Suits (My Worst Partner-Enemy)

My Harvard Story

10AM. ~ My Office. ~

Meeting Darby was super funny due to Mike introduced him as if he was on Downton Abbey. One of my favorite shows himself and Darby really liked. I was reading my book after going over billables for a couple minutes. As I turned the page, sounds of clinking heels interrupted my thoughts. Rachel came in and closed the door. "Hey, you got a minute?" She asked. I bookmarked the page while smiling. "Yeah, what's up?" I asked. Instead of taking a seat, she stood. "What was it like when you  found out about your Harvard letter?" She asked. My life flashed before my eyes. I looked at her weirdly. "What?" Is all I blurted. She crossed her arms and sighed. "How did it feel when Harvard accepted you?" She repeated. It's not least surprising she would ask me this because of what happened with her letter. But Mike was right, a lot of schools would've accepted her. Harvard isn't the only place in the world. Taking off my reading glasses, I mentally tried to remember the day when I was seventeen. Wasn't hard to forget because the memory was so vivid. "At first, Harvard wasn't my exact plan after school. Supposed it was practically a needed break from doing show business. I wasn't freaking over whether or not I'll get accepted, Maya certainly was. She worked the hardest though she loved the Arts. If I didn't get accepted, there were more colleges to go to. Maybe a Performing Arts one. I was willing to go enough to live a perfectly normal life from Hollywood. Once we opened our envelopes, it felt like I was not normal. I didn't think I'd absolutely get in, I thought Maya would cause she took studying seriously. My parents totally had nothing to do with it. They used to say 'Liz, you're very strong and smart! That's why.' Or 'You always defend things with such toughness and reason, it's no wonder why they picked you.' But at the time I didn't think I was quite smart enough...or smart as the other kids to get in." I explained, swallowing the lump in my throat. Rachel smiled softly and sat down. "Or it's just you, Liz. You're smarter than you think. Doesn't take a brainiac to know you're really brave. You found information regarding women being denied promotions, stood up to Hardman a few times and—I cut her off. "Handling my boyfriend's ex slithering around?" I joked, smirking. We chuckled. "Your determination and toughness is so admiring to me. Reminds me why I want to be a lawyer." She told me. A warm smile crept on my lips. "Rachel, I'm merely human but I guess I just don't give up." I said. She returned the gesture and shrugged. I smirked and leaned against my chair. "Rachel, don't give up." I encouraged. "Never." She spoke confidently before getting up to leave. I put my glasses back on and continued reading.

2PM.

Harvey playfully knocked. I smiled kindly. "Hey, what happened to having lunch together?" I asked. He closed the door and smirked. "Had stopping merger plans." He told me. I nodded in understanding. "You know? I watch Downton Abbey too." I mentioned. He lightly groaned. "Not you too, don't give me a Downton quote." He begged annoyedly. I looked down and snickered. "Not today. What's the plan?" I asked, referring to the merger. Harvey hummed in response. "Darby's having his client freeze our client's assets." He said. I raised both eyebrows. "Shit." I blurted in a surprised tone. "I know, we need another strategy. A better strategy." He agreed. I smiled innocently and pretended to lift a teacup. "We could have an afternoon tea with Darby and negotiate." I joked in a British accent. He rolled his eyes while snickering amusedly. I laughed, clapping. "We'll find something. Gotta keep jumping the ball till it hits the net." I advised. Harvey smiled. "Now that's the language I'd like to hear." He spoke sweetly. I madly blushed and cleared my throat. "See ya later love!" I joked in a British accent. He playfully rolled his eyes but smirked. I brushed off an incoming giggle.

******

6PM.

