An Emboldened Eric Puts Brooke on Notice — and Ridge and Thomas Discuss the Future of Forrester Creations

In the main office at Forrester, Brooke and Ridge talk about the fact that they haven’t seen RJ lately and she wonders if they should be worried. Ridge guesses there’s a lady involved.

At the Forrester mansion, Eric guides RJ as he sketches a design. The younger Forrester marvels at the transformation of the gown thanks to his grandfather’s small change. Eric says it’s simple and elegant. He declares it a work in progress as Donna appears. She loves seeing Eric so happy and vibrant, “Completely in your element.” They kiss and canoodle. Eric says he attributes a lot of it to his incredible grandson.

Thomas joins Carter in the Forrester design office and gives him coffee to get him back for the one he got him last week. They discuss the success on Hope For the Future. Thomas says he’s kind of proud of himself. Carter says he should be, and that his dad is proud of him too. Thomas grins. Carter continues on about Thomas being a chip off the old block and taking on the family legacy. He makes fun of Ridge being puffed up about his son. Thomas chuckles and says it means a lot. He’s grateful to have regained his father’s trust. Carter guesses it was twice as hard when RJ came back, “Him being Brooke’s son and all.”

Thomas tells Carter that he and RJ are cool and have a good relationship. Carter’s glad to hear it since family dynamics can be difficult. He can’t imagine how it would have been for Ridge with his sons at war. Thomas muses that they’re all Forresters and stick together.

In the main office, Ridge tells Brooke that he believes RJ could be the greatest designer in the family, but he’s not interested. Brooke decides that Eric could talk to RJ and Ridge agrees that he would be a great mentor. He asks Brooke to talk to Donna and encourage her to convince Eric to travel or something. As for the stress of the company, “I’ve got it covered.” He wants Brooke to tell them to go somewhere and take it easy. Brooke agrees, and decides she’ll head over to see her sister and convince her that Eric should just enjoy his life. They kiss and she leaves. Once alone, Ridge looks at a photo of his dad and thinks.

At the Forrester mansion, Donna muses that the living room looks like a design studio. She loves it and notes the creativity happening. Eric needs all of this to be discreet and asks who Donna got to run over the supplies. Donna tells him, “The new intern,” and assures him she knows how to handle this and to be discreet. Eric trusts her and stresses this is very important to him. Donna loves seeing him like this; he’s on fire. Eric tells her she’s his muse and they cozy up. RJ smiles. Donna leaves them to work. Eric declares to RJ that this is going to be the finest collection in his career!

In the design office, Carter asks Thomas is RJ has ever shown interest in the business. Thomas talked to him about it, but he doesn’t see his brother picking up the pencil the way the rest of them have. Carter wonders how things will go when Eric eventually steps down. Thomas isn’t sure, but notes that Steffy’s killing it as a CEO and he, Ridge, and Zende have the design end covered. It’s what Eric wanted.

At the Forrester mansion, Eric plays piano amid a sea of fabric and while RJ sketches. Donna loves it when Eric plays. Eric says it’s good for his hands and the melody helps him get ideas in his head. He asks Donna to make some martinis later so they can toast to the success of their line. Donna tells Eric that Prince Albert called and wants them at his event. Eric says he’ll understand they can’t make it because he’s working on a line. He then tells Donna that he doesn’t want her to see the designs yet; he wants it to be a surprise for her and for everyone, especially Ridge.

Thomas joins Ridge in the main office and asks to check out the design he’s working on. He gushes, “Wow, that’s beautiful. Any woman would be ecstatic to wear this.” He tells his father how grateful he is that he let him come back there to work. Ridge says he has passion and designer blood running through his veins. Thomas was talking to Carter, who feels that RJ doesn’t share that passion. Ridge is just proud of Thomas and gives him a quick hug. Thomas tells Ridge he’d like to collaborate with him more. Ridge would love that; it’s how he learned from his dad. He was just telling Brooke that he’d like Eric to relax more. “This company, I think we have it covered without him, don’t you?”

At the Forrester mansion, RJ marvels that Eric’s latest sketch that was inspired by his piano playing. Brooke walks in as Eric and RJ are discussing the design. She asks, “What is going on here?” She can see RJ is designing and finds that fantastic, “Ridge is going to be so excited!” She asks why they’re doing it there and not in the office. Eric says they wanted privacy. Brooke can’t understand this. Eric says, “I’m doing a solo line, Brooke.” Brooke protests, “But Ridge is head of couture; he’s running the company!” Eric booms, “And I am Eric Forrester. I’m designing a new line with my grandson. No one’s going to stop me — not even Ridge.”