Mike couldn't help but smile as he stood in Louis's office waiting for the man to return. Someone actually wanted him, and was willing to appreciate what he could do, and dammit, he could do a lot. He thought about how much Louis was willing to do just to get Mike to consider working as his associate and it made his smile even broader as he looked down at his feet, trying to look less excited then he felt. As he stared out the window he couldn't wait to see what Louis and he could accomplish together.
That was when he heard someone entering the office, turning around with a big smile he expected to be greeting Louis, but instead Harvey was standing in the doorway. Mike's smile faltered as he looked Harvey in the eyes.
Trying to seem casual Harvey spoke first, "I can't let you do this."
"Let me?" Mike couldn't help but feel a little angered at Harvey's word choice.
Smiling a little awkwardly, Harvey spoke again, "Don't do this."
A little confused, Mike responded, "I already said yes." Mike new Harvey wasn't going to take this well. "I can't go back on my word."
And he was right. Harvey was clenching his jaw, he was pissed. Mike could detect some other emotion that Harvey was trying to cover up, but couldn't put a name to it. Harvey spoke again, more emotion then he would usually let show coming through, "You're not going back on your word, you're going back where you belong."
Mike tried to keep his emotions back. "I am; I am sorry."
Harvey spoke before he could finish, "I know. Look…"
Mike interrupted him, he had to make Harvey understand what he meant. No longer able to keep the emotion out of his voice Mike almost whispered, "I meant I'm sorry, but I'm working for Louis now Harvey." Closing his eyes and hanging his head a little he told Harvey, "He actually wants me."
There was a silence as Harvey stared at his puppy in disbelief. Neither man noticed the audience that had gathered outside the door that included Louis, standing there holding a big cake.
Mike was the first to break the silence as he looked up at Harvey with watery eyes, "I like working with Louis, and he actually likes working with me. And with him, it's with, not for. He doesn't just want me to succeed professionally to make him look good, he wants me to succeed for me, and he wants me to succeed with more than just my work." Mike never took his eyes away from Harvey's as he delivered the most difficult speech he had ever given. "He was the one that encouraged me to try and fix things with you because he could see what it was doing to me. He could see that it hurt me, Harvey, and he wanted to make me feel better. He was there when I needed someone, and you weren't."
Harvey didn't know what to say. He knew he had been hurting his pup, he knew he had been unreasonable as well. What he didn't know, for the first time in his life, was what words to use to fix what he had done wrong. With too much emotion for his liking, Harvey tried, "Mike, please…" But he couldn't think of anything else to say.
Mike turned back toward the window, only four words left to say, "Please Harvey, just leave." Mike felt the first tear roll down his cheek as he heard Harvey hesitate for a second, then leave the room. Mike refused to look back so he didn't see Harvey's bewilderment as he turned around to see half the firm staring at him on the other side of the glass wall, some with tears in their eyes, some glaring at Harvey, and some managing to do both. Harvey quickly made his way back to his office, only to be greeted by Donna not only crying and glaring, but also somehow smiling with sympathy for her boss, a broken smile.
Mike only tuned around when he heard Louis hesitantly say, "Mike, I got the surprise I said I was getting." Mike turned around and was shocked to see dozens of people staring at him from outside Louis's office, and upon seeing the shocked look Louis turned around, "Come on guys, get back to work and leave Mike alone." Louis turned back to see a faint smile on mike's face.
"Thanks Louis." That was when Mike noticed the cake in Louis's hands, "Wow, is that for me?" Mike looked at Louis with wonderment.
Louis smirked at being able to put a smile back on Mike's face, he hated how sad he could look sometimes; it was heart breaking. "Why yes, yes it is Michael. Think of it as a welcome to the team gift." Upon Mike's smile growing even wider, Louis added, "Shall we dig in?" Mike nodded as he grabbed some plates and forks from a table Louis had in the corner. Louis smiled to himself as he cut two very generous pieces of the cake; Mike had chosen him over Harvey goddam Specter.