As the episode begins, Eric is designing away in the Forrester showroom when Donna interrupts with a sketch that he forgot at home. It’s

not a complete collection, Eric acknowledges, but it’s enough to show Ridge and Brooke that “Eric Forrester is back!”

Natch, at that very moment, Brooke is decorating the CEO’s office with some balloons and one (singular) bottle of champagne for Eric’s

urprise retirement party. In the design office, Steffy enjoys a visit from “my hot husband.” When they break from smooching, she admits that she’s afraid Eric won’t be as happy to be forcibly retired as Ridge is to forcibly retire him.

After the opening credits, Steffy tells Finn that, despite her concerns, she agrees with Ridge that Eric needs to live a nice, calm life. “He’s earned it.” Finn rightly guesses that Eric won’t see it that way. But the doc also notes that Steffy isn’t coming from a place of meanness and greed. In the end, Eric will understand, Finn decides, especially if everyone expresses their gratitude for what he’s built.

In the main office — and what, Forrester couldn’t rent our a restaurant for this big event? — Brooke and Ridge reiterate their worries about Eric’s health. That, they insist, is why he has to pack it in. Still, Brooke frets about how her first husband will react to his “surprise.” Donna made some compelling points when they bickered the other day, Brooke admits.

At that very moment, Donna is telling Eric how much she loves Eric’s new designs. Ridge and Brooke have never seen anything like this from him, the patriarch enthuses. He’s so excited, too, it’s gonna be crushing when he finds out what’s really going on.

More: Bold & Beautiful made a menace of a national treasure

Donna Plays Sweetly With Her Honey Bear
When Donna starts to express some worry, Eric immediately hushes her up by saying that she sounds like Ridge. Um, how stressful is dress-drawing? It’s not like Eric is working on a chain gang. Stressful enough, apparently. Donna says her husband didn’t come to bed till 3 a.m. the previous night. But “it’s what I want to do,” he says.

Donna reminds Eric he needn’t prove himself to her. “You’re my honey bear.” But she wants him to reach a compromise and accept that the designs he’s working on at night will still be there for him in the morning. From there, Donna and Eric agree that that the new couture collection will take the world by storm.

When Carter and Daphne arrive at the main office, the perfumer gives Brooke a one-of-a-kind cologne for Eric. At least somebody brought him a present! Further, Daphne says that while she doesn’t question Ridge’s love for his father, she does wonder whether Eric will have to accept this.

Daphne tries to explain that she comes from a culture that has more reverence for its elders than this. “Shouldn’t Eric be allowed to have a say in his own future?” she asks. Go, Daphne! Tell it like it is! When Finn and Steffy come in, the doc backs the plan to retire Eric for his own good. Feeling vindicated, Ridge then texted his dad to come on in.

In the episode’s final moments, Eric receives Ridge’s text asking him to come to “my office.” “He’ll see that I’m still Eric Forrester,” he says. “You believe in me, don’t you, Donna?” Of course she does, she says. Eric sees these designs as the start of a whole new chapter — “my new chapter at Forrester Creations.”

Again, Ridge writes off Daphne’s cultural differences. “This is what Eric needs,” he says. And it’s what he’s gonna get whether he likes it or not. But when the man of the hour comes in with Donna, he’s gutted to be told that he’s had an incredible run… which is now over. Eric can’t believe everyone wants him to rest… “like permanently? Six feet under?”“Stephanie and I founded this company, and we built this company up,” Eric reminds the few who are gathered. (And wouldn’t the entire company be called in for his retirement? Wouldn’t Thomas have flown in? R.J.?) It’s Eric’s legacy, “and because it’s my legacy, I get to decide. I’m not doing this, Ridge.” His son fires back, basically, “Oh yes you are.” Maybe the next fashion war will be between Eric and Ridge? Fashion showdown redux, or will Eric kick Ridge to the curb?