Disclaimer: Do not own Suits. If I did Mike and Harvey would so be a couple…
Summary: In which Rachel gets a severe case of paranoia, Donna doesn't know everything, Mike and Jessica go out on a date and Harvey kisses a frog. And Louis is… well, Louis.
A/N: Ok, guys, this is SLASH, if you don't like it there's a probably a pretty little red cross on the upper right side of the screen to get you out. Rated mainly for swearing.
Enjoy.
Monday
It all started on Monday. Harvey was sure there was a reason why people hated Mondays, although having a dream job and a dream apartment, and a dream secretary, and a dream boss, and a dream associate, and a dream… well, everything, he wouldn't know anything about that.
He stepped into his office whistling quietly, with a coffee cup in his hand and everything seemed perfect until a loud bang erupted behind him, his glass door rattled violently and cracked, creating a huge spiderweb-like pattern on the pristine, transparent surface.
He glanced at Donna who looked almost startled for a second, until a huge encyclopaedia whizzed right past her head, hit her potted orchid and knocked it off of her desk.
Now, if there's one thing Harvey knew for sure it was that one doesn't mess with Donna's things, so he quickly stepped out of his office, ready to watch some action.
Donna quietly stood up, her lips pressed in a thin line. She wordlessly brushed invisible dirt off of her skirt and marched towards the source of the unfortunate happening, which seemed to be located somewhere in the vicinity of Rachel's office. But before she made it that far Louis was suddenly in her path, being forcefully pushed outside Rachel's office, his suit jacket being thrown at him seconds later.
"… and, lawyer or not, if you ever come to my apartment again I will file a restraining order!" She shouted after his disappearing back. "Stalker." She sighed in frustration and looked around only now noticing the commotion she's caused. She looked at Donna's inscrutable expression, then at Harvey's raised eyebrows and smiled tentatively. "I can explain."
Mike's day was pretty normal at least up to the point when he got called up to Jessica's office to explain some unfortunate miscalculations in one of the documents. To tell the truth it wasn't even his mistake but Harold's, however Mike found tattling on his co-workers rather uncalled for, especially since he rarely made mistakes and Harold was already on Jessica's radar because he misquoted a contract in the presence of a client.
What he didn't account for was Louis stepping right into his path with a pile of files the height of the Empire State Building. One glance at his face told Mike that Louis was pissed beyond imagination and there wasn't any excuse in the world that would help him avoid spending the next twenty-four hours in the office. Or, at least, that's what he thought.
"These," Louis started by way of greeting, handing him half the pile, "are to be on my desk by the end of the day." He smiled his full smile, which reminded Mike of a strange cross between a rat's smile and a Cheshire cat's grin. "The rest," Louis promptly put the other files on top of those resting in Mike's hands, in the process trapping the associate's thumbs painfully between the piles, "will be done by tomorrow morning. Clear?"
"Sure." He sighed with resignation and prepared himself to leave before Louis found something else for him to do. Before he managed to do that he heard an amused voice from behind him.
"Aren't you forgetting that we already have plans for the evening, Michael?" He turned to look at Jessica, a meaningful smile on her face. Not having the slightest clue as to what she was talking about he nodded numbly, imagining a giant anvil falling on his head. What scheme did he get himself into this time? Well, whatever it was he just hoped that Harvey already knew about it.
Louis looked like a kicked puppy that was not allowed to play. "What plans?" He asked sarcastically.
"What I do after hours is none of your business, Louis." Jessica replied smoothly. "It so happens that I must kidnap Mike for the evening, so I suggest you give these," she pointed at the files in Mike's grasp "to another associate." She glanced at Mike. "I need you in my office, now."
Mike dropped the files on the nearest flat surface and as he followed Jessica to the elevator he wondered when did he enter an alternate reality.
"What is going on and why did my orchid have to suffer for it?" Donna asked in an I'm-not-happy-and-you'd-better-explain-yourself-or-else voice. It was only now that Rachel took a look around and noticed the damage done to Donna's work station and Harvey's office door. Shit, she thought, they must be so pissed at me. But both looked more curious than angry, and Harvey was rather obviously amused. She thought it probably had something to do with Louis being put in his place and by a paralegal no less. I made Harvey Specter happy, she wanted to shout. This exclamation was usually reserved for Mike. But then she remembered that they were still waiting for her explanations and she blushed. Harvey and Donna could be confused for siblings right now, she thought, with their right eyebrows raised in expectation above brown eyes narrowed quizzically and identical expressions adorning their faces.
"Someone broke into my apartment last night." She started and that piece of information was immediately filed inwardly for consideration by both the big-shot lawyer and his secretary.
