Motion Denied // Harvey Specter

The next morning, Carmen strolled into Pearson Hardman, coffee in hand, looking effortlessly put together despite the early hour. She had barely slept—Harvey's late-night summons had seen to that—but she wasn't about to show up looking anything less than perfectly composed.

When she entered Harvey's office, Mike was already there, nursing a coffee like his life depended on it, and Harvey sat behind his desk, flipping through a file as though he wasn't also running on minimal sleep.

"You called," Carmen said, setting her bag down and taking a sip of her coffee. "So, what's the plan?"

Harvey leaned back, tossing the file onto his desk. "That's what you're here to tell me."

Carmen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I thought you had all the answers, Specter."

Harvey smirked. "I usually do. But you seem to enjoy finding them."

Mike cleared his throat, setting his coffee down. "Harvey thinks the dirt you found is great—which, by the way, means you should print that email and frame it—but it's not enough to make Latham settle."

Carmen exhaled, crossing her arms. "No surprise there. Guys like him don't get scared of a little bad press."

Harvey gestured toward her. "Exactly. He won't care if the world knows he's a liar, a cheat, or a failed whiskey entrepreneur. He only backs down if he thinks it's in his best interest."

Carmen smirked. "So, we have to make him think it's his idea to settle."

Mike sighed, rubbing his temple. "Right. But unless we can give him an existential crisis overnight, how the hell do we do that?"

Carmen took another sip of coffee, her eyes flicking between them. "We don't threaten him. We tempt him."

Harvey's expression didn't change, but his gaze sharpened slightly. "Go on."

Carmen set her coffee down and leaned against the desk, her fingers lightly tapping on the surface. "Latham is a textbook case. Men like him don't lose because they never put themselves in a position to lose. They're always in control, always one step ahead. You know what the one exception is?"

Mike blinked. "What?"

Carmen smirked. "Women."

A slow grin started forming on Harvey's face.

Mike, however, frowned. "Wait—hold on. Are you saying—?"

"I'm saying," Carmen continued smoothly, "that Latham thinks he's invincible. He also thinks he's irresistible. We let him think that—just long enough to make him talk."

Mike stared at her, then glanced at Harvey. "She's actually suggesting this, right? It's not just me?"

Harvey finally leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You think you can get him to spill something we can use?"

Carmen tilted her head. "I know I can."

Harvey watched her carefully. "And you think he's dumb enough to fall for it?"

Carmen let out a soft laugh. "Harvey, he still refers to himself as The Wolf. Of course he's dumb enough."

Mike ran a hand down his face. "Jesus Christ."

Harvey smirked, the wheels already turning in his head. "Alright, de Peyster. Let's hear your plan."

Carmen leaned forward. "Latham is powerful, but more importantly? He needs people to see him as powerful. He thrives on being the smartest person in the room. The one who knows more, who controls the conversation. If you challenge that head-on? He'll dig his heels in. But if you make him prove it?" She let the thought linger, tapping a manicured nail against her coffee cup. "He won't be able to resist."