In Eric’s office, Brooke asked Ridge if he would have supported scrapping the line at Steffy’s request. Ridge said he’d always do what was best for the company. Taylor told Brooke she should be happy about the line and that it wasn’t Brooke's place to question Steffy’s decisions as co-CEO.
“Not my place? I work here, Taylor,” Brooke snapped back. Brooke knew her name wasn’t on the building, but she’d worked hard at the business, as had her daughter. Brooke said the only one who shouldn’t be chiming in was Taylor. Taylor replied that Brooke needed to respect Steffy’s position. Brooke asserted that she did, and Steffy needed to start respecting Brooke and Hope, too.
Ridge stated that everyone wanted what was best for Steffy, Hope, and the business. He wanted to talk about business, but Taylor said Steffy had shown enormous restraint with Hope after Hope had kissed Finn. Brooke replied that they’d been over that; Hope had expressed her remorse, and it wouldn’t happen again. Taylor wanted to believe it but was unconvinced. Brooke said Hope knew she’d been wrong, and Taylor asked if that was enough to prevent it from happening again.
In the design office, Hope was disconcerted about the "catch" to maintaining her line. She asked if it was a threat. “This is my life. This is my marriage. This is my family,” Steffy responded. She warned Hope that HFTF would be gone if Hope crossed the line with Finn. Hope said what she’d done with Finn had been unacceptable, but Steffy said Hope had done it "to" Finn, who hadn’t wanted any part of it. Steffy asked Hope to leave Finn alone.
Love General Hospital, B&B, DAYS or other soaps? Join the conversation on our SC boards! Click here to connect with fans and dive into discussions now
Brooke arrived, noting that Hope and Steffy were talking about “this” again. Brooke said Hope had apologized, and Steffy didn’t need to keep throwing it in her face. Steffy quipped that words were just words with the Logans. Brooke insisted it would never happen again, but Steffy asked how Brooke could make promises for her daughter. Brooke wanted to forget what had happened at the party. Steffy refused and said she had her eyes on Hope.
After Steffy left, Brooke asked if Hope was okay. Hope said it had been just another threat. Brooke asked if Steffy had threatened her. Hope explained that if she so much as looked at Finn the wrong way, the line was dead. Brooke realized that Steffy wasn’t letting it go, even though the meeting had seemed encouraging. Brooke acknowledged Steffy’s right to be upset but said Steffy couldn’t weaponize HFTF when it suited her.
Hope felt she’d been regretful and apologetic enough about the mistake. She asked if it was really necessary to attach strings to the line, and she was getting tired of it. Upset, Hope decided to get out of the office for a while.
Back in Eric’s office, Taylor and Ridge told Steffy that her decision had surprised them. Steffy said HFTF deserved another chance, but she wasn’t so sure about Hope. Steffy believed Hope would fight for her line, and R.J. and Zende would work hard. Steffy said she was on board under one condition—Hope stayed away from Steffy's husband. Taylor smirked.
Ridge couldn’t blame Steffy, and Taylor said Hope had been beyond inappropriate with Finn. Steffy said Hope was turning into her mother. Ridge asked why that was a bad thing, and Taylor said it wasn’t a compliment. Taylor said Hope was repeating what she’d seen as a child. Taylor said she saw it in her patients all the time.
Ridge told Taylor to take a break and wondered if Hope’s actions could be forgivable. Steffy said what Hope had done to her hadn’t been right. Taylor said she’d talked at length with her children, and it seemed that Hope was fighting becoming what she was inevitably becoming—like Brooke.
Ridge wanted to believe they could give Hope the benefit of the doubt when she said she wouldn’t do it again. He believed Steffy had put Hope on notice, which meant she’d stay away from Finn. “Done,” Ridge concluded.
In Finn’s office, Finn flashed back to rescuing Steffy. R.J. arrived, and Finn thanked him for coming. Finn asked how R.J. was doing after what had happened with Luna. R.J. was still trying to wrap his head around it. Finn, Luna’s cousin, felt the same way. R.J. felt his family owed Finn, but Finn said there was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep Steffy safe. Finn had never had a bond like that with anyone and would move mountains for Steffy.
R.J. hoped to find a love like that, and Finn believed it would happen for his brother-in-law. For the time being, R.J. intended to focus on family and work. Finn noted that R.J. was half Logan and half Forrester. Finn didn’t envy that. R.J. said it wasn’t easy when his sisters didn’t get along. Finn hoped the women would get past their differences and realize they had more in common than they thought.
At Il Giardino later, Finn waited for his takeout. Hope arrived, looking for her dad. Finn greeted her, and she looked around nervously. He told her he’d already checked, and Sheila wasn’t working that day. Finn mentioned that he’d been with R.J., checking on him after what he’d been through. Hope thanked him. Finn said her HFTF meeting had turned out okay, and she nodded. He sensed she was stressed and asked if she was okay.
Finn stated that he’d thought his wife would cut HFTF, but Steffy hadn’t. Hope appreciated it. Finn asked what the problem was then. Hope thought of Steffy’s ultimatum and said it was best for her and Finn if they didn’t spend time together. Finn figured it was about the kiss Hope had laid on him, which had caused tension between Steffy and Hope. He asked if it had been payback for Steffy.
Hope wasn’t sure, but she said she might care about Finn too much. Finn cared about Hope, too, and wanted her and Steffy to get along. He wished they both could see what he saw—two strong, accomplished women.
Finn’s order for the hospital arrived. He wished Hope the best and left. Hope flashed back to times she’d spent with Finn. She recalled him telling her that he’d be there for her, and she’d told him that he knew who to call if he needed someone to talk to. Hope sighed, shaking her head.
Enjoyed this article? Join the conversation in our The Bold and the Beautiful forum! Click here to connect with fans and dive into discussions now.