"And you think Louis was responsible?" Donna asked doubtfully.
"His car was outside my apartment," Rachel explained "and I know his plates ever since he had me order a car cleaning service for him for six months straight."
"As much as I don't like Louis," Harvey interjected "that doesn't prove anything."
"Not in court," she agreed "but when I confronted him about it, he was… shifty."
"Isn't he always?" Harvey asked rhetorically and Donna nodded solemnly. Rachel could almost see the gears shifting in her head as she thought up the most plausible explanation. Finally, she shrugged.
"What did he say?"
"He said he had a 'personal business' in the neighbourhood."
"That would imply he has a personal life outside of the office and we all know that's not true" Harvey stated.
"Was anything stolen?" Donna asked.
Rachel blushed once again, thinking about her precious lingerie collection. "Some… personal items."
"You've got to be kidding me," Harvey moaned "now that's an image I'll never get out of my head." He had a look of utter horror on his face. "I don't want to know, I really don't." He sighed. "Donna, get someone to fix my doors, until then I'll find myself someplace to work." He stormed off in the direction of the associates' cubicles, shaking his head, as if trying to get rid of some unpleasant thoughts.
Rachel looked at Donna.
"No." Donna said. "That's your problem now. I'm not getting in between you, Louis and," she waved her hand dismissively "other things."
Mike stepped into Jessica's office feeling way out of place. He longed for his tiny little cubicle and wondered whether doing Louis's work was not a better option than this shit.
"Mike," Jessica looked at him expectantly "I really need you with me tonight."
"Wh-," he stammered looking unsure "what for?"
"As my date of course," she said matter-of-factly "you didn't really think I called you up here to punish you for Harold's mistakes?"
"D-date? Like a fake date to manipulate a client or something, right?"
Jessica smiled and looked him straight in the eye. Way too easy, she thought. "Not really, no." She answered. "I'll pick you up at seven. You should go change."
Mike looked at her puzzled. There was no way he would ever like her like that. Ever. "Okay." He said meekly. She didn't really like him, did she? There was no harm in meeting her. On a date. Alone. Somewhere. Okay. Take a deep breath, Mike. Get the hell away from here.
"See you tonight then." She said gently, and he almost ran out of her office, passing by a stunned Harvey on his way out, who shouted something like 'I was just looking for you' at his back, but he was beyond caring at this point.
"What did you do to the puppy?" Harvey looked oddly concerned.
"Nothing, you know how flustered he gets."
Yes, things are going well, Jessica thought.
"Mike, I need your help." Rachel caught up with him as he reached his desk.
"Sure, I actually don't have much to do," he smiled at her. Things were going much easier between them since they decided to be friends. Besides, Rachel believed he had a huge crush on his boss, which wasn't true. Absolutely not. He liked girls, obviously. Duh. "What do you need?"
"I need you to help me stalk Louis."
"Huh? What? Why? He's in his office, polishing his nails. I saw him on my way here."
"Not right now, Mike." Rachel hissed. "Tonight, after work."
"Uh-I, I can't," Mike stammered "I kind of have plans."
"Seriously? You pick the only night when I need your help to have a date?" She whined. "Please, at least tell me it's with Harvey." She looked at him expectantly. "I expect you to tell me all about your hot man-sex tomorrow." She grinned and left before he managed to deny and explain, and, finally, ask why the hell she decided that stalking Louis, of all people, was a good past-time.
Mike sat down at his desk, sighed tiredly and decided there was a good reason why people didn't like Mondays.
Harvey looked at his watch, glad to be finished with paperwork and meetings for the day. Jessica reluctantly allowed him to use her office until his was functional again. It might have had something to do with the fact that he exaggerated a little when describing the damage to his door. Then again, Jessica also seemed unusually preoccupied and Harvey made a mental note to ask Mike what was their meeting about.
He grabbed his jacket and was on his way out, hoping to catch his associate at his desk, but found it empty. Sending a text to Donna telling her to investigate, he walked into the elevator and began to think about his evening. Now, who should he go on a date with?
There were no other words to describe it – Mike was squirming. Ever since Jessica picked him up in her too expensive car, drove him to the too expensive restaurant and ordered too expensive dishes, he was restless. He felt like an outsider in his suit, which, admittedly, was not the cheapest, but, all the same, nowhere near her gown when it comes to the price range.
He fiddled with his fork, glancing at her quickly. She was eating a duck in a caramel sauce, something that was definitely not on his to-eat list, looking rather like a cat that ate a canary.
That wasn't too bad, he thought, but there was one huge problem. He still had no idea what he was doing here.
