Chapter 1- You Just Want To Be Seen

Harvey Specter sat expectantly at his desk as the next plucky Harvard graduate shuffled into his office, desperate to secure a slot at the company and, more importantly, under his wing. It was bad enough that Jessica was making him interview the candidates, but was what even worse was how annoying they all were. One by one he watched as the embarrassments to the field of law sat and talked about how much they learnt while at Harvard Law and whatever Ivy League school they went to prior to getting their law degree.

That was not what Harvey wanted.

Sure, work and education was important, but he didn't want to be working closely with someone who was just going to be focused on the job all the time. He wanted someone he could raise from the ground like a newly constructed building, just as Jessica had done to him. He was a lot like his boss and he wanted someone like him to fill the empty associate spot.

Then in walked Kurt Hummel.

Even from his gait, Harvey could tell that Kurt was different to the others he had seen. He wasn't clutching his briefcase so tightly his hands were turning white. He wasn't walking too quickly to the proffered seat just so the awkward entrance would be over with already. He didn't even seem nervous, which Harvey both liked and disliked. He wanted his interviewees to be a little bit nervous; it showed fear. In some instances, fear of him would come in handy as it meant for easier bossing around. And that was always a bonus. But Kurt didn't show that and it intrigued Harvey.

What also intrigued Harvey was how turned on he was getting at just the sight of this man.

It was no surprise to anyone that Harvey Specter was attracted to men. Even though he was mostly seen in the company of women after business hours didn't mean that the opposite wasn't also true. Harvey had been with more than anyone's fair share of men but had never found one with whom he had formed a lasting relationship. Though he had never felt himself become so turned on just by looking at someone. Especially when said someone was fully clothed and conducting himself in a formal, corporate manner.

New kink? Harvey rather thought so.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Specter. I'm Kurt Hummel."

Kurt Hummel, Harvey thought. Well that name just rolls right off the tongue.

And that voice.

Harvey coughed as he realised that he had to conduct himself in a similar manner to Kurt.

"Good to meet you."

Kurt smirked. "You been doing this all day?"

Harvey groaned. "Three hours. Everyone exactly the same."

"Harvard is basically a droid factory," Kurt agreed with a nod.

Harvey chuckled. "I thought you'd defend them."

Kurt straightened his tie (surprisingly thick, Harvey noted with silent approval) and smiled. "Not to sound like I'm trying too hard to be edgy or like a fourteen year old goth, I'm not like the rest of them. I didn't come from piles of money and a Harvard legacy like they did. I worked for that place. And I used it. My classmates rather think that Harvard is a lifestyle whereas I don't take it too seriously."

"And what do you think about Harvard?" For the first time today, Harvey found himself fascinated. That was very rare. Usually, he wouldn't give a shit about anybody sitting in front of him, but something about Kurt resonated with him. And no, it wasn't just his wide mouth and take-no-prisoners glare.

Kurt frowned. "I must say, I wasn't expecting such a question."

"You'll come to learn that about me. I zag when you think I'll zig."

Kurt conceded that silently. "Harvard is a fantastic establishment and I respect its legacy and appreciate what it provided me, but I'm not going to pretend like there aren't flaws in the system. It gave me what I went for: a degree. It didn't completely change my life like those people out there are going to tell you. I went, I studied, I graduated. It's a university, not a cult. Although some of my peers might try and convince you otherwise. Now are you going to ask me any actual interview questions or are we going to sit here and trash Harvard and its produce? I'm good with both."

Harvey grinned and leaned back in his chair. "What else do I need to know? You were top of your class, you weren't sucked into the institution like everybody else I know and you don't take yourself too seriously. Unless there's anything else you want to say, expect to hear from me tomorrow."

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "By you, I assume you mean your lovely assistant Donna whom you're probably not paying enough."

Harvey chuckled. "That's the one. Has she been telling you that I underpay her? I should show you her salary, it's enough to feed the entire population of a small country."

Kurt turned his head slightly. "You're both probably right. Well it was nice talking with you, Mr. Specter. I look forward to your call." Kurt shook the man's hand and a quick smirk washed over his face. He concealed it before Harvey noticed and turned away.

Harvey frowned. "How is it that you manage to both sound like a corporate robot and shit on the entire concept at the same time?"

Kurt giggled, still walking towards the door. "Practice, Mr. Specter. Practice."

Harvey didn't hear anything Kurt said after that. He had noticed the next wonder of the world: Kurt's ass.

