"Who do you think you are denying me the right to see my grandson?" Stephanie spat, blazing into Brooke's office, ignoring Brooke's assistant and their obvious meeting.
"I'll let you two talk," the younger blonde said quickly, exiting the office before Brooke could say differently.
"Stephanie, I don't have to explain myself to you," Brooke answered nonchalantly.
The younger woman's answer infuriated the older woman. "Yes, you do. All your life you've been dying to be a Forrester. Looking to join this family anyway you could, but you could never be a Forrester. Forresters love and protect their own, while all you did was throw away your child because you couldn't get the man. You probably only kept Ric because you saw him as your foothold into the family and Bridget because you thought she was Ridge's."
Brooke knew Stephanie was just saying these things to get to her, but it worked. No one. No one questioned her love for her children. Or the sacrifices she made for them.
"But why should I be surprised? The only person you love is you, Brooke Logan. You didn't care that every attempt to bed a Forrester man was plastered all over the tabloids, gossip shows, the radio. You didn't care that your dad, mom, Storm, Donna, and Katie had to work with people who knew their daughter, their sister couldn't keep her legs closed. Why do you think they moved to Paris? Did you ever stop to think why no one could live in Los Angeles with you? Your trampish behavior drove your family from the only home they had ever known."
Stephanie's words brought to the forefront Brooke's worst fears and worries. Had her desperate need to be Mrs. Ridge Forrester caused her family to leave Los Angeles? Did it cause a rift in the family that still to this day wasn't healed? Had she, long before Stephen joined Stephanie's, Massimo's, and Taylor's sinister plot, been the one to destroy the Logan family? She prayed it wasn't so, but on those lonely lights when she wished her mother only lived down the street instead of thousands, upon thousands of miles away, she knew it was true. She had done this. Her behavior was so different than the way she was raised. How had she gotten to this point? Why had she been so anxious for a man's love who obviously didn't love her or wouldn't allow himself to love her, to stand up for her? She couldn't let Stephanie see her words affecting her. She had to remain strong. Taking a deep breath, Brooke quickly closed and opened her eyes and stared down Stephanie. "When I imagined getting married, I imagined meeting my knight in shining armor. He would be part of this wonderful family. I would call his parents mom and dad, too. His brothers and sisters would be mine, too. We would be one big happy family. Even after meeting you and Eric, I thought it was possible. But maybe when you were choking the life out of me. Or when you had Stephen lie to me about being terminally ill. Or maybe when you had someone try and push me off the Eiffel Tower, I stopped caring. I stopped caring if you would ever like, accept, or want me. My fantasy of happily ever after with Ridge died when he forgave Taylor for her part in this debacle. So you don't have to worry about me becoming part of your family ever again. Let us be clear on that matter- -"
"I've heard that before- -"
"I've never had my heart ripped out like it has been in these past few years. I would move my family and my company to Antarctica before I would become part of your family. And yes, I said my company. Because that's what this is. Fifty-one percent means it's mine. Brooke's bedroom line generating enough money to support this whole company, with some great help from BLF, means this is mine, and without me Forrester would crumble," Brooke said, matter-of-factly.
Her calm tone was disturbing to her former mother-in-law. Stephanie Forrester was used to passion, outrage, anger from her. This was a Brooke she wasn't accustomed to. Could the blonde be telling the truth? Had she finally rid herself of Brooke Logan once and for all? She could only pray. Now if she could pull Matt into their fold, she would truly be free of the whore. Though she didn't appreciate Brooke's threats about Forrester. She and Eric had worked their fingers numb, getting this company off the ground. Damn him, Ridge, and Thorne for being too weak to resist the blonde twit! Damn them for putting their company in her hands!
"As for my children, I don't think the woman who only loves her oldest son should be casting stones about what I do for my children or how much I love them?"
"I love all my children and for you to imply otherwise…" Stephanie huffed.
"Do you want to put it to the test? Because I'm sure if I asked your children or anyone that's ever seen you with all four, that is if they know you have four, would tell you that all your love is for Ridge. How could you possibly have time for the others, or Eric for that matter? With every breath you speak, I thank God that He gave me the common sense and love to make sure my son didn't grow up around your venom. I don't regret my decision for a minute." Shaking her head, she stared at the angry older woman. "I would die for my children. I would do anything for Ric and Bridget and they know it. How did I ever think you would be capable of loving me and treating me like a daughter when you didn't and don't love the two you gave birth two? How could I have ever been so naïve? But don't worry, the blinders are off. Maybe my rose-colored glasses are at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower." She smirked. "But wherever they are, they are long gone. And know this, Stephanie; I won't take your crap any longer. Neither will my children. I'm through being considerate of your feelings, while you trample all over me like I'm less than human. I deserve better than that, I deserve better than this family, but it was the hand I helped dealt so I'll live with it. From now on, we're business associates. Well to be technical, I'm your boss. Don't talk to me, look at me, or even glance in my direction if it isn't business oriented. Now I have work to do and assume you do, too, based on the salary I'm paying you." Brooke sat in her chair, turned to face her computer, and began working.
Her face was red with anger. Stephanie had never been dismissed in her life. And it wasn't about to happen now. Especially not from some Valley girl who slept her way into this family. "You dirty, skanky, wh- -"
"Suspiciously your statement doesn't sound like it's going to be work-related. Because if it's not, I'm going to have to terminate your contract effective immediately and I'll have security and the cops escort you out of the building, physically. And I'm sure our guards and the cops don't want to ruin their day by dragging an old woman out of a building, but they'll do it if necessary. So I would think carefully before you say your next words. Oh, and in regards to Matt, if you don't think he's Ridge's, please feel free to ask him for the DNA test results. I think he's had the test run about a dozen times, using samples from you, Eric, Ridge, Thorne, and Felicia. Hell, he even got a sample from Jessica. He still can't believe he's biologically related to you guys. Good day," Brooke concluded, immediately dismissing Stephanie from her thoughts.
Stephanie stood there, ready to explode, but she knew this was neither the time nor the place. But she would have her vengeance, she thought as she stormed out of the CEO's office.