10.) Bill just smiled at her. She loved his smile and she loved the fact that she could make him smile more than his own wife could.

Steffy drew herself unwillingly away from Bill. "I have to get to work now. It's my first day as head of the new Forrester Creations line and I can't be late." she told him.

"Make sure that when the line hits production Spencer Publications is the first to know."

"Trust me, it will be," Steffy promised.

/\/\/\/\/\

The day at Forrester started with a board meeting, where the CEO announced the start of the new line. Steffy stood up and thanked everyone and assured them that they could trust her to make it a huge success.

/\/\/\/\/\

Hope blew her lid when she heard Steffy was getting a line. She went to the board meeting prepared to hear how great the wedding collection was going and instead she heard Steffy was starting a line. 'To maintain a stable balance within the company,' was how Ridge had put it. Hope marched out of the meeting furious.

/\/\/\/\/\

After the meeting, Steffy sought out Thomas and told him to come to her office. He reluctantly agreed, knowing he would end up telling Steffy that he had told their mom. He did omit the bad parts though. He didn't tell Taylor about Bill being shirtless, finding them almost in the act.

"Thomas," Steffy said calmly as he shut her office door.

"Yes?"

"I am going to politely ask you not to ever barge in on me again."

"I didn't mean to barge in. I didn't know that you had someone there…" Thomas trailed off. He wanted to hear what her excuse was for having a shirtless Bill in her apartment.

"I had a friend over and you interrupted us. I would appreciate it if you didn't do it again." She lectured, still keeping her composed façade.

"And may I ask," Thomas was almost mocking her peaceful attitude, "what exactly I interrupted?"

Steffy's face got red, something that rarely happened. She was dreadfully uncomfortable talking about these things with her brother. "We were just," Steffy faltered, "Uh, talking."

"Talking, half naked, in your room?"

She was at a loss for words. She didn't want to tell her brother what they had been doing.

Thomas broke the silence, "Did you do it?"

"Do what?" Steffy asked cautiously.

"Did you and Bill," Thomas cringed, "make love?"

Steffy wanted to be able to say yes. But it wouldn't happen. She wasn't mixed up with Bill. "No we didn't."

Thomas breathed a sigh of relief. "Steffy, I love you, and I don't want to see you get hurt. Bill is nothing but trouble and you need to stay away from him."

"You don't understand. We have unresolved feeling for each other."

"I know you two have off the charts chemistry, but that doesn't mean he loves you."

That hurt.

/\/\/\/\/\

"Calm down honey," Brooke was struggling to keep up with Hope as she raced down the hallway, "if I had any say in it, she definitely would not be getting a line."

/\/\/\/\/\

Steffy took a deep breath. "Bill and I are not in a relationship. We were just talking. We are nothing more than friends. I mean, he's my ex-father-in-law for crying out loud!"

Thomas knew that she was saying all that to get him off her back. "I need to tell you something sis."

/\/\/\/\/\

"I have to talk to her." Hope left her mom and went straight to her step-sister's office.

/\/\/\/\/\

Steffy looked at her brother, worried that what he was about to tell her was bad.

"Mom may or may not know what you and Bill were doing last night."

"What?" Steffy yelled.

"Shhh!" Thomas hushed her, "People are going to hear you and I don't think you want anyone else to know what went down!"

"You told her?"

"She pried it from me. I can't hold something like that in. I only told her that you two were talking and that I got mad he was there. I was outraged and I almost had a run in with your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend. There is nothing between the two of us."

"I wish that there wasn't!"

"There isn't!"

"Keep telling yourself that Steffy."

"Keep telling her what?" Hope interrupted.

Thomas looked exhausted with worry. Steffy looked calm and collected but almost ready to burst. Neither of them said anything.

"Come on, spit it up." Hope urged angrily.

"It really isn't any of your business Hope." Steffy stated.

"I'm sure it is, because it was most likely about Forrester or my husband."

"Hope," Steffy moaned, "I've already told you. I'm not going after your husband. And if I remember correctly, he isn't your husband."

"I think I'm going to get back to work," Thomas said casually and he slipped out of the office, leaving Steffy and Hope alone.

"It wasn't anything about you or Liam."

"Fine," Hope huffed.

"So can I ask why you came into my office without permission?" Steffy asked matter-of-factly.

Hope answered sarcastically, she was clearly irritated with Steffy. "Oh, I'm sorry princess Steffy. I forgot we were all supposed to bow to you. I'm here to congratulate you on getting the line. I'm sure you'll make another video like you did with Intimates to get Liam to gawk at you half naked again. Just because you know he'll never do again in real life."

Steffy was fired up. She hated Hope with a bitter passion.

"Maybe he needs to stare at me since no one in their right mind would ever want to check out the likes of you." Steffy retorted.

"I can't believe Liam would ever love someone as hateful, rude, and self-obsessed as you!" Hope charged out of the office huffing because she knew that Liam did love Steffy, even if she was all those things.

/\/\/\/\/\

Steffy wasn't picking up her phone. Taylor was getting worried. She decided to try and call her one more time.

"Hi mom," Steffy greeted her.

"Hi Steffy, I was wondering if I could stop by your office. Are you still there?"

"Yes. Did you hear the good news?" Steffy enthused, happy to get her mind off the Spencer boys.

"What news?" Taylor asked. She was hoping that it didn't have anything to do with Bill.

