Kaching! As Dollar Bill Rains Cash On Katie, Zende Is Offered an Insulting Consolation Prize

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As the episode begins, Hope is at FC complaining to Steffy that, once again, HFTF has been given short shrift when we get the rare Zende sighting. In the CEO’s office, Eric can’t bear to read the rave reviews of his Logan designs. What a crankypants! Meanwhile, at Spencer, Liam marvels to Bill that the whole line is all but sold out. When Katie comes in, he showers her with praise and money. But she’s still sulking because Brooke, what with her being Brooke and all, refused to congratulate her with any sincerity whatsoever.

Nope, There’s No Hope For the Future

Following the opening credits, Zende tells Steffy HFTF has been ready to roll for months. No matter. Steffy says that the heart of the company is Eric. “Leaving was a mistake,” she adds as if her grandpa hadn’t been kicked to the curb. When Brooke comes in later, she finds Hope alone and — what else? — sings another chorus of “For Katie’s a jolly bad person!”

Hilariously, Hope asks her mother if she played nicely. As if. (Annika Noelle slays whenever Hope gets to be a little funny, doesn’t she? See above.) Brooke keeps repeating the same [bleep] over and over, prompting Hope to say what no one is allowed to say: Eric went to Katie, not the other day around. But as Brooke sees it, this is the worst thing to happen to Forrester Creations since Pam’s crocheted swimsuits. You’d swear someone died!

Steffy Hates the Logans, the Spencers… Everybody!

In the CEO’s office, Ridge continues to paint Katie as the vilest manipulator this side of Luna. Eric agrees. “It’s a complete betrayal by Katie!” Dude, it was your idea! Take all the seats! When Steffy and Zende come in, they reinforce Eric and Ridge’s insanely skewed POV. Steffy goes so far as to call what Katie did Corruption 101. She’s sick of the Logans and the Spencers and probably all of us, too!

Just Move On, Katie

At Spencer, Katie recaps to Bill and Liam that all Brooke could bring herself to do was belittle her. “Why bother coming here if you couldn’t say anything nice?” Katie wonders. Has she ever met her sister?!? Despite Brooke’s nastiness to Katie, she still wants her older sibling’s approval.

And the thing that really bothers Katie, she insists, is Brooke’s anger. But, since Brooke doesn’t have logic on her side, what else does she have but rage to fall back on? At least Hope is genuinely happy for Katie, Liam assures her.

Back at Forrester, Zende assumes when word gets out that Eric’s designs were used without his blessing, everyone will turn on Logan. Steffy assures Zende that her feelings about Hope didn’t impact her decision about HFTF… which makes it seem for a sec like she’d pressed pause on the line without Ridge signing off on it. But a moment later, it becomes clearer that he was down with putting the kibosh on HFTF, too.

Hope’s (Almost) Ready to Take This Job and Shove It

In the design office, Brooke finally shuts up long enough to let Hope disclose that HFTF is kaput again. She’s starting to understand how Katie felt when she exited stage left. Brooke insists that her sister was always super duper valued. Was she, though? Hope counters. She isn’t sure how much more of Forrester’s “infallible co-CEO” she can take.

Zende Accepts the Short End of the Stick… Again

In the episode’s final moments, Ridge says HFTF’s sidelining is a matter of pride… Forrester pride. Zende expresses his upset that once again he had prototypes ready that now will sit around collecting dust. So Ridge and Eric throw him a bone: Hey, you can help “the dream team,” they say. Gee, thanks. But Steffy is delighted that poor Zende accepts the crumbs he’s offered. That, in her eyes, is being a team player.

At Spencer, Bill attempts to cheer up Katie by suggesting a victory dinner with Liam and Hope. He also assures her that after the launch, every big designer will be champing at the bit  to work with Logan. In turn, she thanks Bill; she couldn’t do any of this without him. Which, given that he’s bankrolling the endeavor, is probably true.

Next on The Bold and the Beautiful: Dinner at Bill and Katie’s may turn Hope’s frown upside down. Get a sneak peek at what next month holds in store in our May sweeps preview and predictions.

Peruse the new edition of soaps’ burning questions in the photo gallery below for our hot takes on Ivy’s “leave of absence,” R.J.’s nepo-baby self-righteousness and the most poorly attended fashion show ever.