ Well, I don’t want you to do that! I want you to stop trying to protect me. I’m the your father. I’m the head of this family. If anyone was going to do the protecting it’s me! Eric yelled.
“ Eric…” Brooke stammered surprised by his outburst.
“ I mean it Brooke. Stop treating me like I’m some old man needing to be put out to pasture.
“ I don’t think that.” She was alarmed at how angry he was. She hadn’t meant to upset him in anyway. Eric, I meant everything that I’ve said about your contributions to this company and to this family. You are the foundation. I just don’t want to see you upset.
“ Well I am upset. At what is going on. The family is falling apart. I’m not going to sit idly by and stand for it. I’m not going to allow Morgan to steal my grandson away just because she’s angry.”
“ I’m not sure we can do anything about Morgan. Like it or not she’s his son. If she want to take him out of L.A she can.”
“ That baby is a Forrester. We will get Dylan back but before I do so I’m going to deal with the real problem in this family.”
“ Which is?” Thorne asked.
“ Your mother. It’s time that I cleared the air.”
Brooke looked at Thorne. “ Do you think that you ought to do that?” Worried that Eric was going to have a relapse.
Eric looked at Brooke and Thorne. “ It’s time that we face our demons. It’s time that I face mine.” Eric went over to the briefcase and pulled out the papers that he had Jonathan drawn up.
“ What are those?”
Eric looked down at the papers in his hand and smiled for the first time.“ Freedom.”

Brooke was worried about Eric. She paced back and forth in her office. “ I don’t know if this is wise.”
Thorne was standing against the wall with his hands folded in front of him.“ You heard him Brooke. He’s serious.”
“ But I’m not sure this is the time. He’s gone through a lot. The stress alone…”
“ It’s what he needs.” Thorne said cutting Brooke off. He saw the look of concern on her face and came forward to comfort her. “ I know that you are worried about him but he’s clear about what he wants. It’s time that he confronts her for her crimes. Its time that mother pays for the sins that she’s committed. She’s gotten away with far too much. Just maybe if one of us had done something like what dad’s going to do a long time ago things wouldn’t have been gotten as bad as they are. ”
Brooke was surprised by the steely sound in Thorne’s voice. Thorne had always been soft hearted toward his mother. “ You’ve changed.” She said softly.
A coldness that she had never seen filtered over his eyes. “ I’ve grown up. My mother has played God enough. She’s hurt those she’s claimed to love. She’s hurt her own grandchild with little thought or regard to what she was doing to Bridget or to Ridge. She took his daughter away! I can’t forgive or forget that and neither should dad or Ridge. Mother has crossed a line that never should have been crossed.”
Brooke didn’t know what to say. She knew that Thorne was angry with his mother but not that angry. He understood the gravity of his mother’s action. “ She’s still your mother in time you’ll probably forgive her.”
“No. Brooke. I can’t forgive her for what she’s done to you, Bridget, Ridge, dad or me.”
“ For you?” Brooke inquired.
“ I married Kimberly when my mother had already agreed to drop her case against Bridget. She knew that I didn’t love Kimberly. She knew but she pressed it anyway and now…”
“ You are miserable.” Brooke answered.
“ I think you know the answer to that question.”
“ You don’t have to stay married to her. Thorne you deserve so much better than Kimberly.”
“ Brooke I have to stay with her.”
“ Why?”
“ Because of the baby. I owe it to my child to stay with her until the baby is born.”
“ So, you do plan to divorce her?”
“ Yes. He answered honestly. But I’m going to wait until the baby is born so she won’t do anything rash or anything to hurt the baby.”
“ You don’t think that she’d hurt the baby.”
“ I wish that I could say but I can’t say that.”
“Has something happened?” In all honestly he wanted to tell her out Kimberly’s drinking and his suspicious about his wife but she didn’t need the additional worry of his problems. She had more than enough of her own.
“ No. It’s nothing more than the usual.”
“ Thorne…”
“ Sh. You’ve got enough to deal.”
“ That doesn’t mean that I don’t worry because I do. I’m so sorry that you married her.”
“ Not as much as I am. I wished to God that I never touched that woman. It wasn’t worth all that I lost.” He murmured looking at Brooke with love in his eyes.
“ You’ll have your baby. At least that’s something.”

