Love Story Chapter 35

The cold icy snow filtered down as the new winds started to rise. Ian raised his head to the sky, sniffed as if he could catch a scent of snow in the air. Studying the clouds he surmised it would be a small storm and not huge one like the one that had trapped Brooke here. Brooke, he thought as he cursed to himself. He regretted walking out like that. He was a grown man. He had faced death, faced torture on more than one mission but it was Brooke’s young daughter that had put him on the run. “You fool.” He spat as a couple looked by giving him an odd look. Let him look he didn’t care. All he knew was that he wasn’t up to defending his relationship with Brooke to her daughter or seeing the disproving look the girl had been giving him. Honestly if he were to look at the truth he would admit that it wasn’t really about Bridget. It was about his feelings for Brooke. He wasn’t ready to see her walk away from him, so he walked away before she could.

“So, you haven’t seen him anywhere?” Brooke asked the hotel attendant.
“ I’m sorry Miss Logan but I’ve done an all call and he hasn’t answered it.” The brunette hotel attendant name Monica said looking through the computer messages. “ Good news is that he hasn’t checked out. Maybe he took a walk.”
Brooke sighed. She had looked everywhere for Ian in the hotel but had yet to find him. “You might. If he comes back in would you please give him a message that I’m looking for him?”
“ Sure.”
Brooke walked away and was heading to the hotel when Bridget walked toward her. Frowning, Brooke turned to another direction.
“ Mom.” Bridget caught up with her mother. “ I been looking everywhere for you.”
Brooke gave her an annoyed look as she pushed the up button. “ I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“ Why not?”
“ Because I’m furious with you.”
“ With me?” Bridget was offended. “ I should be upset with you!” She bellowed right after she noticed a few people in the lobby looking at her she lowered her voice so only her mother could hear her. “You smacked me.”
“You deserved it. You no right to say the things that you said to me.”
“ I don’t know this man mother. You do you expect from me?”
“ You never got a chance to know him before you made a judgement call about him.”
“ I was worried about you. You disappeared and we didn’t know if you were dead or alive. I certainly didn’t know who you were staying with.”
Brooke saw the look of concern in her daughter’s eyes and relaxed her stance. Being angry with Bridget wouldn’t solve anything. She hadn’t meant to worry her daughter. “ I’m sorry that I worried you. But I had to go to Florida.”
“ Which you still haven’t explained yet.”
“ I will later when we get a chance to talk.”
“ Why can’t we talk about it now? I came all this way to find out if you were alright the least you could do is to explain what happened.”
Brooke wanted to clear things up with Bridget but right now finding Ian was important. He had started to withdraw again. She was concerned that he had walked out forever.“ You can see that I’m fine.” She said pressing the button again to hurry the elevator. The quicker she got her coat and hat the quicker she could find him.
“ Are you? Because you aren’t acting like you are fine.” She licked her lips nervously. “You are chasing after a man who’ve you’ve only known for a couple weeks. Not only that you are ignoring you responsibilities to your family but to your company.
Brooke didn’t like the condescending tone that Bridget was using with her. “ Both of my children are grown and lives of their own, which you constantly remind me of. If you need anything I’m there for you but that doesn’t mean that I owe you my happiness. As for the company it’s in good hands with Ridge. I’ve given Forrester many years of my life I think that I’m owed some time off.”
Bridget defensively crossed her arms.“ With this man.”
‘ Yes, with Ian. I don’t expect you to understand.”
Bridget frowned. “It’s sex.”
Brooke gave her daughter wry smile. “ Sweetheart you are talking to a woman who is more than aware of her sexuality. Believe it or not, it isn’t about that.”
“ I was in the room next to you last night. I heard you moaning. It was disgusting.” She said making her face look ugly as her mouth created a thin line.
Brooke might have been embarrassed before however she wasn’t about to act as she were a coy little girl with her daughter who was minding HER business. “ I’m sorry that I made too much noise but I’m not going to apologize for what I was doing or who I was doing it. And as much as I enjoy sex, what I have is something more than just that.”
“ He saved you. You were snowed in together and it creates some sort of hero worship thing.”
Brooke rolled her eyes. “That isn’t what this is.” She understood her daughter’s confusion it was hard for her to understand herself. She took her daughter’s hand and lead her toward the sitting room. Seeing to her daughter’s comfort she sat down next to her. “ I know this is hard for you to understand but what’s happening between Ian and I is so different than anything I’ve experienced. I came out here to get myself together to find perspective about my life. I wasn’t looking for anything with ANY man.”
“ Because of what happened with Ridge.”
Brooke was caught off guard. What had Ridge told Bridget? “Ridge?” Brooke wrung her hands nervously. If he had told her then that meant that Taylor knew.
“ Yes, with the whole Taylor situation. You know when you broke up with Thorne started chasing Ridge.”
Rubbing her hands up and down her jeans Brooke looked away ashamed about her behavior but relieved that Bridget was in the dark about what had transpired in Paris.
“ I remember that.” She stood up moving toward window and looked outside at the falling snow.
“ I also remember the pain that I caused the family.” She bowed her head. “For that I’m sorry.”
Bridget stood and walked toward her mother. “ Are you really sorry?”
Brooke looked her daughter in the eyes. “ Yes, Bridget. More than you’ll ever know. I know that I hurt Thorne very much.”
“ And Taylor too.” Bridget brushed the hair out of her eyes. “ She really thought that you’ve gotten past the history and wanted to be friends with you.”
“ I made a mistake Bridget. I am sorry. I know that you probably don’t believe me but I am.”
There was such sincerity in Brooke’s voice that Bridget was starting to believe her mother.
She played with silk of the window treatment for a moment. “Maybe you are sorry but that doesn’t fix all the damage that you did.”
“ No. It doesn’t but I have been trying.”
“ You mean like going to Paris?”
Brooke wondered what Bridget would think if she knew the entire truth about how she let Ridge go. Forced him to go back to Taylor and the children because of Thomas. But she’d never tell. What happened in Paris was her secret. “ Yes. I wanted to give myself some space.”
“ By going with Ridge?” It looked like you were running away with him. Or using the trip to get close to him.”
“ I wasn’t running away with Ridge.”
“ Mom, if you had been given a chance…”
“ I don’t want to talk about the past.” She snapped aggravated at how everyone including her own daughter blamed the entire situation on her. Right now I’m here in Colorado and Ridge is in L.A with his wife and children. They are happy, aren’t they?” She inquired.
“ Yes, they are. Ridge has been really busy with Forrester lately but that’s understandable because you’re here.”
“ Well, that’s good.” Brooke turned letting out a slow breath. She knew she had done the right thing letting him go. His children needed him. In the end he would have hated her and she herself. What she and Ridge shared was over. For him and for her. She had something different. She was no longer entangled with Forrester instead she had something fresh, clean, pure and worthwhile keeping. It was like having a fresh start. It felt wonderful.

