Taylor looked over Ridge and Brooke's invalid marriage license. "This changes everything," exulted Stephanie — now Taylor could go after Ridge because he's not married. "Did Stephanie do this?" Taylor wanted to know. Typing was never Pam's forte, Stephanie shrugged. "It was an accident. Though there are no real accidents in life," smiled Stephanie, who agreed Taylor couldn't run to Ridge with the license now, or he'd just re-file. Steph predicted Rick would go after Steffy again, and Brooke would stick up for Rick again. "There will be a terrible fight," grinned Stephanie. That's when Taylor could swoop in, and Ridge would walk away from Brooke for good. The license was his ticket to freedom, "his ticket to you," explained Stephanie. She'd fight for Ridge if Rick continued to a problem, said Taylor. "And I'd win."

In the middle of a makeout session with Ridge, Brooke thanked her "husband" for his understanding. "There's nothing we can't survive," Ridge assured Brooke. Steffy showed up and Brooke gave her a hug, assuring her she did the right thing breaking off her engagement to Rick. After Brooke left, Ridge and Marcus warned Steffy to stay away from Rick. "Is he that much of a head case?" wondered Steffy.

Brooke found Rick, who said he wanted to talk to Steffy. He couldn't believe he said the horrible things he did, and blamed Ridge for baiting him. "I don't understand why you won't hold him accountable," he whined to his mother. Brooke let him have it. His relationship is over, hissed Brooke — her marriage is on the line. "Ridge and I aren't bullet-proof," Brooke warned. "Stay away from Ridge's daughter." Instead, shortly afterward, Rick interrupted Steffy daydreaming about him to show up at her door.

Owen and Jackie had to interrupt a steamy embrace for a meeting. Owen handles a lot of things very well, Jackie breathlessly told Bridge, Nick and Clarke, which is why she was promoting him to chief of staff. They usually discuss these things, said a suspicious Nick. Owen's talents are very rare, explained a disheveled Jackie. Oblivious Bridget congratulated Owen and suggested they celebrate over dinner. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Owen asked. Bridget answered him with a kiss ... which Jackie spied from her compact mirror. Alone with Jackie, Owen thanked her for the promotion, and the 30% raise. "You're going to earn every penny," said Jackie, adding that she saw him kissing Bridget. She gave a confused Owen her blessing for his dinner date. Bridget just wanted to make Nick jealous, Jackie suggested. Then she locked the door and pounced on Owen. "Your dating Bridget doesn't mean the end of us," she purred.