 

 

“Brooke’s!” Stephanie lost her composure and threw her appointment book at the picture of her smiling happy family on top of the shelf in her den.
“ Mother, you’ve got to calm down.” Helen and called Kristen at work not knowing whom to call to calm her down. Kristen raced from Forrester to find her mother having what appeared to be a meltdown in her den.
“ You knew your father was staying at Brooke’s house but you never said a word to meou tell me to calm down.” Stephanie’s face turned red with anger.
Kristen hurried over toward her mother who she was afraid was going to tear up the den or worse yet have another stroke. “Mother please you’ve got to clam down.”
“ How can he do this? How can he go and live with that woman after all that she’s done to this family?”
“ Dad doesn’t see it that way. He thinks that you are guilty. He felt he was all alone and Brooke offered him a place to stay.”
“That bitch! She’s taking advantage of your father and his confusion.”
Kristen tried to get her mother to sit down. “ She isn’t doing that.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes. “ Don’t tell me that the Brooke’s has gotten to you.”
Kristen sighed getting through to her mother was down right impossible. “ No, she hasn’t but I can see what Brooke’s doing. She’s honestly trying to give dad a place to stay to feel at home so he can be close to his family. Rick’s there, Bridget’s there and Little Eric.”
“ Your father has a family. Our family. I know Brooke better than you. She’s taking advantage of your father bad mouthing me every chance that she gets. It’s no wonder he isn’t responding to my calls.”
“ Honestly Brooke has nothing to do with his anger with you. I told you that he’s furious with you and it wouldn’t be so easy but you didn’t listen to me. You never do.”
Stephanie’s head snapped around toward her daughter.“ Well, what have you’ve done to try to get him to see the light?”
“ I talked to him yesterday.” Kristen said calmly.
“ Talked to him. That’s not enough. I knew that I couldn’t count on you.” Kristen flinched at her mother’s harsh words but Stephanie didn’t notice. She was too engrossed in not getting what she wanted.
“ That isn’t true. I tried to talk but he’s not ready to listen about anything that has to do with you. He’s very hurt and angry with you. It’s not just about Bridget though that’s about everything. I think that it’s the years of you controling every move he’s ever made has finally gotten to him.”
“ Controlling? I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ve only been protecting my family. I’ve had to make the difficult calls while your father had to play the nice guy. It’s easy for him. I took care of the difficult issues. I got my hands dirty while he had everything laid out for him.” Stephanie clapped herself on her bouncing bosom. “ Without me this family would be falling apart.”
“You just won’t listen, will you? It’s because of the things you’ve done, blackmailing Thorne, threatening people, attacking Brooke not to mention that letter you had written that caused Brooke and Ridge’s affair. Don’t you understand that dad is hurting? You tried to play God. You are so focused on what you want you haven’t even looked at the whole picture.” Kristen was so frustrated with the fact that her mother showed no remorse for some of the things that she had down. “ What about Thorne? You haven’t even noticed that he isn’t talking to you.”
Stephanie waved off the comment with her back of her hand. “ He’ll come around. He’s always angry with me.”
“ That’s your problem. You see it. Thorne is more than angry with you mother. He doesn’t even want to mention your name. You refuse to acknowledge that you’ve hurt him. Do you care or because it’s not Ridge it doesn’t matter.”
“ Don’t start that again.”
“ It’s true mother. We all know it. Thorne, Felicia and I know that if its not about Ridge or dad then it doesn’t matter to you.”
“ That isn’t true.”
“ Yes, it is. It’s about time that we are honest.” Kristen picked up black clutch purse that matched her black form fitting skirt and her plum colored crinkled silk sleeveless blouse. “ I’ve got to go mother.”
“ Kristen. Don’t go.”
Kristen stopped at the door. Her long hair swung around her shoulders. “Why not mother. You don’t listen to me. All you do is rant and rage at me. I know that it’s difficult with dad not being here but you’ve shown no feeling for anyone else whose is hurting besides you. We are all hurting. Dad, Ridge, Bridget and Thorne. But all you can think about is yourself. I’m getting tired of all of that. If you don’t mind, I’ve got to get to Forrester to work.”