“What are you doing here?” Grace said to Ian who was sitting in Miller’s, a pub owned by Fredrick, her sixty year old friend. Grace never called him her boyfriend, she said that she way past her teenaged years.
Ian had convinced Fredrick to serve him a beer though it was hardly past breakfast time. “Minding my business.”
She ignored his commend and slid on the stool next to Ian. She also gave him a long hard stare. “What happened?”He shook his head before swallowing more beer out of his bottle. He was silent. “ Giving me the silent treatment?”
“ No. Just sitting and thinking.”
“ About what?”
He was silent once again mulling over the meeting between he and Brooke’s daughter. “Brooke’s daughter is in town.”
“ Oh.” Grace sipped a cup of hot coffee. “ It wasn’t a happy union?”
“ She wants her mother to come home.”
“ What does Brooke want? Does she want to go home?”
He swallowed another swig.“ It doesn’t matter.”
Grace pushed his beer away. “ I think it does.”
“Her daughter doesn’t approve of my relationship with her. She has made that clear.”
“ How old is she?”
Ian shrugged. “Nineteen or twenty.”
“ Well, she’s grown. What her mamma does isn’t her concern.”
“Bridget means a lot to Brooke.”
“You mean something to Brooke.” Grace poked him in the chest. “ I saw the way that you two looked at each other. There is something serious going on.”
“ Whatever it was. It’s over.”
“ Why? Because of Bridget?”
He shook his head. “No. Because of me. When Brooke’s daughter caught up with us and I saw how upset she was. I just split. I walked away.

“Can I get you anything else?” Marta asked Amber who was laying in the sun working on her tan. Marta had already made her two limeades when Amber wanted more. Frowning, she thought about the mess she had to clean up. Unlike Brooke, Bridget and Rick who never tried to leave a huge mess in their bedroom, this one was different. Clothes thrown all over the room. Makeup stains on her pillow, the countertops, not the mention the hair spray stains on the walls. It took her almost an hour and a half to clean up her room. Marta hated the additional work. Not to mention how Amber liked to leave piles of dishes in the sink because she never used paper plate nor the same dish twice.
“ Yes Marta. Do you think that you could make me a few of those chicken and Monetary and Jack cheese queseadilla that you make. I really love them.”
Marta was sorry that she asked. “ I don’t have all the ingredients. I’ll have to go to the store to get them.”
“ That will work. I won’t be too hungry for at least another half-an hour.” She nodded to the Lays Salt-and-Vinegar chips she had been eating. “Oh, while you are there could you get one of those fresh fruit tarts.” Marta turned and marched off hating the fact that Brooke was gone. She couldn’t wait for her to come back and kick Amber out on her butt. Stretching with a satisfied smile she turned up the radio and continued to relax.