On the couch, Avery was playing games on her tablet distractedly while laid down. I finished working on a few private things and immediately put my laptop in my bag including more. A familiar figure entered. Avery waved at Harvey. He returned the gesture before she glued back to the tablet. I smiled. "Came to say goodnight?" I teased. He sighed. "Can we talk?" He whispered. The look in his eye definitely meant we needed to. I zipped my bag and wrapped it around my shoulder. "Avery baby, wanna go visit Louis?" I mentioned. She smiled happily. "Yeah! I wanna show him my favorite book!" She responded, leaving her tablet and taking her backpack on the way. Being here since she was a baby, she knew the directions to their offices and back. My attention returned to Harvey. "What is it?" I asked. He said nothing but give me a file. "What the hell is this?" I asked, staring at it weirdly. "You know what it is." He spoke in a knowing tone. A moment until my brain clicked. This is the stopping merger plan. "Harvey, think hard before you answer. Are you sure about this?" I asked unsurely. He nodded his head no. "But it won't be me doing it. Mike will." He said. I scoffed roughly. "You mean you don't wanna deal with Scottie. Not that I blame you." I said, muttering the last part. He nodded in agreement. "So you're in?" He asked. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. Should've known he was going to break a rule. "Harvey, do what you want but this isn't good. Darby will just laugh over you breaking the rules to win. Two people in a game only need to usurp the other's skills to score." I said in a serious tone. Harvey nodded, taking the file off my hand. "We'll see." He said. I grabbed my keys off the desk and walked out to get Avery.

As I locked the door, we took off our coats and heard a door open upstairs. I believed it was Jin until the person with my face stood at the top. Maya smiled happily. "I'm officially cleared!" She shouted. We grinned shockingly. Yes! Thank God! Avery cheered happily. "Really?!" She beamed. She laughed. "Uh huh! Jin cleared me! Of course, we had to let the real doctor see. I'm all clear!" She beamed, dancing about. Thank goodness. Maya smirked. "I think I'll be watching a show here and grabbing a snack." She told me before coming downstairs. I looked unsure. "Not contagious." She whispered in my ear. I breathed a breath of relief. Avery followed behind afterwards. "Can I join? I missed watching TV with you." She begged. "Of course babygirl." She told her. I smiled gratefully and went upstairs to change. Good thing she is coming back. A lot have happened so quick.

******

"Wow. A merger usually means two companies working together. Now it's more eat or get eaten." Maya said sheepishly. I scoffed and crossed my legs on the couch. "Harvey wants Darby eaten. But I have a bad feeling about that file." I said. She scratched her temple. "You sure this isn't about....Scottie?" She asked. Damn, she really reads my mind too well. I sighed annoyedly. "She's not my problem—Maya cut me off. "Not just yours but his. If this merger goes forward, you both have to get used to her working here. And I can tell by your body movement that you don't like it at all." She said knowingly. I facepalmed and flunked myself on the pillows. "Maya, I've already gone through a fucking triangle. I trust Harvey completely but I'm not letting that trick run circles around me." I growled through gritted teeth. She smiled assuringly. "No one could. So why freak? Focus on work, your child, yourself. Not her. You got too many things going on than to deal with your boyfriend's desperate flame who wants something that's no longer there. Keep your head up." She advised. The whole time I listened in disbelief and a shocked grin. "My, my, my. You've grown up." I joked. Maya laughed. "Same for you! I'm proud of you Liz." She said. I sighed happily. "Feeling's mutual." I joked. She lightly hit my shoulder which made us laugh more. "So, your dress at the party...." She trailed off. I shrugged and smiled. "I really liked it, ok? Wasn't dark pink. Gave off the Madonna Material Girl vibe." I admitted. We bursted into chuckling. "When were you not Material Girl?" She joked while snickering. I laughed. "Says you!" I chuckled. Maya nodded in disagreement. Avery looked up from her drawing. "Mommy, can we play some music?" She asked. We smirked. "Sure!" I said, picking up my phone. "What song?" Maya asked. "Hollaback Girl!" She squealed. I covered my mouth to laugh. Maya's jaw dropped. "How does she know that?!" She whispered/yelled. I motioned her to chill and began playing the song. Maya smirked knowingly. I looked down to hide incoming laughter.