Charlie bit into the hot spicy hotdog. It was perfect just the way that she liked it covered with chili, cheese, hot mustard and onions. “ Mmmm.” She closed her eyes with delight.
“ Good huh?” Stormed asked taking another bit.
“ It’s heavenly.” She sipped the ice-cold homemade lemonade out of the jelly jar.
“ I must say.” She said dipping her home style fries in ketchup and mustard. “ I was surprised when you bought me here.” She had thought that he’d take her out to lunch at one of the many different trendy restaurants in L.A. She hadn’t thought that he’d take her to a little hot dog stand where they’d eat at the counter.
“ To Mabelle’s? It’s the best hotdog stand in the valley. I grew on these. My friends and I used to ditch class, come here and then go skinny dipping.”
“ You used to ditch class counselor?”
“ Sometimes. I guess I was blowing off steam.” He watched as she dipped another fry in ketchup and mustard.
“ Besides, I liked the skinny dipping part.” He said with a wink.
“ I bet you would.”
“Just wait and see where I’m taking you for dessert.”
Charlie smiled. “ As long as it isn’t skinny dipping, I’m in.”

Caspian pulled up to Brooke’s house and quickly rang the doorbell. He hadn’t stopped at home. He hadn’t even confronted his sister. He had come here straight from the airport. More than anything he wanted to feel Brooke. No, he needed to feel her in his arms and to know that everything was right in the world. A long time ago he would have chastised himself for allowing his feelings to get a hold of him. But not now. Lark’s sister or no. It didn’t change the fact that he loved Brooke with every breath of his body. Maria quickly answered the door. Seeing Mr. D’Angelo she smiled. “Hello. Come on in.” Maria very much so liked the handsome man who made Brooke happier that she had been in a long time. Although Maria had never said it she thought that it was unhealthy for Brooke to be involved with so many Forrester men. Caspian followed her in.
“ I am sorry but Ms. Brooke isn’t home.”
“ I know. I called her office and they said that she left. I wanted to beat her here.”
“ Why? Is something wrong.”
“ No. I just wanted to see her. I’ve missed her.”
Maria smiled. “ Well, it seems you have good timing. Little Eric was just picked up by CJ, Mrs. Logan and Mr. Logan are out for the entire day. Rick is at work and Bridget is with Ridge. It seems that you and Miss Brooke would be alone for the rest of the afternoon. That is if Mr. Forrester doesn’t come home.”
“ Eric’s staying here?” This surprised him.
“ Yes. Ms. Brooke felt so sorry for him. But he’s at work. He’s returned to Forrester Creations.” Maria winked at him as she picked up laundry she had done.
Caspian smiled. “Maria would you mind…”
“ If I left early today?” Maria was a smart woman. “No not at all.”

