Power & Control (Harvey Specter fanfiction)

Chapter 14

(...)

"You are so predictable" I said walking up to Harvey having a coffee and a bagel from the cart around the corner to his office 

"Good job tracking me down" he had that damn cocky look on his face that made me want to punch him because he had the advantage in this situation and I hated that

"It wasn't even hard, you probably didn't have actual lunch because you are too much of a workaholic to go to an actual restaurant so you grab whatever is closest and fastest which is why you're here" I responded sufficiently

"Don't tell me you came all the way here to have a coffee with me"

"I came here to negotiate"

"Bullshit" he finished his coffee and threw the cup in the garbage "your client caved during the deposition because she knew she couldn't make it through the trial so I'm going to negotiate for you" he took a step towards me "the offer that was on the table just came down 25%"

"Are you serious" I said in disbelief 

"Now it's down 50%...wanna keep going?" he was challenging me

"If we go to trial no one wins"

"Are you saying you want that original offer which I recall you called pathetic?" he crossed his arms in front of his chest in a defiant manner

"Come on Harvey you and I both know that she deserves a lot more"

"You're getting the original offer"

"Double"

"You're in no position to negotiate with me Amelia"

"Maybe not right now but if you don't give me a better offer I'm going to keep digging stuff up and I am going to find that what happened with my client wasn't a one time thing but a pattern where every woman in that company was passed up for promotions just to promote under qualified men and that Harvey is going to cost your client a lot more than what you're offering" a look of surprise and sternness crossed his face I knew it was a bold move but it was my last resort to get a better offer for my client

"25% more than the original offer" he answered

"Send the papers to my office" that was as good was I was going to get, I considered my job done so I turned my back to Harvey and started walking towards my car

As I traveled through the streets of New York back to my office I couldn't help but feel like a failure, I was expecting to get a lot more for my client but because of how Harvey had treated her and how she reacted to it I knew she wouldn't be able to handle how brutal it would get if we went to court so, I decided for the well being of my client to just take it and not put her through a painful and drawn out trial.

(...)

As I sat alone at 11 at night in a bar about 3 blocks from my office drinking a cold beer I couldn't help but wonder what I could've done different to get a better outcome. I hated feeling this way no one likes losing but losing against one of the top attorneys in the city is something else, sure I gave a good fight but in the end I had to swallow my pride and do what was best for the client and even though I know I had done what was best I still felt defeated. 

"Now who's being predictable" I heard a voice in front of me and without even looking I knew who it was

"What do you want?" I said to him not even looking, I wasn't in the mood for his witty remarks

"I'm not here for me I'm here for you" he sat down in the chair in front of me "right now you're thinking what you could've done differently" I raised my gaze to see him looking at me

"You came here to rejoice and teach me how I should just suck it up and move on"

"You lost and it sucks but the only reason you are not home right now having a relaxing night even though you lost is because you got too involved with the client" he leaned towards me "rookie mistake" he was right

"Is this supposed to make me feel better?" I retorted as I ordered another beer

"No, it's supposed to make you realize your mistakes so you never do them again"his tone sounded cold and to the point

"I see your point but you didn't have to come all the way here for that"

"I know" we sat in silence for a while as I finished my drink

"Let me take you home" he helped me getting up and offered his arm as we walked towards the door but I ignored it and walked on my own

We didn't speak at all during our car ride to my apartment, once we pulled up I opened the car door and before getting out of the car turned to Harvey who was fixated on the view from the window for some reason

"Thanks for the pep talk but I didn't need it"

"Why are you so presumptuous?" he asked without looking at me

"Like you aren't" without waiting for a response I got out of the car and walked to my building exhausted and ready to get this day behind me

(...)

The next morning as I made my way to the office I was ready to kick some ass, I had work to do. What was done was done and I needed to get past it. At about 3 pm I made my way into Pearson Specter Litt with an envelope containing the settlement agreement signed and ready to be delivered. 

"Hi I need to see Harvey Specter" I was trying to convince the sassy red head that was the gate keeper of Harvey's office

"You don't have an appointment" she smiled at me

"I know but I came personally to deliver the Withers settlement and I would really appreciate if you let me in for a 5 minute conversation"

"What makes you think just because you ask nicely you're getting in?

"Because I'm only asking for 5 minutes of Harvey's precious time to deliver the settlement and resolve a personal matter but I totally understand you have a reputation to protect so I'll just drop the settlement off with you and I'm sure you'll take it to Harvey" I left the envelope on top of her desk and started walking away

"I'll give you 10 minutes because you asked nicely and recognized the importance I have regarding Harvey's time" she said while handing me back the envelope

"Thank you" I mouthed and smiled at her as I walked towards Harvey's office