Bridget was frightened by the excitement in her mother’s voice. “Mom, the way that you are talking it’s as if you are involved in some relationship with him.”
Brooke shifted the weight on her feet. “ It’s something.” She admitted.
“ Something like what?”
“ Tell me you aren’t falling for him.” Brooke didn’t answer. “Mom.” Bridget grabbed her arm.
“ You don’t know this man. How can you have feelings for him?”
“Ian’s different.”
“ I’ve heard this before.”
Brooke tried not to be upset by Bridget’s attitude. “ I know that you have. I’m not calling it love. I’m certainly not running off to get married.”
“ Good because the look at what happened when you got married the last time.”
Brooke winced at Bridget’s words, stung by the venom in her daughter’s tone. “That’s true. But this IS different.”
“How? You came here to think and you got hung up with a man. No surprise.”
“Ian isn’t any typical man.”
“ Mom, you come here and dazzle the way that you do so many men and he falls for you.”
Brooke sighed and settled herself in her chair. “No, it wasn’t the same. Believe it or not Ian wasn’t bowled over by my beauty or my charm.”
“Really. I find that hard to believe.”
“ Well, it’s true.”
“ Ian doesn’t trust people. Let alone women. Especially ones who are beautiful or who were RICH. He had a bad experience with a woman in his past. So, he wasn’t happy to see me on his front door. In fact, he didn’t want to let me in.”
Bridget grimaced. “ So he let you stand in the rain.”
“ No honey. He didn’t. He was cold at first. He hardly spoke but he did give me a place to sleep and eat. Over time we talked and connected. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t to sure about him. He looked scary with this scruffy beard and hardly uttered two words.”
“ So you what? Charmed him?”
“ No. It wasn’t like that at all. Believe me when I say that Ian isn’t the type that you can charm.”
This amazed Bridget. Her mother always had a way with men. Most just fell down to worship her. “But over time I found that there was more to him. Ian hides who he is but he’s a veru intelligent and gentle man. He’s creative and imaginative.” Brooke continued. “ But it wasn’t just about him. It’s about me. In his home, I could relax. See things clearly and enjoy not only my surroundings but myself. I started to look at myself and what I wanted to be.” Brooke licked her lips nervously. “ The type of person that I want to be.” She looked down at her lap and brushed her hair behind her ear. “ I haven’t made the best decisions in my life.” She admitted. “ I know that I’ve done things to embarrass you. I’ve embarrassed myself. But…” She looked up into Bridget’s eyes. “ That’s all going to change. Being here has changed me and the way that I look at things.”
Bridget moved toward her mother kneeling down to look up in her eyes. “ But that isn’t about him. If you’ve changed the way that you look at things it’s because of you NOT him. Besides if everything you say is true that he wasn’t interested in you, why are you sleeping with him?”
“Because things between us changed. I’m not going to apologize for that Bridget. I’m not going to feel sorry for being with him.” Brooke stroked the top of her daughter’s hair. “ I am so sorry that I worried you. I truly didn’t mean to. But Ian needed me. Something happened and he had to leave for Florida and I went with him.”
“You honestly don’t see why I’m concerned about you? You were traipsing around the world with someone you hardly know.”
“ Don’t overdue the dramatics Bridget. It was just Florida and I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“ Fine. Whatever.” Bridget turned and tried to focus to refrain her anger. She just didn’t understand why her mother was acting this way. “ I just don’t get it. But.” She paused. “I’m trying to.”
“ That’s a start.” Brooke visually relaxed.
“ So…are you going to tell my why you were in Florida?”
“ It wasn’t a romantic getaway if that’s what you think. Ian’s an ex-Navy S.E.A.L.”
“ Really?” Bridget thought about his muscular frame and his gruffness, it kinda made sense. “But now he’s…”
“A writer.”
“ He doesn’t seem like the type to me.”
“ That’s because you are prejudging him.”
“ This coming from the woman who can’t stand my husband.”
“ For good reason. I didn’t dislike your husband because of where he’s come from but because what he did.”
“ He isn’t like that anymore.”
“Maybe he isn’t.” Brooke considered. “ He did come all this way with you.”
Bridget’s mouth dropped open. “ Did you just give Deacon a complement?”
“Maybe.” Brooke stood. She moved closer to her daughter. “ I guess that being here has given me a different outlook.”
“ Yes, it has.”Bridget’s phrase was simple however it was the first thing that they both agreed on. Brooke was silent feeling a connection with her daughter.
“ It’s been good for me, honey. In so many ways. That’s why I’m not ready to give it up. I know that I’ve made some mistakes.” A bubble of laughter came from her throat. “ Lots of them. I guess that’s why being with Ian is so different and important to me. He isn’t impressed by much. He has no use for money. He hates glamour and pretense. He hates everything that my image in L.A is about.” She admitted with fear her voice trembling slightly. “ But when I’m here I’m not Brooke Forrester CEO of Forrester Creations. Brooke Forrester the man-eater and homewreaker who destroys lives.”
Bridget felt sorry for her mom. It was clear that the things said about her did indeed effect her.
“ I never knew that…”
“That I knew what people say about me?” Brooke stated finishing her daughter’s statements. “Of course I know Bridget. I’m not deaf.”
“ It isn’t true. A lot of people respect and admire you.”
“ But there are people despise me.”
“ No, they don’t.” They just don’t know you. If they did they’d understand that you don’t mean to hurt people it’s just that you only loved one man.” She moved toward her mother seeing the pain in her eyes. “Everything you’ve done has always been about him.” She closed her hand around her mother’s hand.“ Even naming me was about him.”
“ I honestly thought that he was your father.”
“ I know. I know that you’ve never meant to hurt anybody. Dad and Thorne you tried but your heart was always with Ridge. That’s why I’m concerned about this Ian. Do you really want to become involved with him? You could end up hurting him. Sooner or later you have to come home to your world then what? Is he going to follow? How is he going to measure up to what you had with Ridge?” When Brooke didn’t answer Bridget finished for her mother. “ He can’t. Nobody can. I just don’t want you to set yourself up for another failed relationship. If men like dad, Thorne, Connor and James couldn’t make you forget Ridge, what makes you think that this man can make a difference?”
“Because he sees in me what I want to be.” Brooke answered honestly. “ He sees who I used to be. Brooke Logan , the girl from the valley. The girl before Ridge. When I’m with him, life is brand new. I’m a better person. I have to be because all that matters to Ian. Not my money, fame or even beauty. For the first time in my life, I don’t live up to any one’s expectations. I don’t to fight someone’s idea about who they think I am. I don’t have to go to war with some man’s wife or mother to be cherished.” She held on tightly to Bridget’s hand squeezing it hard. “ You don’t understand what that feels like to get a second chance. To be myself.” Tears filled Brooke’s eyes. “ Even you, who love me judges me. I’ve seen the look of disappointment in your eyes many times and it just tears me up inside that I’ve let you down.”
Bridget denied the cold hard truth.“ That isn’t true.”
“ Stop lying to me Bridget!” Brooke demanded. “ I’ve seen the embarrassment in your eyes. Not just you but your brother’s.
“ We love you. “We wouldn’t want any other mother but you.”
‘ But it would have been nice if I were a normal mother, wouldn’t it?”
“ Sometimes.” Bridget answered. “ But then again if you were a normal mother you wouldn’t have Forrester. You wouldn’t be respected the way that you are. You’ve done some great things. People admire you. Women want to be you and men….well.’ Bridget colored and played with her wedding band. “ Just about every man I know wants you.”
Brooke bit her lip. “ Being a man’s sexual fantasy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“ Letting the world see you in your underwear can’t have helped.”
No.” She said laughing it hasn’t.” Brooke put her arm around her daughter. “ Good thing I gave it up.”
“ Yeah. Those Scandalous ads were pretty risky. I hid them from Deacon.”
“Good.” Brooke smiled wiping the tears from her eyes.
Bridget was silent.“You really want to stay?”
“ If Ian will have me. I’m hoping that he hasn’t cut out. He isn’t the social type.”
“ If he did, he’s not worth you.”
“ You are wrong honey. He’s worth a lot and I’m learning so am I. I deserve much more than a man’s lust or another woman’s husband. Ian’s taught me that.”
Bridget rested her head on her mother’s shoulder. “ I guess I can’t tie you up and force you to come home.”
“ No, you can’t.”
“ The company needs you.”
“ The company is in good hands with Ridge.” Brooke turned to her daughter. “Thank you for coming all this way and checking on me. I’m glad you came but I’m not ready to go home right now. I really want to stay for a while. Go home and let your brother know that I’m fine.”
“ Are you sure?”
“Yes honey I am.”

