Chapter 19:
Felicia is sitting in her office working on the numbers. She is pleasantly surprised at how much better the company is running since she axed Hope for the Future. Ridge comes in with a couple of sketches. "Hey Felicia, I know your more on the business side of things but I need some fresh eyes. There is something off about this design and I can't seem to put my finger on it."
"Sure lets see." Felicia says, happy that her and her brother and father have seemed to find some common ground, at least at work.
"Hang on, let me set them up on an easel then I want you to turn around and look at them for the first time."
Felicia turns her back as Ridge sets up the designs, "Ok, look." Ridge says.
Felicia turns around and looks at the design, she sees immediately what he means. The designs are beautiful but there is something off. "Ah, the sleeves. They need to be taken up a bit."
Ridge looks at the design, "Your right, thank you Felicia. Maybe you do have a designer's touch."
Felicia laughs, "No thank you. I'll leave that to you and dad."
There is a knock at the door, as it opens RJ comes in. "RJ! My boy!" Ridge says excited as he gives his youngest a big hug.
Felicia thinks to herself what a coincidence this is that RJ is back right around the time that S.T. Marone was has been hacked. Her source hasn't gotten back to her yet, and she would know since her source was her tech savvy son Dominic. She didn't want to make him think she was on to him in case it was him, she didn't want to spook him so he would cover his tracks.
"RJ," Felicia warmly says with a smile, "It's so good to see you."
"It's good to see you too Aunt Felicia."
"So have you come back to take your place at Forrester? I hear your quite the tech wiz, out IT department could certainly use an improvement."
"No, I dropped out of tech school."
As RJ says this the smile disappears from Ridge's face, "What?! You didn't tell me you dropped out of school. As far as I know you haven't told your mother either."
RJ swallows, "Yeah, about that. I just wasn't feeling it."
"So while your mother and I thought you were in school what have you been doing?" Ridge demands.
"Well," RJ nervously shifts, "I've been doing a travel and nightlife podcast."
"Seriously," Ridge say closing his eye's in disappointment, "If you didn't want to do tech then that's fine. But you've been lying to your mother and I while partying across Europe on our dime!"
Brooke walks in oblivious to what is going on, "RJ honey! I didn't know you were coming to town." Brooke says as she gives RJ a hug. "How's school?"
Felicia cringes. "He dropped out!" Blurts out Ridge angrily.
Brooke stunned looks at RJ, "What? When did you do that?"
"He's been partying across Europe on our dime calling it a job!"
Brooke looks back at RJ who is still silent, "Ridge, I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for this." She looks back at RJ.
"I'm not just partying," RJ says, "I've been podcasting, it's an actual job."
"Yes podcasting and influencing is work. But you are just partying. Then you lied about it." Ridge still can't believe his son.
"This sounds like a family issue." Felicia awkwardly says, "I think I'll go check with shipping to make sure we received everything for the next show."
"Ridge you are being unreasonable," Brooke says defending RJ.
"You're ok with this?"
"I would have liked for him to tell me he dropped out," Brooke says putting her hand on RJ's shoulder, "But this is what he wants to do."
Ridge knowing he is never going to win once Brooke is on his side. "Fine," Ridge concedes, "But you are going to find a way to make your own money. We are not your personal bank account."
As Felicia makes her way to shipping she messages Dominic. He should know not to waste resources on digging into RJ. Who could it be.
