Chapter Text
Lindsay was eating lunch in a corner of the break room when Rachel and Mike came in to pour themselves a cup of coffee each. After a simple greeting, the young paralegal refocused on her phone, leaving the couple to chat together. It has been a long week and Lindsay was exhausted. On top of that, Harvey doesn't seem interested in her. The opportunities presented themselves countless times but each time, Harvey seemed impervious to her charm. Donna, Donna, Donna, blah blah blah. It's the only name he has on his lips. Either way, Lindsay won't be discouraged, she's sure she'll get Harvey and she'll get him.
A few minutes later, a man burst into the room. She had never seen him before. He was short, wore an elegant suit and had the face of a...hamster? This man looked really comfortable, even though he clearly didn't belong at this office. But who was he?
With all the noise he made entering the room, Rachel and Mike turned around to see who it was.
« Oh my God, Louis, what are you doing here? » asked Rachel, surprised.
« Did you plan to come earlier? You didn't tell us anything. We could have picked you up at the airport » added Mike.
« No need, but thanks. I appreciate » replied Louis.
Rachel and Mike laughed softly as Louis continued to walk towards the center of the room. Apart from the three of them (and Lindsay who was eating quietly in her corner), no one else was in the break room at that time. After checking the room quickly, without having noticed Lindsay visibly, Louis added :
« Where are they? »
« Who are you talking about Louis? » asked Mike.
« Oh you know who I'm talking about stupid, my favorite couple, where are they? They are doing something cute together right now, no? Are they busy making a third baby? » said Louis, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to say.
Ok. So having a third child was in their plan? Great.. thought Lindsay.
« Louis come on… » sighed Rachel. Even though she was used to the lawyer's frankness, she couldn't help but be surprised by his words. Luckily, she and Mike are used to his attitude, this man has absolutely no filter.
« And I thought Rachel and I were your favorite couple. I'm disappointed I must admit » joked Mike. He knows his friend is obsessed with the love story between the lawyer and his former assistant.
« Don't be ridiculous Mike, I've been team Darvey since day one. You are no match for them » Ouch that hurt.
« Darvey? Oh Lord.. I can’t believe it » laughed Rachel.
« Yes Darvey. Donna and Harvey. Like Brangelina but with more glam, love, passion and they are forever of course. Can you follow along a little please. I feel like I'm talking to my kids, although mine are more receptive than you two. I'm sure they would have understood the first time. Anyway, where are they? »
« They went out. I think they were going to get some food and they had some purchases for the girls to pick up on the way. They left a little over an hour ago, they'll probably be back soon » said Rachel.
« Perfect, that gives us a little time to chat then. So... Donna's birthday is coming up and I wanted to give her a nice gift. No, not just a nice gift, the best gift she will ever receive in her life. And since I don’t wanna mess up, I need your opinion before I decide » explained Louis
« So you're busy telling me you came all the way from New York to Seattle days earlier just to get our opinion on a birthday present? » Mike asked, laughing. Louis was unbelievable...
« We are talking about Donna. It's the minimum of what she deserves… Now, stay focused please. So, someone has an idea before I start coming up with mine. Rachel what do you have planned? » asked Louis.
« Well, I planned a girls' day with the two little ones, Donna and I. There will be spa, massage, sauna and everything else. Then Harvey picks up the kids and I take her to one of the most popular gastro restaurants in the city. It's going to be so good I can feel it. » explained Rachel, already excited to spend the day with her best friend.
« Mud baths too? » asked Louis.
« Of course »
« Can I come? »
« Louis.. It's a girl's day, I'm sorry » smiled sadly Rachel. Even though they all loved Louis, he could be really intrusive. And Rachel had no desire to see Louis in a speedo covered in mud (not very glamorous according to Donna).
« Damn it. What about you Mike? » Louis turned his head to look at Rachel's husband who was about to undergo the same interrogation.
