It was the day of the Forrester´s showing. Everyone in the staff was running around like crazy to fix small details. Brooke was in her office giving orders to the securityguards. Ridge was behind the scenes of the catwalk, preparting the models who was getting styled. Eric was in his office, just giving orders about the seatings in the last minute. The guests were specially invited. Photographers, media, people from the fashionhouses and friends and family. And the Spectras... were invited. Eric had no idea why he had said OK for the Spectras to come, but he had. The first guests had just started to arrive and everyone was getting a little nervous. Emma had joined Sean to the showing. She was very excited. She loved fashion and had been surprised that she was related so closly to THE Forresters. And now she was going to see their showing live for the first time. Her family´s showing. Emma was still trying to think of them as familymembers, but it was difficult. She had only known them for a few days. She saw her aunt Felicia and took Sean´s hand and went over to her.
Emma: Felicia, hi. Where do I sit?, Emma asked to start a conversation.
Felicia: You can sit with me if you want. We have a familytable over there. But if you want, you can go backstage. I recomand the familytable though. Come.
Felicia showed Emma and Sean to a table close to the catwalk and the three of them sat down.
Emma: Are you sure we can sit here? What about the others?
Felicia: Don´t worry. My... Our family usually go backstage. Dad and Ridge never goes out here during a showing. Where´s your parents?
Emma: Mom is late. She had a hairissue to take care of. But they´ll make it. Can they sit here too?
Felicia: Sure. Emma, there is something I want to say to you... You know that I wasn´t to happy about you and your family at first. Me and Kristen... But that´s changed. I know now that you are who you claimed. And I have accepted you. To tell you the truth, I kind of like the idea of new members to our family. And I don´t want you to feel like an outsider. You are a part of the Forrester family now. Even if your last name isn´t Forrester...
Emma: Thank you. That´s sweet of you. Emma got up from her chair and hugged Felicia.
Sean: The same goes for me, right? Felicia?
Felicia: Of course... The Richards family is included from now on. Felicia smiled. By the way, heard from Olivia?
Sean: She called dad a few days ago. I don´t think she´ll come back anytime soon. I don´t know...
Felicia: I´m sorry. I know you miss her. And Trey, like Gregory. I can see that he is hurting.
Sean: But as usually, he never talk about it and act like everything is OK.
Felicia: We´ll have to do something about that.
Gregory arrived to Forrester with Elaine as his date. Elaine was happy that Gregory finally had asked her to join him. She had waited to be presented to the Forresters. And to Sean, as Gregory´s new woman. She would enjoy every second of it and had dressed up very beautiful for him. Gregory and Elaine was escorted to a table on the other side of the Forresters. Emma saw Gregory with some woman and pointed them out to Sean and Felicia.
Felicia: Oh... We should invite them over here.
Sean: No, don´t. I have no desires in spending the evening with Elaine as dad´s date.
Felicia: And she won´t be if they sit with us. I´ll go get them.
Sean didn´t get another chance to object since Felicia was already on her way over to their table. After a minute she came back with Gregory and Elaine. Gregory helped Elaine to a chair and when he tried to sit down on the chair next to her, Felicia stepped in and took the chair, forcing Gregory to take another chair away from Elaine. He didn´t seem to bother about it, but Elaine was pissed with Felicia. But never let it show to anyone other than Felicia who just smiled in return. Sean gave Felicia a ‘thank you’ look. But Felicia´s smile faded as she saw Kristen and Casey coming towards them. She felt sick of the way Kristen was throwing herself on Casey. In Felicia´s mind, she pictured Casey bothered by Kristen´s come-on´s. Kristen and Casey greeted the others and sat down by the big table.
Casey: Long time no see, Gregory, Sean...
Sean: Who said the world was a small place, was right. I seem to meet up with everyone here in L.A...
Casey: We all have the wonderful Forresters in common, huh? Casey said and leaned to Kristen and they kissed. Felicia wanted to get up and leave, but at the same time not causing some dramatic scene, so she stayed.
Angela and Devin arrived as well. Angela had gained the upper hand on her hair and she was looking stunning. Angela weren´t a dresser upper, but felt like she had to this day. They sat down by the table which was as good as filled now.