“ I’m sorry the results were not what you expected.”
Brooke sighed. “ It’s all right. I knew there would be a chance that the handwriting wouldn’t match but I stilled hoped that it would.”
“ I did three different studies to be sure. The handwriting on the two letters don’t match each other.
“ Even if the other was forged to look like Eric Forrester? The man was a handwriting specialty. He forged the letter from Eric. Couldn’t he have done the same?”
“ He could have tried. He’s good. But there still is a distinct pattern.” John lit up a screen with the two sample of words. He pointed to the distinct letter pattern on the upsweep of the letter t. No matter how one might want to forge someone’s handwriting, there is a something in the conforming of the letter that proves it was written by a person. There is no way that these two letter were written by the same person.” John saw the look of disappointment on Brooke’s face. “ I’m sorry that I didn’t have the news that you wanted to hear.”
Brooke stood up. “That’s alright. I just hoped to have something to tie Bridget to this letter. The one thing that I know is that Dr. Peterson didn’t write that letter because I never paid her a dime for that test.”
“ That’s true. She didn’t write the letter.”
Brooke was intrigued. “ You have evidence that she didn’t write the letter.”
“ Yes. I had a friend of mine find some old medical documents in the medical by Dr. Peterson. This letter doesn’t match her handwriting.”
“ So, there is a chance that Stephanie could had something to do with it.”
John sighed. “ There isn’t proof of that. But one thing that is certain is that Dr. Laura Peterson didn’t write that letter at all.”
“ Do you have an evidence to tell who did?”
“ No. Not at the moment. The letter we know was on her office stationary. So it would be someone who had come into contact with her. But that’s all we can conclude. Studies also proved that this letter was written by a woman. The up and down stroke prove that it’s a woman’s handwriting however it wasn’t Stephanie Forrester’s handwriting . Is there anyone else do you know who would have benefited from having written this letter against you?
Brooke was thoughtful for a moment. She stood trying her best to think. “No. I can’t think of anyone. Stephanie was the only one who could have benefited from writing this letter. I know that. Nobody else hated me the way that she did. She was the only one who benefited from breaking Ridge and I up. The only one besides….” Brooke trailed off for a moment. No she wouldn’t allow her thoughts to go in that direction.
“ Brooke is there someone else you want me to check?”
“ It’s silly. She wouldn’t do this. I know that.”
“ Who?”
Brooke knew in her heart that this was all Stephanie. But could she have had an accomplish all along. Could she?“ If you could. Please test someone else’s handwriting. I’ll get a sample today. There was only one more person who could have benefited from this. Taylor. Dr.Taylor Forrester.”

Stephanie was fuming mad. How could this have happened? How could her husband betray her the way that he had done? Mercedes looked at her client frustrated that Stephanie seemed to be belittling the situation. She had come in at the end of the confrontation between Stephanie and her daughter Kristen. Family support was needed and getting into it with the only family member willing to support her wasn’t smart. “ Stephanie, you really need to calm down and focus on your case.” Mercedes looked through her notes and sighed. Her client wasn’t being honest with her and she knew it. The evidence was damming. There was motive and opportunity. “I’ve looked at the evidence that the police have collected against you. There are a bank record that of Christopher Hasting that prove that he was indeed receiving finical support from you. He was the lab technician who did that test for Bridget Forrester. That evidence is very damning.”
“ The police, where did they get that information? Christopher Hastings is dead.”
“ Yes, however they were able to look into his finical records based on the warrant.”
“ I very well, however may be able to get the records through out based on the fact that the warrant didn’t go through the proper channels. Christopher Hasting wasn’t a suspect until a nurse gave testimony that he was bribed. That was based on the testimony of a woman whom the hospital board interrogated not the police.”
“Does that make a difference?” Stephanie asked interested in what this would mean to her case.
“ Yes. I will argue that the hospital investigated this matter in order to find someone to but the blame on. How convenient that they would like to place the blame on a man who is dead and cannot testify. He’s the prefect escape goat. Based on the premise I should be able to get the records thrown out.” Stephanie was pleased to hear that news. “But that doesn’t mean that we are out of the woods yet.” Mercedes frowned. “For me to actively represent you. I need honesty.”
“ I’ve been honest.”
“ No. You haven’t.” Mercedes sternly. “ I know it and you know it. You can lie to the press, to your family and to everyone BUT not to me. I must know everything. Everything that transpired between you and Christopher Hasting.”
“ You said that they could get that evidence thrown out.”
Mercedes wanted to roll her eyes. “ Most likely I will but nothing is written in stone. It also doesn’t change the fact that evidence proves you had a hand in Bridget’s paternity. So, it’s time that you told me everything that you did. That way there won’t be any surprises in court. I don’t care if you are guilty. I’m not here to judge you but I need to protect you. Brooke Forrester…”
“ Logan. That woman is not a Forrester.”
“Regardless. She’s out for blood.”
“ I’m not afraid of that woman.”
“ Well maybe you should be. However Brooke isn’t the issue right now. You are. If you cannot be honest with me then I’ll be forced to give your representation to someone else.”
Stephanie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She crossed her hands over her bosom.
“ You wouldn’t.”
Mercedes closed her laptop and put her files away. “Just watch me. You need me Mrs. Forrester I don’t need you.”
“ Oh please. You knew what you took this case for a reason. I’m publicity.”
Mercedes smiled cunningly. “ Yes you are. However I don’t need you. I’ve got plenty of other clients. You aren’t the only celebrity in this town. But I do have to wonder what kind of publicity you will get if you are carted off to jail.” She stood putting on her expensive jacket.
Stephanie blanched. She had spoken hastily. Mercedes was good, damn good from her reputation. “No. Wait.”
“Wait for what? You may control your family with an iron fist and belittle them. But you won’t do that to me. If I’m in charge of this case. I am in CHARGE. Not you. Do you understand me? You will be honest with me. You will keep your mouth shut speaking only to the press when I want you. Because if you don’t. I’ll walk out of here and never look back.”

