THE PROPOSAL

CHAPTER FOUR – High as a Kite

Harvey had arrived at the office as soon as he could. Jessica and Claude were already there, mulling over their predicament, together with Louis and Julien. Robert Zane, hell bent on destroying Jessica's rebuild of the firm, had managed to get the SEC to freeze Roche & Roche's ability to deal in the US, thus preventing Pearson Specter Litt from taking the investment they were so desperate for. It transpired that the European firm was under investigation by the SEC in the US for alleged insider trading. A Dutch-American firm they represented from their Headquarters in Paris, via a loose partnership with Bratton Gould, had initiated a hostile takeover on a German corporation which they were also representing from their Frankfurt office. It was a disaster of miscommunication between two of their branches and they were going to have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to get the SEC to allow them to operate in the USA and fulfil their commitment with Pearson Specter Litt.

"I can't believe this is happening," said Jessica as she sat down at the head of the table in the larger of Pearson Spector Litt's conference rooms. "Goddamn Robert Zane," she muttered under her breath.

"Where's Rachel?" asked Louis, "can't we ask her to get her father to back down?"

"No," said Jessica, "I don't want to bring Rachel into this. She has enough on her plate."

"Wait a minute," said Claude Roche, "what exactly is going on here? Your government's SEC has blocked my firm trading in the US, why? Because of this man, Robert Zane? Who is he?"

"He was going to be Mike Ross's father-in-law," said Harvey, "and now he's as mad as hell."

"With who?" said Claude, "he's as mad as hell with Mike Ross? But he's in prison. What is the point of all this?"

"I'll tell you the point," said Jessica, "Robert Zane blames me for this whole scandal and for his daughter's involvement in it. Goddamn idiot! As if I made Rachel and Mike fall head over heels in love with each other. He's like a dog with a bone over this and it's going to take a miracle to get him to back down."

"This man is protecting his daughter then?" asked Julien Roche, "it is a matter of the heart which means it is bad news for us. There is nothing we can do."

"Julien, we need to be a little more positive here," said Claude to his brother, "we haven't tried to put this right yet. We need to give our friends a chance."

"Maybe, Louis is right, Jessica," said Harvey, "Rachel could put a stop to this. We should ask her."

"Rachel hasn't been to this office since Mike went to jail," snapped Jessica, "she's been to college a handful of times – college that I'm still paying for I hasten to add – but she hasn't set foot in here. She hasn't spoken to any of us aside from Donna and if we're honest, we've all been too busy here to give her a second thought. Have you spoken to Rachel, Louis? How about you, Harvey? No, I didn't think so. How's she going to react if we go knocking on her door just because we need a favour. None of us have given her the time of day for three weeks and yes, I know we've all been fighting to keep our heads above water, but she's lost her life all because Mike gave up his to save us."

"Donna could talk to her," said Harvey.

"Donna, could talk to who?" said Donna's familiar gentle voice as she arrived in the conference room at the exact point she was needed. Her timing, as usual, was impeccable.

Harvey and Jessica looked at each other while Donna waited for an answer. She watched their exchange of glances and saw Jessica give a nod to Harvey. "We were wondering if we should ask Rachel to have a word with her father," he said. "He's the one responsible for putting the blocks on our deal with Roche & Roche."

"He did what? Oh no," said Donna as she took a seat at the table. "I'm not sure if talking to Rachel about this is a good idea."

"Why the hell not?" asked Jessica.

"Rachel's taking things really hard at the moment," said Donna, her voice was filled with concern for her best friend. "And I mean she's taking things REALLY hard. She's not sleeping and she's not eating very well. She's a total mess. I don't think she'd be able to deal with anything else right now."

"Fine," said Jessica abruptly, "then I'm not willing to use her. Claude, we need you and Julien to sort your side of this mess out."

"We're on it already," said Claude, "this is just a minor error between two of our offices. An administrative error and nothing more. Julien and I already have people working on this in Paris. It is only a matter of time before we have a resolution. We are not worried."

"Also, there is the matter of EU law," added Julien, "it may take weeks for us to fight our way through the bureaucracy, but we can do it. The only issue here is your SEC and their regulations. We can't understand how they've managed to stop our deal going through."

"Neither do I, Julien, but I'm going to goddamn find out," said Jessica. "I need my team to go through this with a fine tooth comb. Harvey and Louis get straight on this and don't stop until you find something and I don't care how long it takes! Search back through every piece of legislation you can find to put a halt to the SEC. This deal needs to go through this week and if it doesn't, we're screwed. In the meantime, I'm going to pay Robert Zane a visit. Enough is enough. I need to put a stop to this."

Harvey watched Jessica leave the room. The Roche brothers made their pleasantries and left too. They were offered an office to work from but they both said they preferred their hotel, which Harvey found odd. He was still very wary of the younger brother. There was just something about him that he didn't like.

X

Harvey, Louis and Donna had worked nine hours straight before they finally took a break and ordered in some food from the sushi bar across the street. As they started eating there was an unnerving silence in the office. It was the type which invited small talk.

