Credit: CBS screenshot

As the episode begins, Eric is in the main office at Forrester Creations, still pitching Ridge the idea of them teaming up on the couture line. There’s never been a better team than them! But the younger man isn’t having it. “You don’t want to be back in the trenches,” he tells his father. Way to not listen, Ridge!

The dressmaker reminds his dad that he already made a big fuss over his “final” collection. But Eric is outraged. He’s a designer, an artist… he doesn’t want to be put out to pasture. Ridge feigns empathy, almost reducing Eric to tears, as he says he’ll take the pressure of being on the front lines so that his father doesn’t have to.

Later, Ridge doubles down on his stance, arguing that it’s not worth Eric risking his life to work so hard. “The work itself is covered!” Ridge barks. “You asked me to take over the company; I’ve got it.” With that, he cuts their conversation short and exits.

Brooke and Donna Lock Horns Over Ridge and Eric

At the same time, Brooke and Donna argue in the showroom about the appearance of a changing of the guard at FC. Donna is as taken aback by the disrespect shown to her husband as Bill was by the way Katie has been treated. “Whatever’s decided,” Brooke says, shrugging off any responsibility, “is between Ridge and Eric.”

Brooke then sits down Donna to be extra patronizing to her. “Haven’t you been enjoying all the time you’ve been spending with Eric?” Brooke asks, doing her best to manipulate her sister. Donna admits that she’d love to have Eric all to herself. But it be fair to him, she adds. “He’ll be a designer till his dying day.”

Taylor Plants Doubts in Deacon’s Head

At Il Giardino, Deke reports to Deacon and Sheila that he is still on a trial period at Hope For the Future. They assure him that he’ll do gangbusters. From there, Deacon excuses himself to attend a session with Taylor. “Play nicely,” he tells Sheila and Deke, who have shown no signs of playing any other way.

In Taylor’s office, the shrink and Deacon both marvel at the fact that neither of them has gone running yet. She likes digging in his psyche, she admits. Then get the shovel, and let’s get dirty, he cracks. From there, the patient admits that he’s feeling confident in his marriage again. If only he could win his kids over to Team Sheila.

Deacon goes on to recount his conversation with his missus over Thanksgiving. Sheila, he relates, sees Taylor as “the great savior” of their marriage. Well, Taylor is happy for them. She wonders, though, if his kids will ever accept Sheila.

Back at Il Giardino, Sheila asks Deke not to run off so fast. She wants to get to know him better. “I get it. I’m not your favorite person,” she acknowledges. If he won’t let her get to know him, maybe he’ll get to know her instead. The new Sheila — who so recently threatened to murder Taylor — is a loving wife to Deke’s dad, she says.

Sheila Serves Deke Food for Thought

Back at Il Giardino, Sheila asks Deke not to run off so fast. She wants to get to know him better. “I get it. I’m not your favorite person,” she acknowledges. If he won’t let her get to know him, maybe he’ll get to know her instead. The new Sheila — who so recently threatened to murder Taylor — is a loving wife to Deke’s dad, she says.

“Why is this a recurring theme in my life?” Deke wonders — people swearing they’ve changed. (Where is Remy, anyway?) Sheila at first says she wants a nice, simple life with Deacon, then corrects herself: She wants to be accepted by his kids, too.

Is a Heartbroken Eric Starting to Pack His Office?

In the episode’s final moments, Sheila admits to Deke that she’s looking forward to Hope’s wedding. Sheila sees it as a chance to show “everybody” that the Sharpe family is truly united. Ha. At the same time, Deacon is admitting to Taylor he’s unsure whether Deke and Hope will be able to forget Sheila’s latest sin (covering for Luna). He’s not even sure she’ll get invited to Hope and Liam’s wedding.

In the showroom, Ridge recaps his heated conversation with Eric, and Brooke recaps hers with Donna. Dad’s “gotta hang it up,” Ridge insists. “At least he had a swan song.” That last line Eric designed almost put in the grave. Now, as Ridge sees it, it’s his job to keep his father safe. The patriarch has earned the right to walk away.

Cut to: a forlorn Eric thinking to himself, “Out with the old, in the with the new. The company I founded… time for me to leave? I don’t want to leave.” In his office, he pulls out an old photo of himself and Stephanie. Are they really gonna push him out?!? The sad music sure seemed to suggest that they were.

Next on The Bold and the Beautiful: Tis the season that everybody worries about Eric. Check out all of Friday’s spoilers here. And while you’re here, feast your eyes on fashion as you peruse our new photo gallery below of soaps’ best-dressed stars.