Unexpected encounter!
Ridge was in a hurry to get dressed for tonight. Brooke and he planned to go to a charity event. All the influential people of Los Angeles would be there. Of course, the Forresters had to make their appearance too, after all they ran with Forrester Creation, a world-renowned fashion house. Stephanie and Eric Forrester expected Ridge to attend this event, so did they. He was their eldest son and one day he would become Eric's successor. Ridge had no problems with this at all. He always enjoyed his time at these events, basically it was always the same people he met there, but he found it quite amusing to chat with them. Brooke came out of the bathroom to join him, she looked beautiful in the new dress Ridge had designed for her. Everybody could see she was six months pregnant. Wrinkles formed on Ridge's forehead as he glanced at his fiancée's belly. The pregnancy was mostly the reason for their arguments. Not a day went by without a fight. To the outside world, they kept the facade and played the happy, successful, engaged couple. But both knew very well their relationship was in deep trouble. Ridge looked at his watch.
"Are you ready? We should go, Mom and Dad just left."
"Yeah, just a minute, I have to put on my shoes." Brooke smiled, she was looking forward to this night. She enjoyed immersing herself into the world of the rich and famous and especially she was thrilled with the fact, she would be there with Ridge.
At the same time, Blake Hayes and his wife Taylor were getting ready for the party as well. They just recently moved to Los Angeles. Blake had been a very successful businessman in Texas and had managed to build a small empire on his own. Now he had the vision to make it in Los Angeles as well. Taylor had just reluctantly gone along with his plans. She had felt very comfortable in Texas, plus she had to give up her fulfilling job at the hospital, which had been extremely painful for her. But she saw the move as an opportunity for a fresh start for her marriage. She took a look at herself in the mirror, she held her long thick hair out of her face with an updo, the rest fell in soft curls over her shoulder. She was wearing the new dress Blake had bought her especially for this occasion. For him, this party was very important, to make some first important contacts. Taylor sighed, she never found much pleasure with such events, it was really not her favorite way to spend her evening. But she knew what Blake expected from her. She should make a perfect impression and be a charming gorgeous wife.
Ridge and Brooke arrived at the party and were mingling.
"Wait a minute, I'll get us something to drink." While Ridge made his way to the bar, Brooke looked around curiously if she could find anyone she knew. That's when someone rudely bumped into her.
"Oh, I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!"
"No problem, everything is fine!" She smiled at the stranger.
"Quite a commotion here!" the man mentioned to her.
"Yes, no wonder it's the most exciting event of the year!"
"True, by the way Blake Hayes!" he held out his hand. "It's my pleasure to meet you." Brooke shook his hand.
"Brooke Logan, nice to meet you!"
"I guess an attractive woman like you isn't here alone?" Brooke grinned at his flirting.
"No, my fiancé is taking care of our drinks right now!" At the same moment, Ridge returned with a glass of champagne for him and some water for Brooke. He had watched Brooke's conversation with the stranger from afar and therefore he had a very grumpy expression on his face.
"Here Logan, your water!"
"Thank you Sweety!" Ridge and the stranger appraised each other for a moment. A shiver went through Ridge at the sight of him, but he decided to remain polite. A bit stiffly, he extended his hand to the stranger.
"Ridge Forrester!"
"Blake Hayes, and..." He searched around and beckoned to Taylor, who was just emerging from the throng. "...here comes my wife!" Taylor had used the restroom for a moment and joined her husband now, who was talking with an unknown couple. When Ridge's and Taylor's eyes met, they stared at each other hypnotized. Mechanically Taylor extended her hand to Brooke and Ridge. As they made some small talk, Ridge's gaze kept drifting to Taylor. At first he couldn't believe it, but now he was absolutely sure. The lady standing in front of him was Taylor Hamilton, now Hayes, his first big love. Fascinated, he glanced at her, she was still incredibly beautiful as she was then, if not even more. It was hard for him to take his eyes off her. Taylor noticed his look and felt a slight blush creep into her cheeks. She hadn't expected to see him so soon. She felt a heat rise inside her that rattled her. His look still had the same effect on her as it did back then. However, she tried her best to remain calm on the outside. Neither of them suspected that this encounter would change their lives forever.
It was past midnight when Brooke and Ridge finally arrived at home. Brooke was tired and exhausted. Ridge sat absent-mindedly in a chair staring holes in the air. Brooke had noticed all night that Ridge's mind had been somewhere else. She put her arms around him.
"Don't you want to come to bed with me, the night has been very long and it's getting late!" Ridge rose.
"Please don't be mad at me, but I want to go for a walk to get some fresh air, you go ahead and lie down. I'll be right back!" Brooke, however, didn't want to stay alone.
"I'll come with you, a little walk will do me good." Ridge sighed.
"To be honest, I'd rather want to go alone." Brooke gave him a disappointed look and hissed angrily.
"Why do you always do this to me Ridge? Why do you always push me away and shut me out? It almost seems like my company is bothering you?!" Ridge wasn't in the mood for another fight.
"I'm not pushing you away, Logan. I just want to take a walk by myself, there's no crime to this!" Annoyed, he grabbed his keys and slammed the door behind him. As he made his round through the Forrester estate, his temper cooled down again. His thoughts returned to Taylor. He had noticed she had been strangely quiet and reserved. Quite different from the way he remembered her and there had been a melancholy, sad expression in her eyes, as if she was carrying a burden with her. He definitely was very happy she was living now here in LA. Unfortunately he didn't have a chance to talk to her in private. Her husband had kept her by his side all the time, like a watchdog. He firmly looked forward to see her again.
Taylor, meanwhile, lay in her bed, silent tears were running down her cheek. Relieved, she noticed that Blake had fallen asleep. Quietly, she slipped out of the bedroom and sat down on the patio. She took a deep breath. When they had arrived at home, Blake and she had had a terrible fight. Blake had blamed her for putting herself way too much into the spotlight at the party and made him look like a loser. It wasn't the first time they had this kind of argument. Taylor, however, didn't quite know what she had done wrong . She had only mentioned, because someone asked her, she was planning to open her own practice in LA. Her professional achievement was more and more a problem for her marriage. The more successful Taylor became as a doctor and a psychiatrist, the harder it was for Blake to deal with her success. When she had met him for the first time, she had been all alone and he had acted like a savior to her. Back then at that time she needed him. He had taken care of her and given her a home. In addition, he had been very successful at the time financially and had supported her education at the medical school. Taylor realized now, for Blake it had probably been quite comfortable that she had been dependent on him. He always had been the big strong man who could distinguish himself in front of her. But now as she was getting more independent and self-sufficient, their relationship was shifting. Taylor didn't quite know how to handle the situation. There was no way she was going to play the sweet little girl Blake liked to see in her.
Her mind drifted to Ridge. Ever since they had broken up back then, she had kept track of him through the press. She knew he had lost his first wife to leukemia some time ago and had recently gotten engaged again. However, she didn't have the impression that Ridge was content with his life. She wondered if this fiancée was maybe just a consolation to overcome his grief, or if there might be another secret.
*I would be happy for some feedback about my new story*