Ridge was on a creative high. He had patched things up with Taylor and he once again was focused on the things that mattered, his family. It was what his life was worth living for. Not a blonde bombshell with a hungry sexual appetite. Focusing back onto the design that he was working on he made creative daring changes to the chiffon and organza evening gown when Rick burst into his office. “Just what in the hell do you think that you are doing?”
Ridge gave his little brother annoyed look. “This is a business not your personal stomping ground. I’d appreciate it if you’d knock.”
Rick threw a file on Ridge’s office table. “ Did you think that I wouldn’t notice what you’ve done? I just got a call from our buyers complaining about the fact that they didn’t receive any of the newest Bedroom Line items.
“ That’s because I’ve cancelled them.” Ridge said an arrogant tone. He then turned back to his brother and went back to his design.
“ You cancelled them?”
“ You heard me Rick. I’ve cancelled the Bedroom Line along with those adds. They will never again will see the light of day.”
“ You can’t make that decision. The Bedroom Line is one of our biggest money makers. It brings in millions of dollars worth of revenue.”
Rick glanced up. “ I see those business classes that you are taking are paying off.”
“ I don’t have time for your arrogant comments nor your down puts right now. I want to know what the hell you think you are doing?”
“ I’m saving this company’s image. That’s what I’m doing. I’m turning the company’s focus back on couture designs, not trashy lingerie.”
“ Trashy lingerie? Just who is speaking? Your or your mother? How about your stuck up wife.”
Ridge jumped out of his seat. “ Watch what you are saying about my wife.” He spat.
“ It’s the truth.” Rick said not in the least intimidated by Ridge. She’s stuck up. Always sticking her nose in other people’s business.”
“ She’s only looking out for the imagine of the company unlike your mother. Your mother is doing everything she can to ruin it and our good name. Well, not anymore. I’m in charge now and I’m changing the image of the company.”
“ The image of the company. The company is doing very well. We are seeing the best profits than ever. We have a reputation of the best in design, for couture, and women’s lingerie.”
‘ That isn’t the vision that my parents had for the company when they started it.”
“ Your parents?” Rick wasn’t really surprised by Ridge’s comments because lately his brother had been nothing more than an asshole. “ Well, your parents include MY father. And though it may have been their vision, the company’s under new leadership.”
“ That’s right. ME.” Ridge said waving his hand in the air. “ I’m the CEO and I want to change the vision of the company.”
“ Acting CEO until my mother comes back.”
“Really?” Ridge smirked looking down at Rick. “We’ll see about that.”
Rick’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that.”
“ You’ll find out but NOT before I want you to. Now if you don’t mind.” He pointed to the door. “ I’ve got real work to do around here. Now run along college boy.”
“ You are forgetting that I work here as well. This is my legacy as well. I’m not going to let you get rid of our biggest money maker.”
“ You don’t have a choice. I say it’s gone. It’s gone.”
With that, Ridge went back to his design.