Harvey was barely paying attention to the next interviewee. He was too caught up in thoughts of Kurt and the shortest and most informal interview he had ever taken part in. He had meant to ask Kurt the usual boring questions like where his passion for the law came from and all that other shit. But instead, he had been drawn into Kurt's personality and unique qualities. He wasn't a Harvard robot but he was also everything Harvard had made him at the same time. Astute, independent and fiery.

So when Mike Ross all but jogged into the room, he wasn't really noticing anything untoward. Expecting another corporate robot, Harvey looked up when he heard the sound of heavy breathing.

"Can't get here on time? Not such a great quality for a lawyer."

Mike's breathing gradually slowed down as he got it under control. He was leaning on the chair, his briefcase forgotten on the floor. "Sorry. I just needed a second."

"Great way to start an interview, kid."

Mike laughed breathlessly and stumbled backwards, knocking the briefcase open. The large pile of weed spilled on the floor, the packets luckily staying intact. Mike's head snapped up to Harvey, who sighed. "I promise, it's not mine."

"Says every drug dealer in New York."

Mike shook his head. "To tell you the truth, this is a job I'm doing. I needed some money, quickly. These don't belong to me, I just wanted to make some cash."

"And now you're here to interview for an associate position at a law firm?"

Mike's mouth flapped open and closed. "I…yes."

Harvey narrowed his eyes. "I tell you, not the best introduction, but I've recently learned not to judge people on first impressions. Take a seat, kid."

"Mike. Mike Ross."

"Well, Mike Ross, that sounds like a fake name but let's just roll with it. What did you think of Harvard?"

Mike gaped. "That's a question?"

"Well, considering I just asked it, I would say so."

Mike rubbed his palms on his knees. "It was…um…okay. Fine even."

Harvey blinked twice. "You didn't go to Harvard did you?

"No."

"Well, you do know that Pearson Hardman only accepts graduates of Harvard Law?"

Mike snorted. "Yeah, I should've figured as much. Elitism and entitlement is pretty abundant around here. I was in the waiting room for three seconds and I could feel the judgement around me."

"You are looking a little scruffy for a law interview."

Mike rolled his eyes. "Point proven. Everyone here is so concerned with image and reputation that they forget what's really important in life and it's a pile of bullshit. Besides, these people graduated because of their family money and I bet that I could be ten times the lawyer they are without any formal education."

Harvey eyed him suspiciously. "You think you could do better with no training? Prove it, genius."

Mike smirked. This was the part he could do. The LSAT was a piece of cake by now. "I notice you have the Barbri legal handbook. Open it to any page and read me something."

Harvey frowned. "I don't see how that'll help."

Mike shrugged. "I'll show you. Read me a passage."

Harvey sighed. "Civil liability associated with agency is based on several factors including -"

"- the deviation of the agent from his path, the reasonable inference of agency on behalf of the plaintiff, and the nature of the damages themselves." Mike smiled, the words rolling off his tongue as though he was staring at the book himself.

Harvey gaped. "How did you do that?"

Mike wiggled his fingers. "Magic," he gasped.

Harvey scoffed. "Don't fuck me with, Ross. You got this whole thing memorized or something?"

"Yep. I read it a few times, actually."

"The whole thing? A few times?"

"Cover to cover."

Harvey nodded, slightly more impressed than he was letting on. "That's just legal theory, anyone can learn that if they have a good memory. On my laptop is a database of every legal issue in existence. Go ahead and pick one."

Mike shrugged and took Harvey's seat at the laptop. He had an idea of how to prove himself and rolled with it. Clicking a few buttons, he nodded to Harvey. "Stock option backdating."

"Although backdating options is legal, violations arise related to disclosures under both FASB 123R and Internal Revenue Code Section 409A."

Mike grinned. "You forgot the Sarbanes Oxley Act of '02."

Harvey grinned back. "The statute of limitation renders Sarbanes Oxley moot post 2007."

Mike pretended to be flustered and squinted at the screen, clicking a key. "Not if you can find actions to cover up the violation, as established in the sixth circuit, May 2008."

Harvey shrugged. "Not bad. Though you are sitting with a database in front of you."

Mike coughed, ushering Harvey over. "I was playing Solitaire. Finish the game if you want, it's a good one."

Harvey shook his head in awe. "I don't understand. How do you know all of that?"

Mike figured he'd be better off being honest. He couldn't believe that Harvey had entertained his interview for this long, he might as well try to go all the way with it. "I…sometimes make money taking the LSAT and the Bar exam."

