Jackie, Nick and Stephanie negotiated as Clarke and Owen listened through the door. After some back and forth, Nick agreed to make Stephanie a partner at Jackie M. Nick heard scuffling at the door, opened it, and found Owen and Bridget, who were delighted they'd completed the deal. The gang celebrated with mini pigs in a blanket and whiskey. Stephanie noted they should start concentrating on young, hot designers. Bridget suggested Owen. Later, Stephanie and Clarke reminisced about Sally. Clarke noted that he knew Stephanie didn't really like him and that Nick and Jackie would do whatever she said. He wondered if she was going to fire him. Clarke even volunteered to date Stephanie to make Eric jealous. Stephanie declined the offer and laughed. Nick returned with a contract and asked Stephanie to sign it. Stephanie noted that a veteran needed to keep an eye on the company's hot new designers. "In other words, I can't fire Clarke," realized Nick. Clarke masked if that meant he'd be getting a promotion. "No!" Stephanie and Nick delivered in unison.

Owen stopped by to see Jackie and mentioned she'd been avoiding him since he kissed her. Jackie insisted they should just move on. Owen didn't want to. "I'd like to see you with your clothes off," he announced seductively. Jackie said people would snicker if they saw them out in public together. Owen didn't seem concerned. Jackie continued trying to resist him. "You could take me or leave me?" asked Owen. "I didn't say that," retorted Jackie, going on about how a lot of women her age could boast about having happy marriages and families, but she wasn't one of them. She suggested Owen could be a schemer, who was out for her money or eager to climb the corporate ladder. "Is that what you think?" asked Owen. "No," said Jackie, admitting Owen was "very attractive." Owen wouldn't be deterred and started taking off his shirt.

Katie and Donna stopped by to see Brooke post exercise class. They both sensed something was wrong. "It's about Rick, isn't it?" asked Donna. Brooke admitted the whole situation was complicated. Rick was in love with Steffy, and she was in love with her husband, which was causing lots of tension. Brooke lamented how Phoebe's death affected everything.

Ridge met Taylor at Il Giardino and surprised her with two visitors: Thomas and James. Taylor asked how Thomas was doing in therapy. Thomas said he was less enraged about watching Rick pick off the women in his family one by one. Ridge noted he was now in Thomas's position, since Taylor and Steffy couldn't see what a manipulator Rick was. Thomas urged Ridge not to let Rick win. Ridge promised he and Taylor would do everything to protect Steffy from Rick. After Thomas and James left, Ridge said he couldn't let this marriage happen and that Brooke had to be more active in stopping it. Then, Ridge had an epiphany: Steffy needed to hear how Rick talked to Ridge. Before Ridge and Taylor parted ways, Taylor admitted the happiest part of her life had been with Ridge. If things didn't work out for him and Brooke, Taylor assured Ridge he was not alone. She would be there for him.