Liam's Pov
The shadow belonged to the man in front of him. Louis Litt — a younger version. He still had that compact, stocky build, like a wrestler who traded the mat for the courtroom.
His face carried the same features seen in the show, intense brown eyes that looked like they were constantly scanning for both opportunity and betrayal, a slightly hooked nose, and lips that always seemed on the verge of either a smirk or a scowl.
His hair was darker but thinning which was combed back with meticulous precision — the kind of precision that said he probably spent as much time perfecting his morning routine as he did preparing case law.
The suit was pure Louis Litt, flawlessly fitted charcoal gray with faint pinstripes, crisp white shirt, and a deep burgundy tie knotted so tight it might have been a chokehold.
Even young, he had that energy, the mix of insecurity and ambition that made him oscillate between overly eager to charm and razor-sharp aggression.
He spoke with that familiar quick, almost clipped rhythm, like every sentence was part of a chess game he was sure he could win if you just gave him one more move and just like the Louis I remembered from the show, there was that undercurrent in his tone — the need to prove himself.
"Liam Harper?" he asked, his voice smooth, but just a little too fast, like he couldn't help himself.
I set my drink down and looked him over, keeping my expression calm.
'Play it cool. Let's see where this goes.' Eve said., but i was already planning to do that.
"That depends," I said evenly. "Who's asking?"
He smiled or maybe smirked and reached into his breast pocket, producing a crisp business card. "Louis Litt. Junior Partner, Pearson Hardman."
I took the card, glancing over the bold lettering.
Pearson Hardman in clean black print, Louis Litt — Junior Partner right beneath it. No fluff, no gimmick. Just pure, confident branding.
Louis leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice like he was about to share state secrets. "I'm here to recruit you. Straight out of the gate, full associate position, top-tier cases and I'm not talking your run-of-the-mill grunt work. I'm talking about the kind of cases that make headlines and I'll personally train you"
He slid a sleek black folder onto the table and popped it open, revealing neatly typed offer sheets.
My eyes scanned over the numbers, and… damn. This was good. Too good for someone fresh out of the Collage.
The Salary well into six figures, signing bonus, full benefits, mentorship track.
"How'd you even find me?"
Louis straightened his tie and gave me that quick, proud half-smile. "I went to your apartment."
My brow rose. "You broke into my apartment?"
"What? No. God, no. I knocked. Your… friend answered." He wiggled his fingers like air quotes around the word friend. "She said you'd be here."
Louis continued, clearly proud of himself, Frankly ,we'd be insane not to try to lock you down. Your Harvard record? Your LSAT score? The District Attorney of Manhattan got the inside track and tried to lock you down secretly and Let me tell you this, You are going to underpay and overwork you over there Liam, but Pearson Hardman? We reward talent, especially talent like yours and as you can see, we ran the extra mile to find out about you before other companies."
He clasped his hands, leaning in with a glint in his eyes. "So… what do you think?"
I didn't answer immediately. I took a moment, tapping the folder lightly with my fingers while studying him.
Louis Litt — even younger than I remembered from the show — was still very much Louis Litt. Ambitious. Competitive. Hungry for recognition.
"I can see that you guys are motivated, but you're not the first corporate law firm to approach me," I said, leaning back in my chair and letting the words hang there.
For a split second, Louis's confident mask cracked—just the smallest flicker in his expression, but enough for me to catch it.
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, like he'd just been hit with a plot twist mid-cross-examination.
Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
His posture straightened, his lips pressed into a thin smile, and his lawyer's poker face slid back into place.
He tilted his head, eyes studying me like I was a deposition transcript that just revealed a hidden clause.
"Zane," he guessed, his tone more a statement than a question.
I gave him a small nod. "I have a standing offer from Rand, Kaldor & Zane."
Louis's jaw tightened just enough to betray that it stung, but he leaned forward slightly, folding his hands on the table like he was about to close a witness in court.
"So… is Rand, Kaldor & Zane's offer better than ours?"
Louis kept his smile, but inside, the tension was coiling.
"Evenly matched" i casually replied
Louis Litt POV
'Evenly matched? Damn it, that means Zane's already dangling something big. Of course it's Zane — that smug, silver-tongued snake would keep an eye out for new talented and this guy is a goddam super star in paper signed by Harvard. I need this kid. Harvard record like his? Bar results are barely out and he's already a hot commodity. Jessica didn't just approve of recruiting him, she basically said, "Don't come back without him." This is my shot, and Litt doesn't lose shots like this.'
Liam POV
I could see him studying me, looking for a crack in my armor. His eyes had that calculating edge, like a chess player deciding whether to sacrifice a rook for a checkmate.
I simply took a slow sip of my iced Americano, maintaining my calm attitude.
For a moment, Louis's lips pressed into a thin line. Then, just as quickly, his salesman's smile returned.
"I'm prepared to offer—"
I held up a hand, cutting him off. "Let's not go there just yet."
He blinked, clearly not used to being stopped mid-negotiation, but there was a spark in his eyes — the look of a man who had just realized this wasn't going his way.
"I'm going to take the job at the DA's office," I said plainly.
Louis opened his mouth to speak, but I didn't give him the chance.
"It's not about money, prestige, or who has the bigger office," I continued, keeping my voice calm but decisive.
"There's a kind of experience you can only get there, the kind that sharpens a lawyer's instincts until they're second nature. You can't buy that in the private sector and I've already made my decision."
For a moment, Louis froze, the practiced smile on his face stiffening at the edges. I could see the wheels turning in his head, that lawyer's instinct to counter, to argue, to make me see reason, but the look in my eyes must've told him it was a done deal.
His lips pressed together in the kind of tight, forced yet polite smile people give when they know they've lost a point in court. "Well… congratulations," he said finally.
Louis leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering into something softer and far less combative.
"Look… right now, you're a hot in this field but you're still green and only at the start line. No wins, no losses. That means your value is all potential—and potential is fragile.
One mistake, one bad case, and the shine wears off fast. Trust me, I've seen it happen."
I didn't interrupt. He wasn't pitching anymore; he was giving genuine advice.
He continued, "It's better to go all in while your hand is strong, rather than waiting for a better hand that might never come. I'm not saying you should join Pearson Hardman —" he actually gestured dismissively with his hand, "— I'm saying you should pick any top-tier firm with a strong reputation and make that your launchpad. That's the smartest move you can make right now."
I kept my face neutral, but the sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. For someone I'd only just met, he was showing me an unfiltered side of himself and I didn't know such a side excised to 'The Louis Litt'
"Noted," I said simply.
Louis Pov
'How am I going to explain this to Jessica, I had failed her' My mind was already running through on how to explain this failure.
Liam Pov
Louis gave me a short nod, as if that was all he could do now, and stood up, but before he could take a step away, I spoke, my eyes still fixed on his card in my hand. "I'm not going to stay in the public sector forever."
Louis froze mid-step and turned back toward me, brow raised.
I didn't look up yet — I kept my attention on the business card, flipping it once between my fingers before sliding it into my pocket.
Then I stood, met his eyes, and extended my hand.
"When I'm ready to move to the corporate Law" I said, my tone calm, but sharp with certainty, "you'll be my first call, Louis"
Louis blinked once, clearly taken aback, before a slow, genuine smile crept onto his face. He shook my hand firmly. "I'll hold you to that," he said and I believed him.
As he turned to leave, I could see that lawyer's curiosity still burning in his eyes.
Louis Pov
'I'm genuinely curious and hope you succeed in the DA's office… and maybe, just maybe, join us later.'
-----END-----
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