You walked away?” Grace was disappointed. ‘Why in the world would you do something as stupid as that.”
“ Her daughter doesn’t approve.”
“How old is she?”
He shrugged. “ Around 19 or 20. She and her husband have come to rescue Brooke.”
“ Rescue. She certainly doesn’t need rescuing.”
“ It doesn’t change the fact that she’s upset or very uncomfortable with her being with me.”
Grace would have laughed had the situation been funny. “ So what if her daughter doesn’t approve? It doesn’t have anything to do with your relationship. Her daughter’s grown with her own man.”
“She doesn’t see it that way.”
“ How did Brooke react?”
Ian shifted under the heat of her gaze and looked away. “ She didn’t say anything. Well, she sort of tried to explain the situation of her daughter. Oh, hell. I don’t know. I left.”
Shaking her head, Grace wondered how stupid he could be to walk out on her. “ Why would you do such a dumb ass thing.” Turing to look at Grace, he was surprised by her cursing. He’d never heard her do such a thing in all of years. “ Don’t be surprised. When I get riled up I curse. I’m good and riled up at you.”
“ For what?”
“For being a bone head. I’ve just don’t understand you. For years you’ve been alone. Keeping to yourself other than your secret nightly jaunts with the town slut.”
“ Grace.”
“I know all about them visit. Not that I blame you. You are a man. However this one is different. I saw the look in your eyes. I saw the look in Brooke’s eyes. There is something special about you two together. Yes, there is chemistry but there is something more. Something almost magical about the way she makes you smile. Why would you give that up?”
“ It has to end sometime. She doesn’t live here. She lives in L.A and has some fancy lifestyle.”
That didn’t phase Grace. “ So what?”
“So.” He as he pushed the beer away. “ So her lifestyle doesn’t match up with mine. I live here where life is simple. Her live isn’t so simple.”
“ That doesn’t matter if you want it to work. So what if she’s from the city and you aren’t. She fits in here with you.”
“ I can’t fit in her world.”
“ How would you know it? You haven’t given it a chance. I’ve seen the way that Brooke’s looks at you. That woman has feelings, strong ones. You feel the same though you may not say it. Only a fool would walk away from a woman that have brought him the type of joy that she’s brought you.” Grace slid off the stool. “I never thought that you were a fool.”

Sasha peeked at the jewelry inside the glass case. “ Is there anything else that you’d like to see?”
“ How about the black pearl and diamond bracelet?”
“ Excellent choice.”
The jeweler took out the bracelet and showed it to her. “ It’s a beautiful piece with platinum latches. The diamonds which are each ½ of a caret are the best quality with a clear color. The black pearls are magnificent. They’ve been polished beautifully. She slipped it on Sasha’s arm. “ It looks stunning on you.”
Sasha looked at the bracelet. “ I’ll take it.” She said. As the woman put it in a black box. The jewelry wasn’t for her, it was for her mother who was coming to town for her birthday and she wanted to give her something special. Hopefully her mother would like it. Her mom didn’t like to leave the little town. Having her come to Florida was a treat. Maybe it would help Sasha to get out of the funk that she had been ever since she had seen Ian. Closing her eyes briefly, she remember how wonderful it was to see him again before he shown disdain for her. If only she could go back in time and make it up to him she would have. Her life as it was, wasn’t happy. She was married to a arrogant, obsessive man who never let a moment go by without letting her know that he had given her everything and he could then take it away. Her cell phone started to ring.
“ Hello.”
“ Where are you?”
“ I’m at the Bradshaw’s.”
“ Spending my money?”
“ I’m buying my mother a birthday gift.” She nodded to the jeweler who was picking out wrapping paper. “ She at least deserves that. Now hurry up and tell me what you want I have a meeting in an hour.”
“ Cancel it.”
“ I can’t.”
“ I don’t think that you understand me. I said cancel it. I want you to bring your ass home, now.”
Hanging up the phone she sighed. “ He thinks that I’m going to be at his beck and call.” But she knew what would happen if she didn’t come home and she wasn’t up to the fight.
“ Here you go.”
“ Thank you.”
The jeweler tied the bow artfully around the box.“ How did you like the diamond earring.”
Sasha looked up pushing a long strand of hair silky brown hair behind her ear. “Excuse me?”
The jeweler looked at her. Wearing a designer white and pink pinstriped jacket , her satin corset top and white pants.
“ The diamond earrings that I sold to your husband a few days ago.” Embarrassed, for the fax pas she made, she stopped mid sentence. The last thing she wanted to do was to get involved with someone’s martial situation.
Sasha pulled on her sunglasses and picked up her calf skin Gucci bag. “ I see that my husband has been buying jewelry for one of his mistress jewelry again.” She shrugged plastering on a smile to hide the pain that she felt at another one of his betrayals. She ought to be used to it by now. “ Don’t worry. I’m used to it. In fact, why don’t you throw in another pair of earring just like husband bought for his mistress and a ring as well. Why should she be the one to get all of the jewelry?” She said bitterly.