"Uhm-" he hesitated.
"Yes, Mike?"
He decided immediately that he preferred when she called him Michael. It sounded much more formal. Maybe it made him feel a little bit like a child, but at least he didn't feel… well, taken advantage of.
She took one look at his panic-striken face and decided to end this once and for all. "Listen, and listen well," she said in the scariest, most professional and serious tone she could muster, although she knew that the situation was nowhere near professional "we are on a date and we're having fun."
"Huh?"
"Quiet." She snapped. "I said we're having fun. This is, to all intents and purposes, a date. At least, when the outsiders are concerned. I don't require you to do anything, but engage in small-talk, preferably have a good time and never mention this again. And under no circumstances mention this… date… to anyone in the office. Understood?"
"But- Harvey…"
"Yes, Harvey. That's a good point. No matter what happens today, and who asks you what, we're on a date. All possible questions that Harvey might ask, are to be answered along the lines of: yes, it was a date, yes, we had fun, yes, she asked, me, no, I don't know if we're going to do it again." He wanted to interrupt but she raised her finger and said very slowly: "I know you have an eidetic memory, you can remember that."
"Y-Yes, but why?"
"That's none of your business. At least not right now. If Harvey gives you trouble because of it, send him to me." She glanced around the restaurant and suddenly sat straighter. She looked at him solemnly. "Now tell me you understand."
There were about a million questions he wanted to ask. "I understand." He said, instead.
"Good." She said and smiled warmly. The metamorphosis was instantaneous. "Then let's enjoy our date."
Her name was Alicia. It was a good name, Harvey decided opening the door before her. Simple, not exaggerated (Giselle), over-innovative and forcefully optimistic (Cheer) or taken from dusty old tomes like myths or bibles (Persephone). It was also fitting the little blonde in a tight red strapless dress who held onto his arm. She wasn't amazing, but proved good enough, and that was all he could hope for lately. Of course, that wasn't his problem, he was simply to good and therefore required an unusual level of excellence to hold his attention. Like Mike, he thought suddenly, Mike could hold his attention all right. He was a genius after all, Harvey mused while taking Alice's coat, and pulling out a chair for her. He gracefully accepted a wine card that Lucian, his waiter, slipped him, and thought that obviously, Mike would never come with him to a place like that. He wasn't fond of this splendour and lavishness, and he preferred hot-dogs over lobsters. It's good that all the longer nights in the office could be supplemented by a delicious pizza.
"What are you thinking about?" Alicia asked, trying to take his hand. Seeing as his free hand was lying on the table and he wasn't even done with the wine card, he quickly pulled it away, forcing himself to smile.
"Nothing important, why?"
"You just looked like you were miles away. I didn't interrupt your train of thoughts, did I?"
"No" he forced himself not to snap, although in reality he wanted to say 'yes'. "It was a long day in the office." He explained and started to look around hoping to find something to distract him both from his thoughts and the surprisingly irritating blonde in front of him.
And then he spotted a familiar face. Jessica sat at the table in the far corner of the room, facing him, but completely engrossed in a conversation with a handsome man, whom he didn't know. He was just about to get up and say 'hi' when she, not unlike Alicia earlier, put her hand on the man's and smiled flirtatiously. He sat back down, unwilling to interrupt her date. He could tease her all about it tomorrow in the office. He smiled at Alicia, deciding to cut his date as short as he could and get a good night of sleep instead. But, while waiting for his meal to arrive, he couldn't help but steal glances at his boss and her companion.
It was only when they finished their dinner and Harvey got up to help Alicia back into her coat that he got a good look at the profile of the man accompanying Jessica.
And he almost gasped, realizing that the stranger was no stranger after all.
If Mike noticed how all of a sudden Jessica became more touchy-feely than he's ever seen her, he didn't mention it. He smiled at her and talked, and their conversation was interesting enough but inwardly he wished for this evening to be over. He certainly didn't understand her purpose, and was startled when she put her hand on his. Nevertheless he played along. He only hoped Harvey wouldn't find out about that.
Later, lying between his cool silk sheets, Harvey couldn't help but think about Mike. What the hell was he doing in the most expensive restaurant in the city with Jessica Pearson no less? Were they discussing a case or was it a date? It definitely seemed intimate enough.
He tossed and turned, trying to get some sleep, but all he could see was their hands clasped together and Jessica's predatory smile.
She definitely had a hidden agenda; this is Jessica Person after all. She was trying to manipulate the puppy. Scare him or force him to like her even. Either way, the puppy was not hers, and Harvey would make damn sure she knew that.
TBC
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