"I'm shocked you haven't heard! I'm in charge of the new line!"

"That's amazing Steffy!" Taylor exclaimed, relieved.

"So I'll see you in a few?"

"I'm on my way."

/\/\/\/\/\

"Do you have the report ready?" Bill asked as he entered his son's office. He almost felt uncomfortable knowing that Steffy was Liam's ex-wife. They seemed too young to be divorced. Now Steffy was going after him. Or was she? Maybe last night was just a big misunderstanding, a one-time deal.

"Yes I do," Liam said as he started ruffling through papers scattered over his desk, "I just," he continued looking, "have to find it."

Bill tapped his foot dramatically.

"Here it is!" Liam shouted as he looked up. "Hey Hope!"

Bill sighed and turned around slowly. "Hello Hope."

"Liam!" Hope smiled, completely ignoring Bill. Bill had finally accepted her, and this is what he got in return. At least he acted like he accepted her.

"What brings you by Hope?" Liam asked, wondering why she wasn't at work.

"Did you hear already? I'm surprised all of L. A. doesn't know." Hope replied. She was still upset about what Steffy had said to her.

"Hear what?" Liam and Bill asked simultaneously

"About the new Forrester line?"

Recognition dawned on Bill, he started to exit.

"Wait dad, we probably need to get the scoop on this." Liam was completely engrossed by Hope.

"I already heard. I'll let you two hash it out." Bill waved over his shoulder and left.

"What's the line?"

"It's Steffy's," Hope said resentfully.

"Oh," Liam cut his excitement short for Hope's sake. He was happy for Steffy; she finally got what she had been working so hard for.

"It makes me sick. All she has to do is throw a fit and disappear for a night and she gets what she wants!"

"She disappeared?" Liam asked, trying to keep the concern out of his voice.

"She wasn't answering her phone. I overheard her and Thomas saying something about him having a run in with someone."

"Was it anything serious?"

"I doubt it. But it was odd. Thomas looked really worried about Steffy. It was kind of freaky."

"Is something wrong with Steffy?"

"Why should you care?" Hope sneered.

"Hope, Steffy and I are friends, I care about her. Where did you see her and Thomas?"

"I went to Steffy's office and they were arguing when I came in. But they stopped when they saw me. Steffy looked like she hadn't slept in a long time. She was wearing an orange turtleneck and her hair was pulled to the side. Anything else you'd like to know about your ex-wife?"

"It's not like that Hope!" Liam stood up, getting frustrated. "I don't want Steffy back so stop acting like I do."

Hope breathed a sigh of relief. "You have no idea how good it feel to hear you say that."

"You need to have confidence in us Hope," Liam held her chin is his hand. "We have less than a week until we're married. Officially this time."

"And I can't wait." Hope said. She and Liam kissed a sweet kiss. But Liam couldn't help but think about Steffy and how the two of them would have celebrated her promotion.

/\/\/\/\/\

Steffy waited patiently for her mom. She was trying her hardest to keep away from the temptation of Bill. It was like being parched and there was a glass of water sitting right in front of you. But you know that the water is contaminated with a deep, dark substance. Your better judgment tells you not to drink the water but it's almost impossible to resist.

Taylor interrupted Steffy's thoughts. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks mom!" They hugged briefly and Taylor stood back to marvel at her beautiful daughter. "I am so proud of my girl! You're all grown up!"

"Mom, I've been grown up for quite a while now. Remember, I got my own apartment, got married, got divorced? Is any of this ringing a bell?"

"Steffy, you've been grown up for a long time. Now your career is taking flight and soon you'll have everything you have been working for."

Steffy sighed, "Not everything." She walked around her desk and picked up her phone. She had a text on her phone. The phone only displayed the last name, Spencer. She withheld from reading it until her mother left.

"How many times have I told you that you don't need a man in your life to make you happy? Look at me!" Taylor scolded.

"You love dad though. And you're dating Thorne. You have plenty of men in your life." Steffy came back.

"I'm not dating Thorne anymore." Taylor announced with her head held high. "We broke up. And I am now an independent woman once more."

"You broke up? Why?" Steffy asked, wondering why her mom had even gone out with Thorne in the first place. They had no chemistry whatsoever and her mom didn't even seem interested in him. She loved Ridge. Steffy was deathly afraid that she would end up like her mom. Chasing the man she loved her whole life and always losing him to a Logan. It applied to both Liam and Bill.

Taylor shrugged. "Things just don't work out sometimes."

Steffy couldn't stop thinking about the text on her phone. She was itching to read it.

"Anyway," Taylor said, "I have an appointment in a little bit so I'll talk to you soon." Taylor hugged Steffy again. "I am so proud of you," she told her again.

Taylor was on her way out the door when Steffy called out, "Wait!" She turned around to face her daughter.

"Thomas told me that he told you about last night." Steffy said quietly.

Taylor was nervous. She didn't want to confront Steffy about her choices. Steffy was a grown woman and she could think for herself, but Taylor couldn't seem to let go of her little girl. "Yes he did."

They both stood in silence for an uncomfortable moment.

"Thomas told me that Bill was at your apartment. And that the two of you were talking about something serious. Thomas confronted Bill and you forced your brother to leave."

Steffy spoke slowly. "I just wanted you to know that nothing happened. We're not even really friends any more. I'm staying away from him."

Taylor was relieved. Bill should not be anywhere near Steffy. "I'm glad to hear it." Taylor said.