Sally, Clarke and Darla arrived a little later. C.J. had chosen not to go. He was spending the day with Ricky. The Spectras found their table behind the photographers and far away from the Forrester table. Sally noticed an extra securityguard by the door to backstage. She chuckled as she realized the man had been placed there to keep them from backstage. It was not nessesary. Sally didn´t have to do anything to ruin their showing. She knew she would win fair and square this time.
Back at the Forrestertable, Sean looked around for more familymembers as the showing was about to begin.
Sean: Where´s Bridget? And Thorne?
Felicia: Bridget isn´t coming. She said she felt ill or something. Thorne? I don´t know. Maybe he´s backstage. Felicia spotted Stephanie coming towards them.
Stephanie: Hi everybody, she greeted.
Felicia: Have you seen Thorne?
Stephanie: No, I haven´t. Why?
Felicia: Do you know where he could be?
Stephanie: No. Listen, I have to go backstage now. Enjoy the showing. Stephanie left.
Kristen: I guess he´s not coming...
Backstage, the models were as good as ready to begin. Eric had given his usual speak about the meaning of Forrester creations and told them to dazzle the audience. Ridge and Brooke looked out at the crowd and gave orders to start the showing. Stephanie began as usual the showing be saying in the speakers: ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, the Forrester Fall collection’. The music came on and 3 models made their way out on the catwalk as the photographers cameras lit up the stage together with the lightning. As the song ‘Unbelievable’ by EMF played, 3 beautiful models in the Forresters latest collection walked front and back on the stage and audience looked on and admired the style and trend they saw before them, the next 3 models got ready for the next session of clothes. The three major colors in this showing was black, white and red. They had on everything from coctaildresses to blazers, till long skirts and tight tops. All made as elegant as Forrester stood for. The crowd cheered after every model. Sally and Clarke didn´t look too happy. But they had to admit that the collection was good. Maybe not as good as they usually were, but good enought for a good and even competition between the fashionhouses. Ridge hurried the next 3 models to take their places as Brooke and Eric watched the showing on the monitor surrounded with models running around. Stephanie made her way to the familytable. She unpatiently looked at her watch. She was meeting Sheila in one hour and wished the show was over soon. She had no desires to attend the pressconferance after and planned to sneak out when no one was watching. The others by the Forrester table was into the showing except for maybe Gregory who watched on a little bored. He and Stephanie cougth each others faceexpressions for a second, both understanding the others want to leave already. Normally Gregory would be patient and not complain but he got the image of Olivia in his head as he continued to sit there. Olivia had always watched the Forresters showings on some fashion channel when she couldn´t attend herself. And sometimes, Gregory had too watched. As Olivia had seen the showings live before, this was Gregory´s second time live. If he wasn´t a friend of the Forresters, he would never had gone there since female fashion didn´t exactly intrest him. Sean and Emma was totally into the showing while Casey and Kristen was into each other. Felicia looked over at Gregory and realized that both of them wanted to leave. Felicia couldn´t stand the sight of Casey and Kristen practically making out before her. Althought they weren´t even kissing, just cuddling, Felicia felt sick. And she felt terrible. She loved Kristen and wanted only the best for her, but did it have to be Casey?
Backstage, Brooke was now less concentrated on the showing. She kept seing the image of Antonio and Bridget in her head and couldn´t let it go. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. A drunken former priest took advantage of her teenage daughter. Brooke wanted nothing more than to wring Antonio´s neck. She decided to put those thoughts aside for the showing and looked out on the audience from a curtain. She didn´t see Thorne at the Forrester table and was relieved. As she looked to another direction, she spotted Francesca by another table. She was there by herself. Francesca looked happy, genuinly happy for the first time since Brooke first met Francesca at the beach a few months ago. Brooke was happy for her new friend and wished her all the best. Francesca had helped her in her grief over Rick and now it seemed like she helped Bridget with her problems. She thanked God for Francesca, not knowing when she had met a more wonderful person than her. Brooke had no idea of some of the things Francesca had done in the past. To Brooke, Francesca Vargas were an angel.
