The Forresters Cut Hope and Her Line, Leaving Carter Between a Rock and a Hard Place

In the design office, Carter tells Hope, “You’re here. That’s a good thing.” He hates that he disappointed her but couldn’t go on knowing he stole Forrester. Hope huffs that he steered the company in a better direction. Brooke chimes in, “Yes, but in an under-handed way.” He showed he had good ideas, but that doesn’t change how they went about it. She tells Carter it’s not wrong to feel remorse. Carter assures Hope she’s not going anywhere. She smirks. Ridge and Eric may have agreed to keep her line but there’s no way Steffy will. Hope warns this could backfire, “We could all be out of our jobs!” Carter insists they gave their word, and Brooke exclaims that no one is getting fired. Hope calls her naïve; Steffy will want her revenge. Carter’s sure Ridge and Eric have reminded her about the contributions they’ve made. They relaunched a successful jewelry line, “How can they fire us?” Brooke has faith in Ridge. She sighs, “Time to find out.”

Daphne joins Zende in the wardrobe room and asks if he felt the difference walking in today. She feels the first order of business will be to deal with the traitors. Zende says a meeting is set to take place. Daphne thinks, for some, it could be their last.

In the main office, Ridge says they made a promise to Carter… that he could stay. Eric chimes in, “Brooke and Hope too.” Steffy points out that nothing was put on paper. They can’t go easy on them, “Especially Hope.” Ridge argues that they agreed to Carter’s conditions. Steffy raises her eyebrows. “Carter’s conditions? The man that stabbed them in the back and stole the company from them.” Brooke, Carter and Hope enter. Brooke tells Ridge it’s good to see him back in the office. Carter sees that this was right now. Steffy wishes he’d seen it before he stole the company. They committed treason… and now the three of them will decide what happens next.

In the wardrobe department, Daphne guesses Carter’s regretting tricking the Forresters in the first place. Zende thinks she’s right and he’s feeling a bit of relief right now. Daphne’s sure he’ll keep his job. Zende says trust will have to be rebuilt, but he’ll be allowed to stay. The question is, “What happens to Hope and Brooke?” Zende thinks Brooke will be safe. She only took the CEO position to get Carter to hand the company back. Daphne questions if it’s true. Zende says she’s important to the company. Daphne admits she owns a couple of pieces from Brooke’s Bedroom. Zende says she’s an icon and her future there is secure. Daphne muses, “Hope, however, I’m not so sure.”

In the main office, Steffy tells Carter, Hope and Brooke that’s she’s infuriated and saddened by what they put them through. The stooped so low as to steal Forrester from the family that created it and risked her grandfather’s legacy. She’ll never forget it. Eric says none of them will… but they have to move forward. Steffy tells Carter she understands that her father and grandfather have forgiven him; they have experience with falling for a Logan woman over the years. She almost feels for him when the inevitable heartbreak comes, so she’s choosing to give him another chance. But she’s still hurt and upset by his betrayal. She understands that Hope manipulated him and took advantage of him. Carter says she’s wrong. Steffy reminds him he’s lucky to have his positions back. It’s a generous offer after what he pulled, “So, I would choose your words carefully.” She informs Brooke that she’ll be losing her CEO title, but she recognizes that she’s made significant contributions at Forrester. She can stay on. Hope pipes up to say that Carter was assured that her line would be kept on at the company. “Are you keeping your word?”

Hope asks again if Hope For the Future will survive. Brooke reminds Eric and Ridge that they are men of their word. Steffy says they probably meant it… at the time. Brooke points out it was yesterday. Steffy reminds them she’s co-CEO. She says she and her father and grandfather spoke last night. They convinced her Brooke should stay on and she talked them into a few things too. Hope For the Future was built on a premise of goodness and honesty. Hope was doing the complete opposite. She’s been a total disgrace to the company and the message of her line isn’t pure anymore or relevant. “We’re shelving your line.” Brooke exclaims, “No!” Carter frowns, “We had a deal.” Steffy says Hope was instrumental in kicking out the founders of the company. There’s no way in hell they can back a line with her name on it. Forrester begins and ends with her father and grandfather’s designs. While they were gone, the focus was on other things, so they’re behind schedule. They need to focus on couture now, not Hope For the Future, which is a shell of its former self anyway. “It’s because of you, Hope.”