AN:
I do not own a thing!
I know I promised a 1, 2, 3 and maybe 4-chapter to be posted in the middle of November, unfortunately, that didn't happen, reason is stated in the AN at the bottom of the chapter. I hope you all have/has/had a wonderful holiday season!
Okay, so, I realized when writing this chapter that I need to clarify some things in regards to how this chapter is written.
When words are written in this format:
Like this, they're a hushed/whispered conversation.
Like this, it's through doors.
Like this, it's a thought by a character.
Things happen
Chapter seventeen
~Things happen~
September 20th 2014
Katie and Bills house.
Katie looks over to Stephanie for support and she gets it when Stephanie nods.
"When we were sitting in Stephanies living room, she brings something up that kind of shocked all of us. Taylor, Ridge and Kelleigh had joined us at this point. Stephanie shows us a picture of a little boy sleeping in a crib and then she asks me if I would be willing to take a test so that we'd all know if I really was a Logan or not, because some pieces of the puzzle were pointing to me not being a Logan at all and a phone call I had with dad a few days ago only confirmed it. About a week ago, Stephanie called me to say that the test had come back and she wanted us to meet her at her house."
Taylor can see that this is hard for Katie, so she gets up and walks over to her. "Do you want me to continue?"
Katie just nods her head and Taylor turns around to the people gathered in the living room of her former house.
"As it turns out, Rick, Bridget, Thorne, Felicia, Kristen and Ridge have another sibling and she's standing right here next to me. Katie Logan is not a Logan, but a Forrester and Beths affair with Eric is the reason why Stephen eventually left Beth alone with Storm, Brooke, Donna and Katie to raise."
So many people are left with their mouths open.
"I knew it!"
Everyone turns towards Steffy.
"What?" Rick says with surprise in his voice.
"Well, look back at photos from the childhoods of both pack of siblings, where do you see Katie fit in more?"
This question makes everyone think for a minute.
"Oh no!" Everyone turns to Thorne. "I kissed my own sister?"
Ridge, Bill and Taylor starts laughing. "Well, you didn't know so I don't think it's that bad, besides, that's all there was wasn't it?"
"Yeah, nothing more. It just didn't feel right."
"Well, there you go and now you know the reason for it!"
Rick just scratches his head. "So, what you're saying is that my aunt Katie is also my sister Katie?"
"Yes!"
Steffy walks over to Hope and her daughter. "See! We were right when we named Katie great aunt Katie!"
The whole group starts laughing.
"Now, when is this dinner supposed to be served? I'm getting hungry!" Michala says with a serious look on her face.
~Things happen~
October 13h
Steffy Forresters office
She's working her way through a massive stack of papers when there's a knock on her door.
"Come in!" She looks up from the computer and her glasses slides down her nose.
When Rick looks through the door, she chuckles a little. "Hey you!" He says with a massive smile.
Steffy waves him in and he takes a seat across from her. "So, what can I help you with?"
"So, you know how I didn't exactly treat you right during our relationship?" His eyes show the regret he feels.
"I do!"
"So, I probably shouldn't be asking you to do this, but I know you designed Michala and Bridgets dresses." He picks up a box from his pocket and puts it on her desk.
"Yes!"
"Yes what?"
"I'll design her wedding dress, but that's all you need to know. What I do need however is her measurements, but I can get those by taking her on a shopping trip." She can see how his nerves calm down as she explains what she needs.
"Bridget told me the design you had made for her looked gorgeous."
"I figured Caroline would've let you see them already?" He just shakes his head. "Do you want to see them?
He nods his head and Steffy rummages through her 'secrets drawer', finds them and holds them out for him to grab. He looks at them and then raises his gaze at her.
"Caroline said these were good, but I didn't think they'd be this good! I know you're a good designer, but this is gorgeous!"
Pride starts flowing through Steffys body. "I'm extremely proud of them!"
"I think you should be!"
"So, when are you popping the question?"
"I was thinking the day before Christmas Eve?"
"Good choice! There's so many people choosing to propose on Valentine's Day, Christmas or New Years and who wants to share the day of a proposal with that many other people? My last proposal was the worst, I mean, he proposed to me on the eve of his wedding to another woman? Anyway, that's in the past and I have my gorgeous baby girl!"
"Yeah, that was a little over the top, but hey, it all worked out in the end?"
"It did!"
"So, when are you going to find your happily ever after then?"
"I don't know, I'm pretty happy where I am in my life right now so I'm not going to force anything to happen!"
"You've seemed so serene since Kelleigh was born!"
"Yeah, I believe I was meant to be her mother, not Liams wife, but Kelleighs mother!"
Rick just nods his head.