Olivia was unsure if she should turn on the TV to see the Forrester´s fashionshow. It brought her so many memories. All happy one´s. She decided to turn it on and reminisced about happier times. Like the time when she was pregnant with Caitlin and forced to bedrest by her doctor. Olivia had forced Gregory to stay home with her that day and watch the big event with her since she couldn´t attend it herself. She remembered how she cuddled up to his warm chest and just enjoyed the day with him. A tear of happier times ran down Olivia´s cheak. She missed him so much. Almost so much that she was willing to forget all about the kiss he and Elaine shared and rushed to him. Then she spotted him on the screen by the table closesed to the catwalk. Her heart filled with warmness at first and was emptied just as fast when she saw Elaine there too. She didn´t want to believe it. But it was right there, staring back at her. Gregory had invited Elaine to the showing. A showing he had only once taken her to. Olivia quickly turned of the TV and threw away the remotecontrol as hard as she could to the wall. It broke, and Olivia felt a little better.
Olivia: You and Elaine?? OK... If you can start over just like that, then so can I!, Olivia screamed to the blank screen.
Nathan and Taylor was in bed after some lovemaking. Taylor was in Nathan´s arms, relaxing and enjoying his company.
Nathan: Are you sure you want to come tomorrow?
Taylor: I never pictured myself going to a Spectra showing and not to a Forrester... But yes, I´m sure. I will be there for you.
Nathan: You do understand what this could do if we ‘win’.
Taylor: Believe me, I do. I just have to look at Thorne and Macy. How they struggled for years to get the two families to come together for their sake. But that never happened. There will always be a feud and competition between them.
Nathan: Well, thank God I´m not a Spectra and you are only a Forrester by marriage...
Taylor: And you think that will count? No no... I AM a Forrester and you ARE a Spectra. That´s how they see it. I just hope to God that nothing goes wrong with eighter of the showings. If it does, we may just as well call this world war 3..., Taylor looked seriously afraid of that possibility. Nathan didn´t know so much about the feud since he was a newcomber to it, but he could tell it was serious by Taylor´s worries.
Nathan: Well, I don´t think it will go that far. As far as I know, Sally and Clarke have no reason to try and sabotage the Forrester showing.
The last model was ready to enter the stage dressed in a beautiful white weddingdress with a long veil. As a soft and calm song came on, she walked out on the catwalk as the audience was dazzeled by the sight. It had to have been the most beautiful weddingdress they had seen in years. Sally and Clarke had no choice but to be impressed by Ridge´s design. But at the same time knew this was bad for them. Bad for Spectra. Sally wasn´t sure anymore if they could beat the competition as she had always desired. Eric walked up behind the model in the showstopper and walked her down the catwalk as the rest of the models joined them on stage. The audience applauded and the flashes from the cameras blinded all of them. Eric walk down the stage and headed towards the familytable. Everyone was excited and thrilled about the responce they had recieved. Eric took Stephanie´s hand and said it was soon time for the pressconferance. He led Stephanie away from the table and Stephanie couldn´t get away now.
Stephanie: Eric, wait. I have to... umm... talk to someone. I´ll be right back, she tried to excuse herself so she could go to meet Sheila. But Eric wouldn´t let her.
Eric: You can do that later. I´m sure they understand. Come on now.
Eric dragged her away to the pressconferance and Stephanie was forced to go with him.
A.J. returned to the hotel only to find Olivia there in a sexy lingerie. A.J. was happily stunned by her surprise. Olivia smiled and went over to him. Gently caressing his face. A.J. enjoyed it and didn´t want to ruin it by asking what was behind this turn of hers. A.J. already knew why she did it, for comfort and substitution. Olivia kissed him passionately and her hand unbuttoned his shirt. A.J. kissed her back and led her to the bed. He layed Olivia down and climed ontop of her. Olivia hesitated for a while as A.J. kept kissing her. Olivia suddenly realized that she couldn´t do this. She couldn´t be with A.J. to get back at Gregory. She couldn´t do that to herself. Olivia told A.J. to stop it. A.J. didn´t. Olivia kicked him off of her and got up from bed, putting a robe on.
Olivia: I´m sorry. I can´t, she said and went into the bathroom to change her clothes. A.J. layed on the bed, sexually frusturated, annoyed.
Sheila was watching the Forrester showing on the fashion channel. She knew as she saw Stephanie on the pressconferance that she had been stood up. She wasn´t happy about it. Not at all. She had to keep on the ‘treatment’ on Stephanie. She couldn´t miss any sessions or she might get back control of her actions and emotions. Sheila understood that Eric was the problem. He kept an eye open on Stephanie and when he was at Forrester, he had a guard doing it. Sheila told Mike that she had to make a move - now. She had to get rid of Eric Forrester.
