One Flight Down
Chapter Forty-Five
"Thanks for meeting me for lunch today." She said after Louis joined her at her favorite diner and they had ordered. "I know it was short notice."
"I have to admit I was curious about why when you asked." Louis shrugged. "But you said it was important and I never say no to a free lunch."
"Still…thank you." She nodded. "I do have one question to ask before I get to the reason I called you. How exactly did you know that Harvey and I were together?"
"He told me." Louis explained. "Though I think he only told me so I would leave you alone and cut you some slack."
She could see Harvey telling Louis as a way of trying to protect her. But it didn't excuse his actions. She would deal with that later, moving on to the real reason for this lunch.
"Ok. So I know you are aware of what happened in Arizona, and you want to use that as a way to get me to vote for Harvey. I'll admit that it's something I don't want Harvey to know yet. I do plan on telling him, but it's not the right time for that. Still, I'm not going to vote for him. So if you really feel like you have to follow through on your blackmail threat, then go ahead. I'm prepared to deal with the consequences. But I strongly believe Robert is the best candidate for managing partner and I'm not going to let you dictate who I vote for simply because you found out something I haven't told Harvey."
She watched as there was a look of shock forming on Louis' face. Then there was a look of understanding, followed by a look she didn't recognize.
"I understand. If it's any consolation, I feel terrible about everything. I was up all last night thinking about it and I came to the realization that I wouldn't tell Harvey no matter how you decided to vote." Louis said.
"Really?" She was surprised—happy but surprised.
"Yes." Louis nodded. "For what it's worth I am sorry I tried to blackmail you. It wasn't right of me and I got too carried away. I've just been racking my brain trying to think of a way to make it so that Harvey can be managing partner. When my investigator told me what he found, I thought it was my shot to ensure his victory. I thought I could be the hero for once. But I should have realized Harvey was right. Blackmailing another name partner isn't the best way to start out. We have to be a team and team members aren't supposed to blackmail each other."
"No they shouldn't." She agreed.
"I'm better than that, and I need to act like it. And I shouldn't be trying to capitalize on what happened to you. It's not fair at all. What happened back then is something personal and I shouldn't try to capitalize on your pain. So I hope you can forgive me."
She could tell that Louis was serious and genuine with his apology. It caught her off guard. Maybe he actually did realize that blackmail was going too far. She decided to put him out of his misery. "I forgive you. But if you ever try to blackmail me again I won't be so forgiving. I will make it my life's mission to destroy you."
"That's understandable." He nodded. "If I ever tried to blackmail you again, I would deserve that."
"I do truly think you were doing it out of loyalty and friendship to Harvey, which is why I can forgive you. I don't think there was malicious intent towards me. Right?"
"That's right." He nodded. "I simply wanted to find a way to make sure my friend got the position he wanted. He's always the one that pulls out a victory from nowhere. I guess I got carried away trying to be like him."
She wasn't sure how he was going to react to her next statement, but it had to be done. "Louis, I know you keep voting for Harvey. I know you think he should be managing partner. But I need you to vote for Robert as managing partner instead of Harvey tonight."
"I can't do that and you know why." He shook his head. "If you can't understand that, then I'm going to just get my food to go."
"But I do understand completely." She argued. "You have a loyalty to Harvey, not unlike my loyalty to Robert. This goes beyond loyalty though."
"Harvey's one of my best friends, even if he doesn't think so all the time." Louis explained. "If I vote for Robert over Harvey, he will see it as a betrayal. Besides that, if you keep voting for Robert, he will see it as a betrayal too. You should know that he doesn't take betrayal lightly."
"Ok yeah, I won't lie to you. He will most likely see it as a betrayal and I know how he feels about that." She conceded. "But I know you see what I see. This battle for managing partner is going to tear up the firm. It's going to make us extremely vulnerable at a time when we need to be showing strength. Everyone is going to think we are a sitting target because Jessica is gone. If we can't even agree on a managing partner then we are sitting ducks for poachers. Even the associates will start to notice that no one is in charge. Every day we go without someone in charge is another day that things fall through the cracks. We need a leader."