« Well, I'm participating in this girls' day...financially? » replied Mike without real conviction.
« Such a shame » said Louis looking askance at Mike. « Okey, obviously you're not much help. Thank you very much. So now, about my ideas, I thought about several gifts in case they don't live up to the woman she is. So my first idea was - Oh, no no no no, first, I need to know what Harvey has planned? Do you know? Of course you do. Tell me »
From the beginning, Lindsay was discreet in her corner but listened to the conversation attentively. Indeed, everyone knew that the two couples were married with children and that the four of them were really close. But apart from that, it was rare that they shared elements of their private lives, they were quite secretive. This conversation was therefore an opportunity to learn more about them and who knows, to use it to make Harvey interested in her. Every opportunity is worth taking and thanks to this man named Louis, she had a feeling she was going to learn a lot.
« Well, as you can imagine, Harvey thought big. Nothing was good enough for his wife so this year he rented a huge house on a paradise island for them and the kids. I can't remember the name of the island but I think it's in the Caribbean? » said Mike.
« It's in the Bahamas » added Rachel.
« Ah yes, the Bahamas that’s it. The white sand, the translucent water, the perfect temperature... He showed me the photos of the villa. It's crazy, I'd love to spend some time there too... They're leaving right after the birthday party, for a week I think. Harvey absolutely has to show you the photos, he nailed it as usual » explained Mike.
« That bastard! Obviously… Mmh… Damn it, my gift will look stupid next to his » Mike and Rachel look at Louis surprised.
« Oh because you seriously thought you could do better than Harvey? » asked Rachel
« That’s cute.. » added Mike while the couple held back a laugh.
« No, of course I'll never do as well as Harvey, have you seen the man? He is crazy about his wife. It was obvious that I wasn't going to do better. That doesn't change the fact that I want to mark the occasion and think big. Anyway, I thought about some gifts, you tell me what you think, okay? » asked Louis
« Okey let’s go » said Mike, curious to see how far Louis was willing to go.
« Okay, so my first thought was the new Alexander McQueen bag. It won't be officially released until next month but I know how good Donna's taste is and this bag is incredible. Plus, she'll be the first to own this bag, isn't that flattering? So, what do you think? » asked Louis, so proud of his idea.
« Harvey already bought it last month » said Rachel.
« I’am sorry what? » No way, couldn’t be.
« Yeah.. Well, he bought her two, one black and one burgundy » added Rachel.
« But it will only be on shelves next month. How did he do it? » Louis couldn’t believe it. This man has so much influence. And since when did he know so much about fashion? Oh- Obviously, he's married to Donna. That's why. Dumb question.
« I mean… It’s Harvey… » said Mike while laughing.
« And another bag? Rachel, you know her, is there a bag she wants but doesn't have yet? » asked Louis, hoping to get a positive response from the women.
« Louis.. You know Donna and Harvey. Whenever she wants something, Harvey buys it for her. And even before she wants something, Harvey gives it to her. And bags... she has hundreds of them in her closet, I don't think that's a really good gift idea. Well, a transcendent idea I mean » told Rachel.
« Okay, I forget about the bag idea. My second idea was related to theater. I saw that Seattle offered quite a few musicals and plays. So I could take her and the girls to see a play. Private lodge, VIP experience. She’ll love it and it could be an amazing experience for the girls, right? What do you think? I can already imagine us. Me in a three-piece suit, Donna in a gorgeous Stella McCartney dress and the girls in matching dresses. Also McCartney of course. She’ll like it. I’m sure of that. And that at least is original and unique. I'm sure Harvey never goes with them to - » Louis was getting completely carried away.
« Well, about Harvey… » started Rachel waiting for the tragedy to happen.
« No.. No no no no no » said Louis, losing all the color in his face.
« Yes… » continued Rachel.
