Eric Pushes Deke to Put Ridge in His Place at Katie’s New Fashion House | The Bold and the Beautiful

Deke has known for some time that his days at Forrester Creations were numbered. The return of Thomas Forrester made that reality impossible to ignore. Once Thomas stepped back into the company and began reclaiming his authority, any remaining hope Deke had quickly dissolved. Behind closed doors, the message was unmistakable: there was no longer space for him in a fashion empire once again ruled by legacy power and unresolved rivalries.

What made the loss even harder was how personal it felt. Working at Forrester Creations had been more than a career milestone—it was a dream fulfilled. Designing alongside his sister, Hope, gave Deke a sense of purpose and belonging he had fought hard to earn. He poured his heart into his work, determined to prove that talent and dedication could stand up to a famous last name. But all of that vanished the moment Thomas returned, effortlessly erasing everything Deke had built.

Leaving Forrester Creations wasn’t just about losing a job. It meant losing his identity as a designer and the one place where he finally felt seen and valued. The humiliation of being pushed aside so easily weighed heavily on him. Watching Hope adjust to Steffy’s authority while he himself was treated as expendable only deepened the bitterness. With no strength left to fight the inevitable, Deke quietly walked away, carrying his disappointment and wounded pride with him.

Just when it seemed his dream was truly over, an unexpected opportunity emerged. Katie’s decision to launch her own fashion company sent ripples through the industry—and offered Deke a lifeline he never saw coming. Unlike Forrester Creations, Katie wasn’t interested in legacy politics or old family hierarchies. She wanted originality, bold ideas, and designers unafraid to take creative risks. In Deke, she saw genuine potential.

When Katie reached out, it wasn’t out of sympathy. It was belief. She understood what it meant to start from nothing and build something meaningful. Accepting her offer wasn’t easy for Deke. Part of him felt like it meant surrendering, admitting that his fight at Forrester Creations had been lost. But as he began to imagine a future free from constant comparison, hope slowly replaced despair.

At Katie’s company, Deke wasn’t a backup choice—he was essential. He found himself sketching again, reconnecting with the passion that first drew him to fashion. For the first time in a long while, his creativity felt unburdened. His work could finally stand on its own, without being overshadowed by the Forrester name.

Then came a twist no one anticipated. Eric Forrester sought Deke out in private, away from the drama surrounding both companies. What began as a quiet conversation quickly turned explosive when Eric revealed a collection of original designs—his designs. These weren’t discarded concepts or unfinished ideas, but bold, visionary pieces Eric had kept hidden for years.

Eric’s intentions were clear. This wasn’t just a generous gesture—it was a statement. He believed Ridge had lost his way, allowing ego and control to overshadow creativity and family values. In Eric’s eyes, Forrester Creations had become a battleground rather than a place of artistic innovation. By entrusting his designs to Deke and aligning with Katie’s new company, Eric aimed to challenge Forrester Creations in the most painful way possible—creatively.

He wanted Ridge to feel the consequences of underestimating both his father and the talent he so easily dismissed. For Deke, the weight of this offer was overwhelming. Using Eric’s designs could instantly elevate Katie’s brand and turn it into a serious rival to Forrester Creations. But it also meant stepping directly into a conflict he never intended to fight.

Accepting Eric’s trust could redefine Deke’s career and finally give him the recognition he deserved. At the same time, it could permanently sever any chance of reconciliation with the Forrester family. The temptation was undeniable—but so was the risk.

As this storyline unfolds, alliances begin to shift and long-buried resentments resurface. What started as one man’s professional heartbreak is rapidly evolving into a full-scale power struggle that threatens the future of multiple fashion empires. In classic The Bold and the Beautiful fashion, ambition, loyalty, and revenge are on a collision course.

Should Deke accept Eric’s designs and help Katie take on Forrester Creations—or will this bold move ignite a family war that can never be undone?