Ridge was silent as the windshield wipers swashed back and forth. The skies had opened up and the rain was pouring down. There were still about an hour from L.A. All the kids were resting. They had stopped off at a dinner for burgers and fries. Bridget, surprisingly was sleep again. Ridge noticed that she had been tired most of the day. Maybe all the skiing and the excitement had gotten to her. He looked over at Taylor was reading a Julie Garwood romance novel. The conversation they had was surprising to him. He never thought that Taylor would suggest anything like it. It warmed his heart to know that his wife truly did care for his daughter. His daughter. Pride and love swelled up inside of him. Bridget was everything that he could possibly ask for a daughter. She was kind, sweet, talented and beautiful. Just like her mother. Ridge also knew that Bridget had been hurt by all the years that had gone by. It angered him to think about how many years they had lost. All the nights that he should have been there to hold her, to tell her stories, to let her know just how much he loved her. Bridget was a beautiful combination of he and Brooke. He grinned. She had so much of Brooke in her. Her fire, her passion. He rubbed his chin. God, this was certainly going to be payback for all his playboy ways. Three daughters, one whom was a beautiful teenager. He certainly wasn’t going to rest on his laurels anymore. He was going to be Bridget’s father in every sense of the word. He would protect her. She was going to get tested. She was going to get well. And he intended to do one other thing. Keep Scott Grainger away from his daughter. That playboy designer wasn’t going to get anywhere near his daughter.

Eric looked up at the dark skies. It looked as if a big storm was going to come. Rain was coming but that wasn’t going to stop him. Nothing would deter from his mission. He opened the front door to the place that used to be filled with warmth, love and family. But now it no longer held the kind of memories that it used to hold. Helen had been putting a fresh flower arrangement on the dinning table when she saw Eric. “Mr. Forrester. I’ve been so worried about you.”
“ Hello Helen.” He gave her and affectionate hug. “I’m fine.”
“ You’ve been through so much. And so has Mrs. Forrester. I’m so glad that you are home where you belong.” Helen gave a worried glance to den where Stephanie was meeting with her lawyer. “ She has been a mess. Worried about you and Senior Ridge. You don’t know what she’s been going through. She doesn’t sleep and hardly eaten. Not to mention the horrible press. Eric noted how upset Helen was. She constantly rang her hands. He also noticed the dark circles under her eyes. Guilt overcame him. Helen no doubt was taking care of his selfish wife night and day.
“ Helen I want to relax. You look so tired. You’ve been staying here at night, haven’t you?”
“ Si. I cannot leave Mrs. Forrester alone. She’s been so upset ever since they set her to jail.” She shook her head. “It’s been so horrible especially with you being angry with her. She’s only had to have Ms. Kristen to help her. Today they had a horrible fight and now she’s all alone.”
Eric should have known how much responsibility that Helen would have thrust on her.
“ Helen, don’t you worry about Stephanie she’s in good hands. I want you to go home. Spend some time with your husband and your granddaughter. In fact. I want you to take the next couple of days off.”
“ No. No. I can not do that. Mrs. Forrester needs me.” She said shaking her head.
“But what good would you do for her if you are dead on your feet. I want you to take some time off. Get some rest. You deserve it.”
The door to the study opened and a beautifully dressed Hispanic woman emerged along side his wife. “Eric.”
Eric was surprised by his wife’s new look. The shortened hairstyle with her natural hair color made her look very attractive. If he didn’t know any better he could have sworn that she had a new charcoal gray outfit on as well. Joy lit up on her face. “Eric. I thought that was you. Stephanie moved forward to embrace her husband. Eric only accepted the embrace because he wanted to get Helen to go home. Quickly ending the hug he turned his attention to the woman.
Stephanie gave him an introduction. “Eric, this is my lawyer Ms. Mercedes Vega.”
“ Ms. Vega. I’ve heard about you. You represented a friend of mine Arnold Miller.”
“Ah. Mr. Miller. He was a wonderful client. I assure you that I plan to give your wife the best defense. This matter will be handled expediently.”
Eric was silent. Mercedes noted that. Things in the Forrester marriage weren’t going very well at all. She turned toward Stephanie. “I’ll take care of that matter we’ve discussed. Do you understand?” She said with a warning.
“Yes.” Stephanie answered.
“ Good. Then I’ll see you for our next department. It was good to meet you Mr. Forrester.”
“Ms. Vega.” Eric turned toward Helen. “Stephanie I want you to let Helen have today and the next couple of days off. She needs to rest.”
Stephanie quickly agreed. Anything to spend time with her husband.“ Please go on Helen. I’ll be fine.”
Eric watched as both Helen and Mercedes left the house. Stephanie who had left to go into the kitchen came out with a bottle of champagne and two crystal flutes.
“Finally we are alone.” She took the foiled off and popped the cork. Pouring the opulent liquor into the flutes she handed him one. The bubbles tickled her nose as she took a sip.
“ Ahh. That taste good.”
“ Yes. It does.”
Stephanie wrapped her arms around Eric and pulled his head down for a passionate kiss. She took her time moving her body next to his. Her mouth and tongue explored his. Yes, she still hadn’t lost her touch. Pulling away she looked at her husband with passion in her eyes. “ Lets go.” She pulled him toward the stairs. But he refused to move. “Eric…”
Eric stood there. “Stephanie we have to talk.”
“ It’s alright honey.”
“What is? I forgive you.” She said with a smile.
“Forgive me?”
“ Yes. I forgive you for not being here when I was in jail. For going to live with Brooke when you knew it would hurt me. I understand that