Amber was reading the latest juicy gossip in Us magazine “Jessica Simpson. She isn’t that pretty.” She complained to herself as she walked past Brooke’s bedroom. Pausing, she realized that she was alone. Nobody was here. She was still pissed off the way that Rick had treated her the night before. “This is my home. I can go where ever I want.” Opening the door, she once jaunted into Brooke’s bedroom. Looking around she made herself conformable going through Brooke’s jewelry box and photo albums. Boring, if you asked her. She was almost daring her husband to come home. If only. He and his queen bitch of a mother acted that Rick was too good for her when Brooke’s upbringing was no better than hers. In fact, she smiled. “ Brooke just might have a few skeletons in HER closet.” What better way to get back at her mother-in-law and help Stephanie if she found something. Basing in the joy of her new idea, Amber started looking around. Rick had mentioned his mother’s safe. Going to the old painting in her room, she moved it aside to find the hidden wall safe that she had remembered from years ago. Punching a series of numbers, she tried using Brooke, Bridget, Rick’s birthdays and got nothing. Then, she got an idea when she looked at one of the photo albums on the bed and punched in the numbers and wala the safe open. “ Brooke you are so predictable.” Amber remember Rick talking about the happiest day of Brooke’s life, she had married Ridge. It had been Brooke’s Camelot and the photo album with vivid pictures of that beach wedding had the date engraved. 10-4-94, the day of that wedding. Opening the safe Amber was more than surprised by the collection of diamond necklaces, rings and bracelets. Not to mention the other jewels. However she found no papers of any interest. There were stock certificates and a key to the file cabinet. Smiling, she went to the file cabinet opened it and look at the different files. Flipping through them, she took out the colored filed labeled personal. Sitting on the floor she began to read. Finding Brooke’s will, she thumbed through it. “Wow.” She whistled. “ I knew that you were rich Brooke, but not that rich. Brooke had amassed a great deal of wealth over the years. She didn’t just own Forrester stock, her finical advisor had helped her to buy stock in other companies one a dot com company that was doing well. Brooke has set aside stock and trusts for her children. Amber however was surprised at the trust that Brooke had set aside for Little Eric. However her smile became a frown when it stipulated that Rick was the executor or Little Eric’s estate and in the event of Rick’s death Bridget would be so. If Bridget wasn’t available then the lawyer would see to Little Eric’s money but never Amber. Brooke had made that clear. “Bitch.” She mumbled as she threw the will aside. She picked up other files about properties that Brooke owned. She halfheartedly read her documentation on Forrester which it was a rundown on stock and who could vote Brooke’s proxy. Amber read the section carefully however it showed that if something happened to Brooke that Thorne would vote her proxity, if he weren’t aviable then her son Rick would do so. “Shit.” Thorne was pissed at Brooke but not that pissed. “ This is all useless. She then picked up an envelope marked divorce papers.” The last thing she wanted to read about was all of Brooke’s divorces or annulments because that could take days. Still, curiosity of how much she had gotten got to her. Amber read the settlement and was surprised that Brooke had asked for so little in her divorce. It was enough for her to be confortable but nothing compared to what Amber would have asked if it had been her. “Of course she had his company.” But still, she had heard they had divorced before she took over.

“Thorne we’ve got to talk….” Rick stopped when he found Thorne and Sandy kissing in Thorne’s new office. Rick’s mother had okayed the move in Paris however it had taken a month for the interior designer to finish it. Not only that, Thorne had a new position, as Vice President. Rick’s mother had sent word from Paris that she fully agreed with Eric’s decision to promote Thorne for his hard work. Brooke had even sent a card and a basket to let Thorne telling him that she thought it was long overdue Currently, Ridge was still acting CEO while Eric was president.
“ Sorry I didn’t mean…”
Sandy turned to Rick and blushed before she let go of Thorne. “ Don’t worry Rick. It was a kiss goodbye. I have to go.” Kissing Thorne quickly once again she picked up her purse and headed to the door. “ I’ll see you later tonight.” Pointing at him. “Don’t be late.”
“ I won’t be.” Thorne answered grabbing her around her waste to get one last kiss before she left the office. He then turned to Rick. “ So.” He said with a grin as he moved to the auburn leather chair behind his new desk. “ What brings you here all excited.”
“ I hate to put this on you with everything going on but you’ve got to stop him.”
Confusion shown on Thorne’s face.“ Who?”
“ Ridge.”
Oh, now he knew.“ What’s he done now? Please don’t tell me that he is snapping at the models again. Last week I had to smooth things over with three different employees that he snapped at. If he doesn’t stop, he’ll run some of our best employees away. Ridge has no people skills.”
“ He’s done more than that. Thorne as our new Vice President, board member and a stock holder, you’ve got to stop him before he ruins the company.” Hearing the urgency in Rick’s voice, Thorne was on immediate alert. “What’s he doing?”
“ He’s getting rid of the Brooke’s Bedroom Line.”