"You really are such a great mother! I've never seen a baby that's that calm at all times and so happy to just entertain herself."
"Well, I had great material to work with. It all came down to learning her signals and sounds as fast as possible. Something to think about when your first with Caroline comes along!"
"Yeah! Well, I'm going to go now and leave you to that stack of papers!"
"I'm guessing you've got something to work on yourself?" Steffy smiles at her ex-fiance.
"I do! Thank you for helping me out!"
"It's my pleasure!"
The rest of the day moves along in a mix of papers, pens, design sheets and chicken sandwiches with iced tea.
When she walks through the door that evening, something delicious smelling comes floating from the kitchen and knowing no one is supposed to be home yet, she goes to investigate.
What she sees doesn't really make sense.
"Who are you?"
"Hi!" The man standing in her kitchen kind of looks like a younger version of Deacon Sharpe, but with almost chocolate colored eyes.. "I'm Eric, I met with your brother earlier today when I met with Derek and Jessica Dawson to discuss building myself a house. Anyway, your brother invited me with him home because I don't currently have somewhere to live."
"Oh, so my brother decided to invite a perfect stranger to live with me and my daughter for I don't know how long without even asking me about it?"
Eric just smiles. "You don't remember me?"
"No, should I?"
"When you first saw me, who did you think I looked like the most?"
"Oh, you are Deacons son?"
The smile on his face multiplies in shine. "I am! And Thomas said that your daughter is currently at her fathers place for the week so it shouldn't be a problem. You can get to know me and then you'll know that I'm not a threat to your daughter in any way!"
"Well, I should've known Thomas wouldn't invite a perfect stranger into the house."
"It's okay, you're just being protective of your daughter's safety!"
"Not just hers." Steffy says under her breath, but Eric hears her. "So, what are you working on there?"
"Well, I thought I should make dinner since I'm invading your space." Eric decides to let go of Steffys statement. If he's meant to find out, he'll find out.
"Has Thomas shown you the house?"
"He has. It's a beautiful house and showed me that Dawson Construction and Architecture is the company to choose!"
Steffy sits down by the island and watch as he makes dinner. "Thank you! I really love this house!"
"I was surprised seeing Thomas working at a company where they do house construction."
"Well, when we first started talking about moving in together again, we first looked at houses, then we noticed that this plot was for sale and as I was describing how I would like the house to look, he drew it and all four of us agreed that designing clothes just wasn't for him and Derek and Jessica were really impressed by him when we first met them!"
"Well, sounds like a really good fit if they were so impressed!"
Steffy just smile with pride in her eyes. "It is! So, have you talked to your father?"
"No, I haven't and I don't think he'd want to talk to me either. I may or may not have disowned him as my father."
"Why would you do that?"
"Well, some things happened and I just had enough."
"What about Amber?"
"Yeah..." He sighs as he stirs the pot of pasta. "..same thing there."
"Well, it must have been something really massive if you're not talking to either of your parents. So, what do you do for a living?"
"I just graduated Law school, so I'm searching for a job, but had money saved away and decided to build the house before having a job."
Steffy nods her head and a plan is forming in her head so she takes out her phone and texts her father and Rick. Receiving a positive response from both, she lifts her gaze to look at the man in front of her.
"So, how would you like to come to work tomorrow and meet our legal department for a job interview?"
"Sure, I mean, it can't hurt?"
"Great! Now, could you tell me where my brother is?"
"He dropped me off here, went and kissed his fiancé and then went back to work, so I don't know where he is right now."
"Oh! Okay! I'll be in the office for a bit because I need to do something that is a secret from everyone!"
"Okay! Have fun! Dinner should be ready in forty minutes or so."
"Good! I'll be back then!"
The two of them smile at each other and then Steffy leaves.
~Things happen~
The next day sees Eric following Steffy on her way to work in his own car. He parks it in the parking lot of visiting guests and meets up with Steffy at the front entrance.
"So, are you ready?" Steffy asks. "Because you look a little nervous! Don't worry, it'll be fine!"
"Yeah, I know, it's just this is my first interview for a job ever. I've only ever gone to school before."
"Oh, trust me. You've got the right connections for this job and we had an opening, plus, both my father and Rick said it would go great."
He doesn't calm all the way down, but a big chunk of the nerves disappears. "Just trust me!"
Then she leads him to their legal department where she introduces him to Carter Walton, their current second in command at Legal and explains the family connection between them. It's a complicated story.
Carter leads him into his office and they start talking. Leaving Steffy behind felt a little uncomfortable, but what Carter said next made him feel at ease.