Brooke cried out as she tried to open her umbrella. It didn’t work so she decided to run for it. Dashing out of her car the rain poured down on top of her drenching her so the silk of her top clung to her. Once she reach her front door she tried to get her keys out as the cold wet rain hit her. Dropping her keys she searched for them when her front door opened. “ Thanks Maria. I…” Brooke looked up with dripping hair in her face. She moved her hair out of her obstructed view. “Caspian..” She uttered breathlessly. There he was her handsome knight in shinning armor. He reached touched her wet face. Even totally drenched she was the most beautiful thing that he has ever seen. He pulled her into his arms while his mouth came crashing down on top of hers. Brooke reveled in the kiss as his bold tongue stroked against her. She felt as if he were trying to inhale her. She couldn’t get enough of it. Of him. Nor he of her. Caspian picked her up and carried her into the house closing the door with his foot. Brooke was amazed at the transformation of her living room. Gone was her furniture in it’s place was a silk and satin pallet on the floor with matching huge pillows. Ivory and purple colored lit candles were place and different sized pillars amid the entire room bathing it in its glow. Soft jazz music filled the room while the smell of delectable delights was placed on a sterling silver try next to crystallized champagne flutes. “ Oh. Caspian.” It was so sweet and very romantic. The rain hitting the hitting the roof gave it a romantic getaways appeal. “What about my parents?”
“ It’s taken care of.” He knelt down to get a fluffy towel, which he used to blot off the dampness of her rain soaked skin. “ I’ve talked to you father. He’s going to keep your mother busy. Bridget is still with Ridge.” Brooke nodded. “ Rick is at work. So we have the rest of the afternoon to ourselves. I just want this time to spend alone with you.” He caressed her face before he kissed her softly tracing her lower lip with his tongue. The kiss changed, it became passionate. On of fire and need. He needed to be with her. He needed to look in her eyes and see the love there. He needed to be inside her bringing her pleasure. Sex, would never be the answer. But with wasn’t about sex, it was about the closeness, the intimacy. It was about the love he felt for her. He needed her more than anything. She was his world.

 

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