Going through the files, Amber lined up Brooke’s annulments and court documents. She had been surprised to find that Brooke had been jailed once for kidnapping Rick and Bridget. How you could kidnap your own child, but the papers had been there. In fact, every thing court related had been in envelopes all but one document. It had been a copy of a proceeding but no final papers and she wondered why. Thinking for a moment, she wondered if it had any importance. “Stephanie would know.” Putting all the envelopes in the file, she took the file and locked the cabinet.

“ He can’t do this, can he?”
Thorne was surprised by the retelling Rick’s heated argument with Ridge. “I can’t believe that he’s just cancel the line without telling me. Ridge thinks he’s God and doesn’t have to answer to anybody. If I didn’t know as Vice President, then I’m sure dad doesn’t know.” Thorne picked up the phone. “Megan, give me a list of all the buyers for the Bed Room Lines and their phone numbers.” He turned to Rick. “I’ll talk to the heads shipping and have them ship the line to our buyers. Ridge had no right to cancel with line without going through the proper channels. As far as I’m concerned, what he wants doesn’t matter. Ridge is acting as CEO he isn’t one. He cannot make these types of changes without the approval of the board and stockholders. He knows that.”
Rick was relieved. “ Thank God. I’m not trying to do anything but look out for my mother. I know she’d never agree to the pulling of the line.”
“ With good reasons.” Thorne said looking at him. “The Bed Room Line is giving us the additional revenue to expand into other areas. The company is growing under your mother’s leadership.” Thorne paused as Megan walked into the office.
“ Here you go.”
“ Thanks Megan.”
He then continued when she left. He didn’t want Megan knowing about what Ridge was doing because she’d tell Brooke. Right now, the last thing was a war between Brooke and Ridge because who knows what would come out. The last thing he wanted anyone to know about was the affair that occurred in Paris. “ Rick thanks for letting know about this.”
“ I’m just looking out for the company and for my mom.”
He nodded.“ She’s lucky to have you.”
Rick was surprised by Thorne’s nice comment after all, just a few months ago his mother’s name was mud with him. “ Does this mean that you aren’t angry with her anymore.”
Thorne sighed as he sat down. “ I don’t think that too many people could stay mad with your mother too long. I guess that even I miss her around here. She has a certain spirit which makes Forrester as good as she is.”
“ How about personally?” Rick treaded on thin ice.
“ That’s a good question.” Thorne was silent for a moment reflecting on his relationship with Brooke. “ It’s complicated. A few months ago, I never thought that I’d get over her. Your mother broke my heart.”
“ If it helps. I really don’t think that she meant to.”
“ I know. I’ve had time to think about everything that transpired between us. If I hadn’t overheard her talking to Deacon and I would never have heard her true feelings for Ridge. For a long time, I wished that I hadn’t heard her because then things would have been wonderful but for how long? Sooner or later the truth would come out, in a look or a glance or…” Thorne stopped.
“ An affair?” Rick supplied.
“ Maybe. I would like to think that she wouldn’t do that to me but Ridge has certain powers over her.”
“ More like poison.” Rick added with disgust. “ I just don’t understand what he has over her? He’s annulled their marriages, dumped her for Taylor but still she loves him. He’s tried to cheat her, lied to her and instead of staying with a man who loves her like…”
“ Like I did.” Thorne interrupted.
“ Yes.” Rick ran his fingers through his hair. “ I just don’t get it. You were a great husband to her and after everything that you went through I thought she’d finally be happy.”
“ Honestly, I did too. I still do.” He answered. “ I care a lot about your mother. She’s an extraordinary woman and she deserves to be happy. But I have to wonder if she’ll ever find it. I’m not the first relationship that your mother has ruined.”
“ For Ridge.”
“ My brother does have a hold on her. I just wish that he didn’t. It would be best for everyone if they could just leave the past in the past.”
“ You mean she.”
“ What?”
“ You said they. I think you meant my mother. Ridge seems to have left my mother in the past. That’s the problem.”
The last thing Thorne wanted to do was comment on that. If Ridge had truly left Brooke alone then the affair wouldn’t have happened in Paris. Thorne really resented how both Brooke and Ridge could hurt the ones who loved them so easily. If Brooke hadn’t had dumped Ridge then the entire family would have been torn to shreds. Thank god, she hadn’t allowed that to happen. But still, Thorne wondered what had transpired to make Brooke give up on Ridge when she never had before. His brother believed the affair with nothing more than a ruse however Thorne didn’t believe that. No matter what, Brooke loved his brother, nothing would ever change that.

