Steffy Reads Ridge the Riot Act — and Liam Gives Katie and Bill Bad News

In Forrester’s office, Steffy is flabbergasted that Ridge wants to replace her with Brooke! How is he even doing this? How could he even consider ousting her for Brooke?!

Ridge grunts about what this would mean to Brooke. It’s not a reflection on Steffy, but on honoring his wife. She thinks that the two of them together would be a comforting image. When he mentions Stephanie and Eric, Steffy points out that granddad was CEO and her grandmother was the powerful force behind him. “Don’t you dare pretend that you’re re-creating the magic of what they were, OK?” If Brooke wants to be the matriarch, fine, but not as co-CEO.

Ridge tries telling Steffy that eventually it will all be hers, but it doesn’t change her mind. She admits Brooke is the embodiment of the company, but she has the relationships with buyers and influencers while he designs. She keeps Forrester on the cutting edge. Ridge flails, “I’m so proud of you.” Steffy scoffs given he’s actually considering Brooke’s request.

Ridge exclaims that he hates being in this position (that he put himself in). He gives Steffy all the credit for where they are… he can’t do this without her; she’s always one step ahead. Without her, they’d have been gobbled up by a conglomerate a long time ago. She muses, “Like Spencer?” She reminds him how she saved the company. That alone, should have stopped him from coming to her with this. If he wants to give Brooke a title, fine. “Give her any other title, but not mine.”

Overconfident?

Over at Brooke’s place, she tells Hope she knows she got through to Ridge. Her daughter wants Steffy will fight it. Brooke, deluded, is sure she’ll see the wisdom of having her at the helm. She’s convinced Ridge will come through for his Logan and make her co-CEO.

Hope and Brooke gush and enthuse about the prospect of her taking her rightful place next to Ridge running Forrester Creations. Brooke coos that Steffy has a place there too (how nice of her). She repeats that she knows she got through to Ridge… and her confidence makes us wonder if she really did “get through to Ridge.”

Brooke and Hope wonder if Steffy will see the wisdom of this move or if she’ll come unglued. They agree this will be a painful blindside, but Hope has no sympathy for her after the years of bullying. She can’t wait for the day that she has to accept the fact that Brooke is the real queen of Forrester. For real, though, who talks this way?!

Speechless

At Logan, Katie’s discouraged about the design portfolios she’s seeing. Bill starts going on about how great it would be if Hope joins them. Liam walks in and warns it may not happen… his wife may be staying at Forrester.

Bill and Katie deflate. She’ll never be respected at Forrester. Liam agrees, but things over there may be about to change. He explains that Hope has pushed Brooke to go for Steffy’s job as co-CEO. Katie and Bill are speechless.

The Final Scenes

At Logan, Bill scoffs that Steffy’s not going to step aside for Brooke. Katie marvels that if this happens, they’ll be going toe-to-toe. Liam agrees. He doesn’t see Hope leaving if her mother is co-CEO.

At Brooke’s place, Hope still salivating over the idea of Steffy being dethroned and complains about her line being treated as unimportant. She has other options. Brooke asks, “You mean me?” Hope says yes. Brooke assures her that Ridge will come through. Hope fears that Steffy won’t go down without a fight. Brooke’s sure that the transition will happen today.

At Forrester, Steffy concludes that Brooke put her father in an impossible situation. She has sympathy, but it doesn’t hurt any less. This is a bad idea, and when you factor in the history of him choosing Brooke over their family… She sighs. Steffy knows he loves her, but he must love Brooke more. He’s forcing this on her. “You need to stop listening to her, Dad. Choose your daughter over your wife. For once.”

Steffy can’t deny the scars he’s left. It doesn’t have to be this way. He can stand up to Brooke and put her first. Show her respect, not only as his daughter, but as his co-CEO. “Please do this. Don’t let me down again.”