"Yeah." Louis agreed. "We need Harvey."
"You're wrong." She said softly. "We need Robert. Robert has the experience to lead better than Harvey does. He understands what is it like to make the hard decisions and he knows how to manage people's egos in a way that doesn't make them feel like they are being managed. Even Jessica thought that Robert would be a better choice than Harvey. You can't tell me that you are willing to discount Jessica's opinion that easily."
"Of course Jessica's opinion matters." Louis sighed. "But…"
"And can you look me in the eyes and tell me that you honestly think Harvey has the people skills and leadership skills right now to handle being managing partner?" She asked, taking a different approach with the man. "You think Harvey has the patience to deal with petty squabbles and things like budgets and quarterly reports? You think he would honestly be happy not being able to take on as many cases because he's so busy trying to keep the firm together?"
"I'm not sure what would make him happy." Louis admitted.
"But you know that he loves the chase." She pointed out. "He loves coming up with the strategy that will win the case and closing the deal. That's what he does and what he's good at doing. That's his drug of choice. If he's managing partner, he won't be the one doing that anymore. He will have withdrawals and that won't be good for him or the firm."
"But…"
"Look." She sighed. "I know you want to do right by your friend and I can respect that. I also know you are aware that Harvey and I are seeing each other so you should know that I care about Harvey too. It isn't a casual relationship. I love him and the absolute last thing I want to do is hurt him. I want him to be happy. But this vote isn't personal and we can't let it become personal. Part of being a name partner is doing what is best for the whole firm, not just one person."
"You're lecturing me on being a name partner?" He scoffed. "You've only been name partner for a minute. I've been one for years. I know more about being a name partner than you do."
"Still…" She ignored that comment because it wouldn't do her any good to fight with him on it. "Ask yourself this. Is it better to let this battle for managing partner drag on for weeks or end it before everything comes crashing down? Because that is what will end up happening and pretty soon there will be nothing left of the firm to manage."
Louis sighed. "It isn't that easy."
"I know. I don't want to hurt Harvey either." She nodded. "But I also know you love this firm like it is your child. Well Louis, your child is drowning right now. You have a life preserver in your hands. You can rescue your child and keep it from drowning."
"By letting Harvey drown instead." Louis scoffed.
"Let me worry about Harvey, ok? We need to be focused on doing what is right for the firm…not what Harvey thinks is right for him. I know he thinks he wants to be managing partner, but it won't make him happy. It will actually make him miserable and the firm will suffer. If you love the firm at all, you will vote for Robert."
"You know this puts me in a terrible position, right?" Louis asked. "I have told Harvey that I'll vote for him no matter what. And now you are asking me to turn my back on him."
"I understand." She told him. "I understand completely because I've been torn between Robert and Harvey in ways you can't even begin to imagine. But we have to think about what is best for the firm. Do I think that Harvey could pull off being managing partner? Sure. I think he could do a great job. But I also think that deep down he doesn't really want it. I think in some ways he thinks he should want it. But I doubt it would make him happy long term. "
"Fine." He finally sighed. "At the meeting tonight, I'll vote for Robert."
"Thank you Louis." She smiled. "You won't regret this."
"I already do." He told her. "And I'm getting my food to go. Thank you for lunch."
She watched as he went up to the counter and started talking to their waitress. Once he was out of the diner with his food, she picked up her phone and dialed.
"Hey."
"Do you have good news?" Robert asked.
"Yeah. Louis is going to vote for you tonight instead of Harvey. So you will be the new managing partner of Specter Zane Litt Sullivan."
"That is good news!" He laughed. "I knew you wouldn't let me down."
"Of course not." She assured him. "When have I ever?"
"You never have." He praised. "Thank you Victoria."
"You're welcome." She didn't bother to say goodbye before hanging up. While she wasn't happy with Harvey for telling Louis about their relationship, she felt bad about twisting Louis' arm into voting for Robert.
There was a part of her that always thought there would be a time when she had to choose between Harvey and Robert. She just didn't expect that time to come so soon. She worried about Harvey's reaction. But the damage was done. All she could do now was wait for the fallout.
