NOTE: The character of "Tess" does not exist in this story.
Chapter Two
Louis thought things were working out perfectly. Sure, he still wasn't fully on Jessica's good side after the whole Hardman fiasco but he was a senior partner now; they couldn't fire him! And he would never quit, no matter how hard Harvey made his life.
Actually, life hasn't been that hard at all lately and now he knew why; thanks to Donna's little revelation on the hallway earlier. But, how to make sure Harvey's distraction persists?
..::..
Harvey burst through Jessica's doors early the next morning, well, nine o'clock early. "You're hiring Zoe Lawford?"
Jessica merely leaned back on her chair, "Good morning to you, too, Harvey. Please have a seat." She motioned to her sofa, where Louis was already sitting.
"What's going on here, Jessica?" Harvey asked, ignoring Louis' weasel-like smile. If he wasn't already a senior partner, Harvey would've asked Jessica the pleasure of firing him.
"Well, Harvey. As managing partner of the firm, I can make decisions on hiring new individuals," Jessica said, "Zoe helped us out greatly with your trial, I thought I'd return the favour."
Harvey huffed. Louis stood up from his position, smug smile still plastered on his face. He nodded to Jessica and smiled at Harvey, "But, inside…you really love that Zoe will be back, don't you?"
All Harvey could do was stare at Louis as he passed by him. Louis knew, how in the hell did Louis know? He looked at Jessica and asked (although part of him already knew the answer), "Was hiring Zoe his idea?"
..::..
Donna could sense angry footsteps approach her desk, angry Harvey footsteps. She was about to turn around, thinking she'd time it correctly, when his face came up dangerously close to hers and he spat out, "Louis knows! How does Louis know?"
Donna put on her best I'm-an-innocent-angel face and said (knowing it would only anger him more), "What does he know?"
Harvey rounded her desk and stared her down at her chair, "You know!"
Donna squinted, "Oh, right. The 'you know'! You're future, you know! I'm sorry, Harvey, but that's not my problem."
"It is your problem, when I know he heard it from you when you decided to sing it to the pup yesterday. I know you have a flair for theatrics but anywhere but the hallway would've been better for story time," he answered Donna angrily.
Before Donna could respond, Louis appeared at her desk and beckoned for Harvey. Harvey looked to be ready to kill him to which Donna cheekily commented, "Don't kill him in the hallway, too many witnesses…like you just said." Oh, if looks could kill.
The men entered Harvey's office and ON went the intercom. Donna listened intently as they began to discuss:
"Look, Harvey, I know we've had our differences but I thought this would help you out. Now, you don't have to spy on her from behind a hot dog."
"Help me out how? I didn't want her working here, at least not yet." Donna could just imagine the anger in his face as he said these words.
"Oh, I see, you wanted to be the one to offer her the position."
"Yes, and why you would think to stick your nose into my business, I have no idea! What do you want, Louis? What, what are you pointing at? Oh no, Louis! Not this again."
"Hear me out, hear me out. I get it, I know you guys are like this…" Oh my gosh, Donna could imagine him doing the gesture she had done just a couple of weeks ago in that very office.
She was up so fast from her chair and flung open Harvey's door, only to see him giving Louis a weird look. He had his hands clasped together and was saying, "What? What is this? What are we?"
Before Louis could answer, Donna's voice rang out. "It's never going to happen, Louis. The answer will always be 'No!'. N-O, spells 'No'."
Louis looked between the two of them and finally settled on Donna, "I just need one night of your life. Please, Donna. My parents are coming to town and I may have told them that…" He stopped and looked towards the wall.
Donna stared at Louis wide-eyed, "I think I'm going to regret the answer to this, but what did you tell them?"
"Itoldthemyouweremygirlfriend ," he replied so fast, both Harvey and Donna had trouble understanding everything but the last word, that one stuck out.
"You told them I was your girlfriend?" Donna clarified.
"Was this the same time that you told them I was your best friend?" Harvey interjected, now with a playful smile on his lips. Donna could see the wheels turning in his head and she had a feeling she wasn't going to like this.
Louis looked at both of them sheepishly. "So, will you?" he asked Donna.
"Will I what?" she retorted, "Will I go out to dinner with you and your parents? I don't think so, Louis."
"Now, now," Harvey interrupted, "this may not be a bad idea." He smirked at Donna, "Say, you do go to dinner with them. You can then proceed to break up with Louis and all this will finally be behind you."
Donna looked at Harvey, "You want me to fake break-up with him in front of his parents? So, I'll get a meal, and be able to humiliate you?" She directed the latter question towards Louis.
Louis looked at Harvey and back at Donna, nodding eagerly.
"Sorry, nope…still not going to do it, Louis," she answered. "You can tell your parents that we've broken up, I don't see why I have to. Unless…"
Louis looked so hopeful at that moment, Donna thought he looked like a dog after a bone, "…unless, your new found best-friend-forever –I think kids say BFF nowadays—comes with us, too. After all, someone will need to hold your hand after I break up with you."
Harvey shook his head and smirked at Donna. He turned to Louis, "The woman has spoken, Louis. And when a woman says she won't do something, it's best not to argue! You can go now."
Harvey then looked at Donna, "Well played, Ms. Paulsen; how very cunning of you." Donna smiled, moving forward to Harvey's desk as they began to talk.
Louis looked dejectedly at the both of them, walked to the door, got an idea, and walked back in. "You both are coming to dinner tomorrow," he announced decisively.
The two looked up at him. "And if you don't," Louis continued, "I'll be forced to tell Zoe about your little fantasy. What was it? Ralph Lauren? Calvin Klein? Oh, right…Osh-Kosh B'gosh."
Harvey looked at Louis angrily. "You wouldn't dare."
Donna looked at Harvey pointedly, "He's Louis, of course he would."
Harvey turned towards her, "This is all your fault. You should never have talked to Mike in the hallway."
"Well, technically, it's all your fault," she countered. "This whole mess was your crazy idea! Whatever, if we're doing is and the look on your face says we are…you're buying me a new dress, a new bag, and matching shoes."
Harvey stared at her, "So, even with a boyfriend, I still have to buy your things for you?" She looked about ready to kill him. And Harvey could swear Donna just growled at him as she responded, her voice so venomous, "Harvey…"
Harvey finally broke eye contact, "When and where, Louis?" He stated the time and place and walked out, smirk on his face.
Harvey and Donna were still angrily looking at one another as Mike walked in right after Louis exited. "I heard you guys just got Litt up?"
..::..
Donna carried a garment bag to work the next day. It was her new and fabulous dress, courtesy of Harvey's credit card, for their dinner tonight with the Litts. She had barely started her work when Louis sauntered over to her desk.
She looked up, dead-pan expression on her face as he said, "So, I'll see you tonight, Donna. Oh and remember, your nickname for me is 'boo-bear'.
Donna's shocked expression and the way she picked up her pen as if she was about to stab it into his heart made Louis dash out of there as soon as those words left his lips.
"A lot has sure changed around here…" Donna heard a voice speak, one she knew quite well. "I didn't know Louis traded you in for Monica Eton."
"He didn't! I lost a bet," Donna answered before turning around. Placing the pen back down, taking a deep breath, she finally turned to face the owner of the voice, "Zoe."
The lawyer smiled at her, "Hello, Donna."