Megan and Giovanni sat down at one of the more private tables. She had been very surprised by his call and him asking her to meet him there. Just this morning he’d told her he had a photo shoot during lunch time. Now, she was looking at him. There was something in his eyes, a special sparkle that made her both happy and curious.
Megan: I was very surprised by your call? – an asking tone.
Giovanni: I decided that you are more important than any model.
Megan: Really? Then you’ll be happy to know I actually left the office before Jonathan Young himself would drop by.
Giovanni laughed and was happy to see that she was too. They ate their lunch, all the while Megan picked up a feeling from Giovanni that this was more than just a lunch. She didn’t know what it was, but she thought that as long as it wasn’t bad news she could handle it. When Giovanni took his last bite she cleared her throat as if to say “come on, already!”
Giovanni: Megan, I’ve been thinking…
Megan: Oh no, and I who just picked you because of your dashing looks…
Giovanni: I’m serious. Now, we’ve been together for a few months now. I think we can both agree on that it’s been some crazy couple of months.
Megan: I’m sorry.
Giovanni: Don’t be. I’m not. We’ve stood together for all of this, and that only proves what I’ve been thinking; that this is something very special.
Megan: I know.
Giovanni: Now, I know this might be a very big step but I absolutely think we’re ready for it.
Megan: What?
Giovanni: I think we should move in together.
When Megan didn’t answer Giovanni got nervous. What was wrong? Was she having second thoughts about their relationship?
Giovanni: Honey?
Megan: We can’t do it, Giovanni. It would be wrong.
Giovanni: “Wrong”? How can you say it would be wrong?
Megan: You know how confused everything is with my family. I’m a mess. I know you can “handle me” when we see each other. You’re always able to calm me down, but if we were to live together… we’d see each other 24 hours a day almost! At work and at home.
Giovanni: What are you saying? That we should just see each other at work? Then why are we here having lunch?
Megan: Look, I don’t know what I’m saying! Why can’t you just respect that I…?
Giovanni: You’re right, I’m sorry. Excuse me waiter, can we pay please?
Jason and Georgina were sitting down, talking.
Georgina: So, where’s your brother?
Jason: I’m not sure. He said he’d stop by.
Georgina: “Stop by”? I guess, he’s not so happy I’m here?
Jason: Jude’s just very busy right now, mom.
Georgina: Does he have a girl in his life?
Just then Macy was walking by their table. Still feeling hurt that Jude didn’t want her to be rightly introduced to his mother, she wondered if Jason might actually go against his brother’s word and tell Gina about her.
Jason: No, he hasn’t. However, I think that when he does find one she’ll be kinda like Macy.
Georgina: Your boss?
Jason: Yeah. Just look at her. She’s beautiful, nice, good with people, very strong in herself…
Georgina: A woman in my taste!
Jason laughed.
Georgina: And why are you laughing, young man?
Jason: “A woman in your taste”? Really mom, you’ve never been the one to like other women.
Georgina: Well, she seems nice that’s all. I’m glad you have a nice boss.
Jude walked through the door and looked over the restaurant. He could see Macy serving some teenage boys some coffee while showing them her 10 000 dollar smile. He thought to himself if he should feel jealous? He was going to go over to her when he spotted Jason and his mother. It was now or never.
Jude: Mother.
Georgina: Jude, you’re here!
She stood up and embraced her son. Talk about a scene stealer, all of the restaurant’s guests looked their way.
Brooke had decided that enough was enough, it was time to confront Antonio. Brooke: Open the door, Antonio!
Inside Antonio swallowed, realizing this was going to be very painful. And it was… when she punched him.
After getting up Antonio looked her in the eyes and mouthed an “I’m sorry”.
Brooke: I thought you were my friend, Antonio. My daughter’s friend! How could you do this?
Antonio: I honestly don’t know.
Brooke: What are you talking about? Of course you know! You don’t just seduce a 17-year old girl and then say you don’t know why you did it. And don’t go blaming it on being drunk…
Antonio: I won’t. I did it because I wanted to.
Brooke: Oh, I oughta kill you!
Antonio: Please, just hear me out. Even if it is the last time we see each other. I was hurt, I’d just broken things off with Paula. I never meant for it to happen. But when Bridget came to me at the bar, she was so kind and sweet.