« Are you telling me that… Harvey is taking Donna and the kids to the theater? No, that's not possible. He hates it. He had never been there before. How can he do this to me? To me? I was supposed to be the one to introduce my favorite nieces to the incredible world of the stage… I need a moment. Mike, get me a glass of water. I need space. Hurry up ».
Lindsay felt like Louis was going to pass out. What a weird character.
A few seconds later, Louis regained his senses before starting to come up with new gift ideas, each one as crazy as the last. All this, under the bewildered eyes of Mike and Rachel (and Lindsay too, who continued to have lunch calmly in the corner of the room, without being noticed).
« What about an amazing flat in New York? That way they will be closer to Sheila and me. The girls could play with Lucy and Reginald when they visit - » explained Louis quickly.
« A flat? Louis seriously? Are you crazy.. » sighed Rachel.
« Also, just for your information, but they already have an apartment in New York. And a huge one at that. Why have another one? » asked Mike in confusion.
« Okay, a house then? » said Louis, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
« A house? Are you planning to buy a house for Donna's birthday? Seriously? Don't you think you're going a little too far there? I know that for your ego, you would like to do better than Harvey at least once, but I think that putting yourself in competition for Donna is a very bad idea. He'll beat you no matter what » explained Rachel with a soft smile.
« Plus you'll never do better than their houses here in Seattle, a real palace. Damn » added Mike.
« Oh I can do better, watch me- » said Louis
« Ok Louis stop. You are excessive, calm down. Look, I don't think you will find a gift that exceeds your expectations. Donna adores you and I'm sure that your simple presence at her birthday party will make her happy. That’s it. » Rachel reassured him, rubbing his shoulder in a sign of reassurance.
« And besides, like I said, you'll never beat Harvey. He is so in love with Donna that he will continue to shower her with incredible gifts, bags, dresses, jackets, blah blah blah. It will never stop. This man wants to show the world how much his wife deserves the best. You can buy what you want, Harvey will always do better. I'm sorry old man » joked Mike
« Yeah.. You are both right, I may be going a little too far. It's just that I wanted to give a gift that suited the person. And also, maybe actually... I wanted to do better than Harvey on this one. » explained Louis.
« We guessed » said Rachel, laughing at Mike's facial expression, exasperated by the situation.
« She deserves the best and he is aware of it » muttered Louis.
« Oh believe me, I know that very well. Louis, what are you doing here? What do I owe for this pleasure? » declared Harvey as he entered the break room with his typical smirk. Louis turned his head so quickly that Lindsay thought it was going to come off his body.
« Harvey... Hi... Well, About it… I’m looking for a gift for your wife's birthday. So I asked our friends for an opinion, but I understood that the great Harvey Specter already buys everything for his beloved so I don't have much choice anymore. Where is my favorite person in the world by the way? » asked Louis by acting as if the situation were normal.
« I'm right here Louis. But if you were talking about Donna, she’s putting the bags in her office » smiled Harvey.
« Ha-ha-ha, very funny Specter. But you didn't answer my question: What can I get for your wife’s birthday? » asked Louis, a little embarrassed and annoyed by the lawyer.
« Just be present. You are one of her closest friend, being with her on her birthday is enough. For the rest, I take care of showering my wife with gifts. Don't worry » smiled Harvey
« Great… » Louis sighed, desperate at not being able to live up to the friend he wants to be.
« But if you really insist, I was planning to buy her the latest pair of Jimmy Choo for no reason. I leave you the honor of offering it to her for her birthday, she really likes them » winked Harvey.
« Thank you my friend » said Louis with sincerity.
« Anything for Donna » answered Harvey before leaving the room.
After Harvey, the two associates and their friend also left the room to go about their business. Lindsay remained alone in the room, distraught at what she had just witnessed. One thing was certain, Harvey treated his wife like a queen. Everything Lindsay coveted... Her definition of a dream life. But who knows? Maybe one day she will achieve her goals and take Donna's place. Unfortunately, it seemed more difficult than expected for the young woman.