"So, how've you been, Louis?" asked Harvey. He caught Donna's approving smile at his attempt to show compassion and he mouthed 'what?' at her.

"Oh fine. You know …" said his one-time adversary, "I mean I haven't done much aside from work. Glad to be busy really. I haven't thought about much since Mike left. Sometimes I'm grateful that everything's gone to shit here. At least my mind has been on that instead of on Mike."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Harvey as he reached for an avocado California roll with his chopsticks, but failed. "Goddamnit," he said as he threw the chopsticks down and picked up the tray with his hands instead, choosing a few pieces and popping them onto his plate. "I'll do this manually if nobody minds," he said with frustration.

"You're quiet, Donna," said Louis. "Everything alright?"

"Me?" asked Donna. She looked like she was lost in thought. Louis nodded for her to continue talking. "Oh I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me. I just wish I could help more."

"You're helping loads Donna, seriously," said Louis warmly, "don't think like that. We couldn't do any of this without you."

"Oh, I think you could, Louis," she said with humour, "but thank you. You're very kind."

Louis smiled. "I just miss Mike, you know?" he said and his face crumpled. Harvey immediately felt uncomfortable. He found 'emotional' Louis terrifying.

Donna got up and moved to sit next to Louis on the sofa, putting her arm around him. "I know," she said, "we all do."

Harvey watched Donna comforting Louis and he smiled at her. This was what she was best at. Nobody could handle Louis like Donna. Hell, nobody could handle Harvey like Donna.

"Right, I have an idea and I'm not taking no for an answer," said Harvey as he jumped from his seat with a plan.

"What is it Harvey?" sniffed Louis.

Harvey walked over to his desk and took out a silver plated business card box.

"Oh no, Harvey, not that!" said Donna in surprise.

Harvey laughed. "Shut up," he said with a mischievous grin, "don't tell me you're chicken because I don't believe you. Come on, Donna. Mike would have had this thing with the SEC sussed by now. We need this. Let's do it for Mike, eh?"

Donna stuck her tongue in her cheek to stop herself giggling. "Ok then, why the hell not," she laughed.

"Wait … what the hell's going on?" said Louis. "Is this one of your weird rituals? I don't want any part of this. I swear if you get that damned can opener, I'm out of here!"

"Sit down, Louis," teased Harvey, "don't pretend you're not intrigued by the can opener when I know you're desperate to know everything there is to know about the can opener. Anyway, doesn't matter. This isn't about the can opener. This is about Mike and this …" he opened the business card box to reveal a little bag filled with a suspicious looking 'herb', "this right here is his gift to us."

"What the?" pouted Louis, "is that what I think it is?"

"Ah-ha," nodded Harvey, "it most certainly is. Louis Litt, may I introduce you to the last surviving descendent of Mike's stash."

"No way," said Louis. "You've got to be mad. You can't smoke that in here! And Donna, you're not doing it. I forbid it. Think of the by-laws!"

"Screw the by-laws," said Donna, "we've no partners to answer to. There's only us. We'll rewrite the goddamn by-laws."

"Re-write the by-laws?" huffed Louis, "my life's greatest achievement? How dare you!"

"Oh come on Louis," said Harvey, "we need this." He walked over to his bureau drawer and took out cigarette papers, tobacco and a lighter.

"Harvey, Jesus!" shrieked Louis.

"No, it's just Harvey actually," he quipped.

"It's like a goddamn drugs den in here," said Louis in horror, "where the hell have you got all of this stuff from. Are you dealing this shit?"

"Louis, Louis, chill out," said Donna, "it's just a teeny-tiny little bag of weed. We were saving it for a special occasion."

"It's a slippery slope, Donna," said Louis, "sure, it'll start with a sly smoke in Harvey's office, but it'll end with you selling your body and your hair and your goddamn teeth to sailors down at the Harbour."

"Louis, that's the plot of Les Miserables," said Donna, twisting her face into a comical grimace, "there was no pot smoking in Les Miz. I should know, I played Fantine a few years ago. I'd have remembered."

"You played Fantine?" said a highly impressed Louis, "Donna, that's a meaty part! But wait. I've heard you sing."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," said Donna rolling her eyes, "don't worry, it wasn't the musical version. It was a play based on the novel. But either way … still no weed."

"Drugs or not, this is what happens," said an exasperated Louis. "It's a universal truth that the second a beautiful woman starts taking illegal drugs she'll be selling her body before the week's out. What the hell's the matter with you Donna?"

"It's just one joint, Louis," said Donna dismissively, "I promise I will not try to sell you my body! Jeez, you need to relax. Remember, this is how Harvey and Mike discovered Hardman's plot to take over the firm."

"Bullshit!" said Louis.

"It's not bullshit, Louis," said Harvey laughing. He was sitting in his chair rolling the third of three joints. "I swear on all of our lives. Mike and I were as high as kites when we came up with that theory on Hardman. And we were right, weren't we?"