"Now, Steffy told Ridge that you were just out of Law School?" He sees him nod. "So, you don't really have any former employers?" Eric nods again. "Okay, so, we need to look at your grades and then we'll see which part of Legal you'll fit in best with, after that we'll go see both Ridge and Rick and get to working on that contract."
Erics mouth drops and then he starts stuttering. "I'm... What? I'm.."
"What? You thought we'd set you up with this big interview like we're a big law firm?" Carter just chuckles. "We're a small part of a big fashion empire, we needed some new blood and you're just out of Law School." Carter throws his hands together. "Perfect match. Another reason is that you are actually part of the family in some weird way." Carter scratches his head. "I didn't quite follow Steffys line of thought there."
"Oh, let's just say that your adopted brothers' daughter is my second cousin. Rosie and I are related through Amber."
"Oh, that makes that easier."
Eric just smiles.
"So, hand them over!" Eric looks confused. "Your grades!"
"Oh!" Eric hands them over and then leans back in the chair he's sitting on.
After five minutes, Carter turns to his computer and sends a message to Ridge and Rick to meet them in Ridge's office. "So, are you ready to go?"
Eric just nods.
After walking through the corridors, up and down a few stair cases and then ending up on the other side of the building. Carter knocks on a door.
"Come in!" They hear Ridge calling through it.
Carter just opens it and walks right through it.
Eric on the other hand is frozen in the same spot where Carter left him. Noticing that Eric didn't follow him in through the door, Carter walks back out. "Hey! It's just signing a piece of paper and then you'll have job security until you either mess up royally or decide to leave yourself!"
Eric nods his head and starts walking.
Two walls away and heading for Steffys office to take a short cut, Rick Forrester was a bundle of nerves himself.
He knocks on Steffys door and hears her say come in. He opens the door and when she sees who it is, she forms a small smile.
"It feels strange right? Having the child that you were going to raise on the other side of the door?"
"You have no idea!"
"Does Caroline know?"
He just nods.
"Go ahead!"
So, he walks over and knocks on the door to Ridges office. Just go in! Why are you knocking?"
"Because I'm in your office and I'm knocking on the wrong door!"
"Yeah, like dad wouldn't know it was you anyway? That knock is pretty distinctively yours!"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, two fast knocks and then two slow ones?
Rick just waves her off, but gets confirmation when Ridge calls out from the other side of the door, almost as if he'd heard their conversation.
"Come in, Rick! What are you lurking around for?"
Steffy chuckles. He opens the door and is frozen in place.
Next to Carter is a man with shoulder length really light brown, almost blond hair with the darkest brown eyes he's ever seen. "Yeah, Amber really had no idea what she did when she thought she'd have me raise that kid. That's so clearly a Sharpe/Moore-child it's insane!"
"Hi!" He says as he walks over to shake the younger man's hand.
"Hi!" Eric gives a small smile to the man that almost raised him.
"So, what do you think? Is this a place where you'd feel happy to work for the rest of your life?" Ridge raises his eyebrows after having looked at the documents that Carter brought with him.
"Yes, sir! I'm probably going to be very happy working here for the rest of my life!"
"Good! Here's a standard contract which says that if you don't meet our standards, we have the right to let you go find another place of business."
"So, I'm kind of on probation?"
"You could call it that yes!"
"That's good!"
"If we find you suitable for the job, you'll be asked to see us again and we'll sign the Until furter notice-contract. It's something we do for every employee, we've just handed out those contracts to three of our new designers. If you want to talk to either of them to find out how we are as an employer, you are free to do so!"
"Oh, I'm sure you're a great employer. I don't think your daughter would've asked you about me coming to see you otherwise."
Ridges face breaks out into a smile. "Yeah, my daughter has this power, I'd say..." He looks around to see Carter and Rick nod their agreement. ".. to see what people we need to hire for the positions we've got open. Which is why we probably should have her at every interview in the future?"
A resounding "Yes!" comes from the other two men there aside from Eric, who just nods.
Ridge just hands over the contract for Eric to sign it.
"So, I heard you're building a house?"
"Yeah, I bought a house and then tore it down because it was a little small and it's not like I really needed anything bigger, but a kitchen and a bedroom/living room combination might be a little small. So, I wanted to build a house with a kitchen, laundry room, living room and a bathroom on the first floor and then have the master suit and two extra bedrooms with an extra bathroom on the second floor, with a garage, office and craft rooms on the ground floor. It might be a little big, but it's better to have it too big from the start then realize that it's too small in the end!"
"Sounds like a plan!"
"Yeah! Your son helped out a great deal while Derek and I were talking about it. It's gonna be awesome!"
Ridge smiles with pride at the praise of his son. "We lost a great designer when he left, but seeing how the house he lives in now ended up looking, I totally understand that clothes just weren't his thing!"
