Meghan Ross: Con Artist in Training

The Arrangement (Part 1)

Meghan had been released from the hospital under her doctor's order to stay home. She could go to the office with Mike, but work was out of the question. The only reasons for her to be wandering the halls was the bathroom or her physical therapy.

She was no longer attending her former school and was now doing it all online. It was working out for her with her recent medical issues.

Just as with public school, she was getting behind in each subject, but it wasn't going to last long. She had a plan that would give her an entire quarter off.

She had been planning her schedule in her sleep when she heard Mike wake up from a bad dream.

"Of course, it's a dream. Why wouldn't it be one? Harvey would never forgive me. And if Rachel wanted to, she would have turned me in by now," He mumbled as he put a pair of shoes on. Then he said, "I'm going to Rachel's. Shouldn't be gone too long," he added on the off-chance Meghan heard everything.

It was late and there was a lot on his mind so riding his bike wasn't an option. The cab ride to Rachel's felt like an eternity so when he finally did arrive, his knock was impatient. Hs knuckles kept wrapping against the door until it was opened.

"I told you I needed time."

"I know, but it's been two days, and I can't take it anymore. I had to see you."

Rachel stepped aside to let him in. "I don't want any comments about how messy the place is."

He didn't know why she bothered with that high order. If her apartment was messy, his was a stye. "Okay. And what would clean look like?"

"Don't even think about it," she said as she watched where his eyes lingered. Her bedroom.

"I can't not think about it, all right? Aside from getting Meghan home, it's all I've been able to think about for two days."

"Mike, why are you here? Because that's not going to happen."

"Now or ever?"

"You lied to me about everything... Do you remember when I told you I needed time? That's what I needed it for... to process this bomb that you dropped on me."

"I had a nightmare. You asked why I'm here. That's why. I... you exposed me to the entire firm."

"I would never do that."

"I know. I woke up, and I realized that the real nightmare wouldn't even be that. The real nightmare would be... would be if you didn't want to be with me."

"Do you really mean that?"

"I meant it the first time I ever saw you. Rachel, I know that I'm not who you want me to be, but--but you know what happened in that room. You know what we both felt. I-- I don't want to lose that."

"I just keep wishing you never told me."

"But then it never would have happened. And it did. And I'm-- I'm really glad that it did."

"I am too. But what happens if you get caught? What happens to Meghan? Because what you had may have been a nightmare, Mike, but you can't tell me you're not afraid of being exposed or losing your sister."

"Of course, I am. But there's nothing that I can do about it."

"Well, you could quit. Go in tomorrow, and just quit," Rachel said.

It was a tempting thought, going through life without looking over his shoulder for the first time in his life. Maybe it would help smooth things over with Harvey... Who was he kidding? Quitting would just make him look like a coward. The only consolations to quitting would be keeping Meghan and gaining the relationship he'd wanted with Rachel.