"And you passed? What am I saying, of course you did," Harvey chuckled, amused.

"Some dickhead challenged me that I couldn't do it. So I did it."

Harvey inhaled and thought about the fact he'd had two candidates back to back who he wanted to hire. Could he even hire both of them? Would Jessica allow him to? Could he even choose? "Okay, here's what you do. Ditch the drugs, clean up your game and wait for me to call you. I might, I might not. And try to learn about Harvard, you'll need that knowledge if you're going to fit in here."

Mike's eyes widened. "Wait, you're giving me the job?"

"Maybe. There's another strong candidate who actually did go to law school. Harvard, as well. I want both of you, but I can only hire one of you. I'll have to take the day to think on it."

Mike nodded. "That's fair."

Harvey smiled. "I'll call you tomorrow. Since you didn't actually apply, just leave your number with Donna on the way out. And make sure she's knows you're not flirting with her or else she'll refuse to take it."

Mike shrugged. "It's cool, I don't swing that way."

Harvey raised an eyebrow. That was interesting. "Then don't worry about the flirting thing."

"It's not a problem?" Mike was shocked. Usually big city corporation liked their employees to be "a certain way" as Mike had come to discover.

"Not with me. It shouldn't be with anyone else at the firm, either."

Mike nodded. "This place doesn't seem too bad. Then again, it is considering hiring a guy with no degree for a law associate job."

Harvey rolled his eyes. "Considering being the operative word here. Now go home, Mike. Try not to get arrested on the way out."

Mike saluted playfully. "No problem, boss." He left the room just as quickly as he had entered it.

"Donna, could you tell everyone else to go home please?"

"You got your guy?" Donna said through the phone.

Harvey shrugged and then smirked to himself. "I think so."

A few hours later at his desk, Harvey sighed.

He sat at his laptop and booted up a blank email to Jessica.

Jessica,

Found two candidates that I think are a good fit here. Any chance I can hire them both?

Harvey.

Harvey figured that Jessica was at her computer because the reply came within minutes.

I didn't think you'd find one that you liked, never mind two. If you really think both are needed, hire them both. But one is coming out of your personal finances, Harvey.

Harvey chuckled. Was he really going to do this? Hire one non-graduate and pay the other with his own money? He certainly had the money to do so and still live his comfortable lifestyle, but was it worth it?

The image of Kurt Hummel's stellar ass came into Harvey's mind and he grinned, typing out his reply to Jessica.

I'll hire them both.

Then it's done, came Jessica's reply.

Harvey needed to call them both before he changed his mind. He dialed Mike first, him being the one Harvey was less sure about. The quicker he did this, the more at ease he would be.

"Hello?"

"Mike?"

"Harvey Specter? Calling with the good news, I presume?"

"Someone's a cocky little shit. But yeah, you're hired. Be ready to start on Monday and please have a better suit for me then. Remember what I said about what you needed to do earlier."

"Ditch the drugs, clean myself up, wait for you call and learn about Harvard. Got it."

Harvey shook his head, smiling. "I expect you at eight-thirty on Monday, Mike."

"Bet it was hard letting the other guy down."

"Actually, I hired him too."

"Good, at least I'll have some competition."

"Now, this guy is good. And actually got his degree so don't get too complacent."

"Noted. Thank you, Harvey. For giving me an opportunity when nobody else would. That really means a lot to me."

"Don't turn into a Lifetime movie now, Mike. See you Monday."

"Bye, Harvey."

Harvey didn't even bother putting the phone down before calling Kurt.

"Kurt Hummel?"

"Mr. Specter, I presume. I didn't expect your call until tomorrow."

Harvey smiled. "Oh, well it can wait until then if you want…"

"Don't be stupid, I want to hear the good news sooner rather than later."

"How do you know it's good news?"

"Donna saw you checking out my ass as I left the room. I just put two and two together."

"Remind me to half her salary on Monday at eight-thirty."

"So I did get the job?"

Harvey nodded even though Kurt couldn't see him. "You did. I also hired another associate, so be ready for some healthy competition. And make sure you brush up on your movie quotes. That's important.

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

Harvey chuckled. "Good. You'll fit right in at Pearson Hardman."

"Thanks, Mr. Specter."

"Kurt?"

"Yes?"

"Call me Harvey on Monday, okay? Mr. Specter is way too formal."

"I'll make a note. Thanks, Harvey. See you Monday."

"See you Monday, Kurt."

Harvey hung up, sighing as he ran a hand down his face.

Monday would be a very difficult day.