Brooke: So, she was being punished for being nice to you, is that it?
Antonio: Of course not. It wasn’t anything romantic about it.
Brooke: You’re damn right there wasn’t! You stole her virginity, Antonio! My baby… Don’t you ever come near her again, you hear me! I’ll have your things delivered to you. So, just stay away!
Julian was in the middle of a chat he was just about to end. Talking to “Joyful” didn’t seem so exciting anymore. As he was about to press the “exit chat” button he got a new message. From “Miss Jealousy”. He got curious.
Irresistible: So… Miss, what made you write me?
Miss Jealousy: Well, how can you resist someone who’s irresistible?
Irresistible: I haven’t seen you around, is it your first time?
Miss Jealousy: Yeah. At the worst time of my life, I tried it.
Irresistible: Worst time? You want to talk about it?
Miss Jealousy: With a complete stranger?
Irresistible: Why not? It’s not like I’ll tell anyone.
Miss Jealousy: No, I don’t think so…
Irresistible: That’s OK.
Miss Jealousy: Do you get that a lot? To hear people’s problems, I mean.
Irresistible: No, not really. I’m used to discuss music and movies mostly. Kind of boring. But still, I come back for more.
Miss Jealousy: You’re looking for something?
Irresistible: Yeah, maybe I am.
Miss Jealousy: Maybe? Then how will you know if you’ve found it?
Irresistible: I guess you just know.
Miss Jealousy: Is it that easy?
Irresistible: I doubt it. It should be though.
Miss Jealousy: Life IS complicated.
Irresistible: Is it me or has this chat gotten a bit too serious?
Miss Jealousy: LOL!! I was thinking the same.
Irresisitible: Well, how about if we just try to talk about something more amusing like… I don’t know, the most exciting thing you’ve ever done!
Miss Jealousy: Isn’t that something you usually discuss with your other chat friends?
Iresisitible: Maybe :-) but this time I really wanna know. You’ve gotten me interested in learning things about you.
Miss Jealousy: Well, I went to this thing the other day that was just amazing.
Irresistible: Oh yeah?
And then there were no more messages. Julian sat there waiting for an hour for his “Miss Jealousy” to return, but she didn’t. He hoped that she’d be online soon again.
Bridget had felt guilty at once when she heard her mother coming home. She forgot all about the computer and instead went to her mother.
Casey and Felicia were talking about Forrester, only now she was telling him all about some of the things that had happened there. Some of the fun stuff, the crazy stuff, and some of the beautiful stuff. After going to the showing Casey had gotten more and more interested in the company.
Casey: Why did you work for Spectra instead of Forrester?
Felicia: It just happened… Even though the companies are very much at “war”, they’ve always been connected somehow. You know about Thorne and Macy being married. I’ve worked at Spectra. And then there’s Kristen and Clarke.
Casey: “Kristen and Clarke”?
Felicia: Yeah, Clarke Garrison.
Casey looked a little confused and Felicia realized Kristen hadn’t told him about her ex husband. Woops!
Felicia: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have.
Casey: Felicia… come on.
Felicia: Well, Clarke Garrison is a designer over at Spectra. He used to be married to Sally Spectra and they have a son, CJ.
Casey: Yeah, I might have heard something about that. Now, what about Clarke and Kristen?
Felicia: Well, they used to be married…
Kristen walked in, she had heard the last few sentences and was shocked that her sister would tell Casey something she’d much rather preferred to tell him herself.
Kristen: Felicia.
Felicia: Kristen, I…
Kristen: What are you doing?
Casey: Hey, don’t get angry at her. It just seems as though there are some things we don’t know about each other.
Kristen: You’re not angry?
Casey: A bit, yes.
Kristen: I know I should have told you, I don’t even know why I haven’t. You know how crazy things have been, honey.
Casey: Yeah. I guess we don’t know too much about each other. Yet.
Kristen smiled.
Kristen: That’s true, but it looks like things are cooling down a bit now so we’ll have all the time in the world to get to know each other. In every sense of the word.
Felicia shrugged, remembering their very loud noises last night. The doorbell rang and she couldn’t help but think “saved by the bell”.
Felicia: I’ll get it.
She hurried to the door and was more than a little surprised to see who it was.
Felicia: Zach!?
previous chapters
next chapters
mainpage