Stephanie shook her head in disgust. “What’s wrong?” Eric asked as he straightened his tie and got ready for work.
“ What else. Brooke.”
Eric paused. “Stephanie. I don’t have time for this today.”
“ Well you had better because that bitch threw herself at our son again.”
“She isn’t in town.”
“ I’m talking about Paris.” Stephanie’s face flushed with anger. “I knew it.” Hr fist balled with anger. “I just knew that she was going to do this the moment she decided to go to Paris. She tried to seduce our son.”
Crossing his arms in front of him, Eric sighed deeply. He was getting tired of this ongoing war with Brooke. “ Stephanie that’s in the past.”
“ How can you say that after the fool that she made out of Thorne?” She shook her head, her new stylish short hair cut hardly moved. “ Not to mention you.” She spat pointing at him. “ You begged me to give her a chance and the moment I did. I let the past go for you and for your children. But I was right. The moment I let my guard down she went punching after Ridge once again. I told you.”
He reached out and clasped her shoulders gently. “ Yes, you were right about Brooke hurting Thorne.” He begrudgingly admitted. But it’s over. Thorne is moving on and shows signs of being happy once again.”
“ Thank God. But what about Ridge? I’ve still got to protect my son from that woman.”
“ Ridge is a grown man. He knows better. Stephanie he’s old enough to fight his own battles. My God, he’s in his late forties. He doesn’t need his mother protecting him.”
“ Oh yes he does. Brooke made a play at him in Paris. She kissed him and he kissed her back. God knows what else would have happened if he hadn’t come to his senses.”
“ How do you know this?”
“ Taylor told me. She was upset for good reason. I just thank god that she’s forgiven Ridge.”
Eric was silent. He had feared that something would happen between Brooke and Ridge. “ Is that all that happened?”
“ Of course.” Stephanie’s eyes narrowed. “What do you think happened?”
The last thing that Eric wanted was Stephanie stirring up trouble. “Nothing. Honey stop worrying. Brooke and Ridge have always had a connection.”
“ Sex is NOT a connection. What Ridge and Taylor has is a connection. They have family, loyalty and most of all a strong commitment to each other . Brooke will do anything to destroy that. I won’t let her. That kiss proves what she’s capable of. She won’t give up until she gets her claws into my son. I won’t let her. God as my witness, I’ll find a way to get rid of Brooke.”
Eric gave up. There was no reasoning with his wife when she was in this kind of mood. He loved Stephanie. He admired the way she protected her family but this war with Brooke had become an obsession. But what disturbed him more was the nagging feeling that something over than a kiss had occurred between Brooke and Ridge because of Ridge’s unexplained anger at Brooke. Honest to God he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

Deacon opened the door to his hotel room to find his wife sitting silently looking outside at the falling snow. “Bridget. I’ve been looking for you.”
“ I was with my mom.
” He moved over toward her. “ How did things go?”
Curling her knees up, she turned to look at him. “ I’m not sure. The whole thing was strange.”
“How so?”
“ Mom was different. There was a peace in her that I’ve never seen before. The way she talked about her life and her choices. I’ve heard her say the things she said. We actually connected on a level that we never connected before.”
“That’s great.” He whispered against her ear before he kissed her.
“No.” She frowned, “It isn’t. “ You should hear the she talks about this stranger.”
“ I hate to break it to you honey. If they are in the room next to ours, he knows her pretty well.”
“ Ugh.” She pulled away from Deacon. “ I don’t want to think about it.” She said closing her eyes.
“ You can’t ignore it. Your mom’s pretty hot.”
“ Deacon…”
“ Well, she is.”
“ It’s not about that though I don’t want to think about it. It’s about the changes in my mom. She talks about him in way that she’s never talked about any man. I think that my mom is falling in love with him.”
This surprised Deacon. Even this was fast for Brooke. “ She said that?”
“ No, she didn’t. But she’s falling for him.”
“ Well, that’s good for her.”
“ No, it isn’t. My mom isn’t ready for any type of relationship, especially with a man like Ian.”
“ A man like Ian? What do you mean?”
“ My mom is used to a certain type of man. One who’ll wine and dine her. One who has poise and…”
“ Class. Right?” Deacon sneered. “So because this guy lacks class he isn’t good enough for your mother? I can’t believe you out of all people would be a snob.”
“ Snob. I’m not being a snob. It’s not about that. It’s about what he lacks. My mom hasn’t been able to make a relationship work with any man because none of them are Ridge. It’s typical rebound. But unlike all the others who we knew about we don’t know anything about this man. He could be working her over money. He could be a serial killer. Who knows. All I know that I don’t plan on leaving my mother with him especially now that I know that she’s so besotted with him.”

The cold snow whipped Brooke’s face stinging her skin while her eyes blurred. Ignoring the pain she pressed on. She had looked everywhere that she knew for Ian with no luck. She only hoped that he’d hadn’t left.

Ian opened the door to the hotel room and was immediately assaulted with Brooke’s scent. God, he thought even her scent could arouse him. Moving toward the bed, he picked up a silky negligee she had been wearing. He lifted it to his nose and inhaled the soft feminine scent mingled with the jasmine she had been wearing. Instantly he felt his pen*s harden under his jeans. Hard and throbbing his body wanted her more than anything just as his heart did. Sitting down on the bed, he brought the negligee to his nostrils again. How could he give her up? Grace called him a fool but it would be foolish for him to think that this could go on forever. If it wasn’t Brooke’s daughter then it would have been something else. Sooner than later it would be over. The later, the more it would cut and leave him bleeding and alone. The thought of rejecting her hurt but he had no choice. It would be best if it were over and done with. The jingling of the keys let him know that she was coming. He closed his eyes and did a silent prayer that he could look her in the eyes and walk away.

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