"He'll do wonderful where he is right now! Besides, I hear the four designers you hired this spring have been doing a wonderful job!"
"They have, we're actually a few seasons ahead!"
"Well, should we get back to work then?" Carter asks.
"We just need Eric to sign the contract!" Ridge says as he chuckles.
"Oh, right!" Eric gladly takes the pen that Ridge holds out for him and then signs the contract.
"Welcome on board!" Ridge, Rick and Carter shakes Erics hand.
Carter and Eric then leave to tackle today's business.
Rick is on his way to leave when Ridge stops him. "So, how are you feeling about all this?"
"It's weird, but I'll get over it. In a few months these feelings won't be there anymore!"
"As long as you are comfortable!"
"Yeah, it's not as if I'll have that much to do with him anyway so I'll get the chance to work on my feelings before it comes to that." Rick runs his hand through his hair. "Besides, he'll be a great fit with the team and Steffy is the one who recommended him. She's always right!"
"Well, she missed the mark with Carol, didn't she?" Ridge is confused.
"Remember what she said? Carol wouldn't blend well with Caroline and we just ran straight over her because we 'knew better' then her. Look what happened!"
Ridge thinks back and then remembers the look on Steffys face when he decided that Carol would be part of the team. "Yeah, her instincts have never failed her before!"
"Well, I can think of a few times they have. Myself for instance."
"Yeah, about that. Let me see!"
"See what?"
"Oh please, I heard you through the wall yesterday. Don't worry though, Caroline had been in the design studio the whole day!"
"Oh!" Rick realizes what he means. "I don't have it with me today, but if you could give all the girls a few days off in the next few weeks that would be lovely! I'm thinking shopping for baby stuff, bridal shower for Michala and a baby shower as well? Preferably before December 23rd."
Ridge just laughs. "It's still only the first half of October."
"Yeah, I know, but it's a lot to be done!"
"That's true. I'll plan in a few days off in the middle of November and they can have some fun then?"
Rick just nods his head as confirmation. "Maybe Steffy should be in on this?"
"Bring her in!"
Rick goes to knock on the door between Ridge and Steffys offices and is surprised when Steffy walks through the door. He looks over at Ridge. "It's like she has a sixth sense sometimes!"
Steffy just looks confused. "What do you mean?"
"I was just about to come get you for baby shower plan making." Rick winks to her.
Steffy catches on instantly. "Oh, how fun!"
She walks over to the chair across from her father. "So, what's the plan? Do I need to involve Liam and Hope in this?"
"Maybe, Liam, Wyatt and Thomas should be able to handle Kelleigh on their own for a week, right?"
"They should yeah, why?"
"Well,..." Ridge looks over at Rick.
"I was thinking about making plans for all of you girls to go to New York or Miami or somewhere to have some fun to combine Michalas bridal and baby shower and get those measurements for Carolines gown?"
"Yeah, about Carolines gown. I was thinking about involving Nathan in that. I can't do the fittings for this one as she doesn't know about it and I can't think of anyone better to do them than him. Dad isn't designing anymore and Sally isn't a wedding dress designer and Jacob and David design for men and womens lingerie. I have a pretty good idea of what the dress should look like, but I need him to do the fittings."
Two seconds later, there's a message in Carolines inbox that Ridge needs to see Nathan about something.
"Hey! Nathan!" Caroline looks over at Nathan to see she's got his attention. "Ridge wants to see you about something!"
Nathan nods and goes on the trek to find his way to Ridge Forresters office. He walks through the door and sees that Rick Forrester as well as the head of PR are there. He walks over to shake each of their hands. "So, what did you want to see me about?"
"My daughter here as something she needs you to do for her." Ridge then hands over the floor to his daughter.
When he walks through the door of the design studio later, he knows that he can't talk to anyone about this.
~Things happen~
AN:
This is getting exciting isn't it?
Eric Sharpe has entered the scene, Rick wants to ask Caroline to marry him.
If you're wondering. No, Eric Sharpe in this story is not the same as DJ Sharpe in I'm done. They may have the same DNA, but their backgrounds and interests are different. I'd say they separated somewhere during High School and no, Eric and Steffy are not getting together! There may potentially maybe be some flirting, but they're not getting together!
Also, I'm sorry to say that I'm going to take a break from writing fanfiction until at least the end of the year, so 1, 2, 3 and maybe 4 will not be up when I said it would. The reason for this is that school is getting a little bit much to handle as well as my maternal grandfather died Tuesday November 20th and there's a lot that needs to be done in regards to that and fanfiction is the only thing that I can drop off without feeling guilty about it. So I'm sorry for leaving you hanging, but I will come back at a later date!