Donna picked up one of the joints and the lighter. "It's up to you, Louis, but I may as well tell you …" she said seductively as she walked over to Louis and put her arm around his shoulder. Harvey grinned. This was Donna at her best. "I may as well tell you how utterly, maddeningly, enticingly sexy I find men when they're stoned."

Louis looked like he was going to faint. He shot forward awkwardly and grabbed the last of the joints from Harvey, "right I'll do it," he said, "give me the goddamn lighter. Time for me to Litt this bad boy the hell up."

X

An hour later and Louis was passed out on the floor of Harvey's office snoring like a baby.

"Donna," said Harvey, "I haven't found a solution to the problem yet."

"Neither have I," said Donna giggling.

"Neither has Louis," said Harvey.

Donna started to laugh uncontrollably. She was onto her third joint and for some reason Louis's snores had suddenly become the most hilarious thing on earth.

"What are we going to do?" he said.

"I've no idea," she said. She was lying flat out on the floor next to him, holding her sides because she was laughing so hard.

"Donna," said Harvey.

"What?"

"How the hell has Louis fallen asleep?"

She laughed again, curling up into a ball until tears streamed down her face. She took deep breaths, but she was laughing so much that she couldn't get any words out.

"We need to do something like draw on his face or take his clothes or some shit … you know … we're wasting an opportunity here."

Donna still couldn't answer for laughing.

"Fine," said Harvey, "you keep laughing, but you'll be sorry tomorrow when you've let this opportunity pass. It'll not come round again."

"Harvey, if you want to take Louis's clothes off him … haha … then you be my guest … haha … but I'm not doing it."

"Fine," said Harvey as he wrenched himself off the floor into a sitting position. "shit, my back," he said. "It feels like I've been lying on a concrete slab. Is your back hurting?"

"No, but I'm not as old as you," she said.

"Excuse me," said Harvey, "you're not far off."

"I'm a looong way off," she giggled, "and I look it too."

"Donna," whined Harvey. He was having a fit of the giggles now too. "What are we going to do about the deal?"

"Ooh no, you've gone all serious," she pouted, "not tonight, eh? I'm so sick of being … worried. I was enjoying tonight."

"Me too," he said softly. He looked at her in full realisation that this woman was his soulmate and he was the luckiest man alive to have her after everything that had happened. "You're amazing you know?" he said.

"Yeah I know," she giggled, "oh wait, you're not?"

"What?"

"You're not being serious again, are you?"

"No," he said shaking his head, "well, yes, I am serious. You are amazing and I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Harvey, stop," said Donna. She tried to sit up but yelped holding her back. "Help me up!" she laughed.

Harvey grinned and took hold of her arm, dragging her up to a sitting position.

"Right, what did you say again," said Donna swaying on the carpet between giggles, "oh yes, I'm amazing. Wait. You're not going to tell me you love me again are you? Why did I sit up again? Shit, my ass feels like it's died."

Harvey started laughing again. "What the hell are we doing, Donna?" he said.

Donna leaned over and rested her arm on his knee, "we're having fun and it feels great," she said. She looked into his eyes and Harvey felt his stomach flutter in a way which unsettled him. He was afraid of that feeling because he'd been running away from it for years.

"Mitchell is a lucky man," he said sincerely, his expression full of genuine respect and admiration for his best friend.

Donna's face changed and Harvey instantly wished he hadn't mentioned her boyfriend's name. Why did he always say the wrong thing?

"Mitchell and I broke up this morning," said Donna.

"Oh, I'm sorry Donna," said Harvey truthfully, "he didn't hurt you did he, because if he did …"

"No, nothing like that. Mitchell was really sweet and kind. He just wasn't …"

"Wasn't what?"

"He wasn't you! He wasn't you! You fucking idiot!" yelled Louis.

They both looked at each other for an embarrassingly long moment – both of their mouths open in shock. They crept over to where Louis was still lying flat out on his back. He was still snoring.

"Louis, are you awake?" asked Harvey firmly.

"Zzzzzzzz" came the response.

Harvey and Donna looked at each other and started laughing again. "Well that was awkward," said Harvey, "he did say that, didn't he? He couldn't have said it in his sleep, surely?"

"God knows," said Donna, "this is Louis we're talking about. Anything is possible."

"What do you think we should do with him?" asked Harvey.

"Just leave him there," said Donna. "It's not like we'd be able to wake him up. I mean, what a lightweight! He only smoked one joint before he passed out! I'm nabbing the sofa. I need to sleep this off for a few hours."

"I'll take the chaise," said Harvey.

They both settled down in the office wondering if Louis's snores were going to keep them awake until morning. Harvey dimmed the lights leaving the Manhattan skyline to cast twinkling shadows into the office.

"Donna," said Harvey quietly a few minutes later.

"Uh-hum," said Donna.

"I am sorry about you and Mitchell," he said.

"I know you are, Harvey. Thank you."