PART TWO
Harvey is walking towards his office when he sees Donna standing inside. The sight of her, in an elegant white dress with a dangerous neck-line makes his heart flutter. She would make his heart flutter even if she were dressed in pyjamas, but he is too much of a fool to realise or admit that.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of the COO coming down to my office?" He asks, striding into the office.
Donna does not acknowledge the remark, but stands quietly with pursed lips eyes pointing towards a letter on his desk.
Her eyes. They have always spoken to him in a different way.
Observing her expression, he immediately inquires, without even looking at the direction her eyes are pointing towards.
"What is it Donna?"
She takes a deep shaky breath. Seeing that Harvey has not bothered to look at the piece of paper on his desk, she takes it and hands it to him.
It's a while before Harvey's bewildered eyes leave her face and come to rest at the letter in his hand. The words float around before his eyes as he tries to fathom what they are trying to say.
It is a resignation letter.
He has gone through this drill a couple of times before, and every time it has been equally gut wrenching. He suddenly feels a mixture of angst, despair and confusion.
" What is the meaning of this?" He manages.
"I am leaving you Harvey" she says, not really answering the question.
He has heard these same words from her once before, and what he felt then is exactly how he feels now - Like someone stabbing him in the chest so hard, he actually hears a piece of him break inside.
"Why?" He asks, appalled. Not able to understand where this is coming from, he has so many questions.
Donna hears the slight tremor in his voice, that only she could have noticed.
"I cannot do this anymore." She answers. Knowing that she has to be ready with an explanation, and such vague answers are not going to be enough. She is trying to be evasive as she is dreading to say the truth.
"What in the name of God are you talking about Donna?" He says, a little frustrated at being wound around in ambiguous lines.
"I'd told you Harvey, I wanted more. And I hoped that you would not let me down after all these years. But it is only clear from your actions, what your intentions are. So, I've decided to not put myself through all the constant disappointment any longer."
"More? I made you the goddamn COO of this firm Donna! You know full well the number of allegations that have been raised on our characters for putting someone who is not a lawyer at the table. And you're saying I let you down!" Harvey's voice is raised now. He feels both anger and a deep sense of hurt at the prospect of having let down someone he dearly cares about.
Donna is not surprised that he completely misses the point of what she meant by more. But she does not blame him, as all this while, she too has not been very clear. In her thoughts, in her feelings, and in her communication with him.
"Tell me Donna, what more do you want? A name on the wall? Or managing partner?" He adds, infuriated from not having received a response from her.
His raised voice, lights a furious spark within Donna. After all it is she who should be mad at him, for not reading things right.
"I'm talking about us Harvey!" She cries.
"But you're just too involved in yourself, and all you can think of is the future of this firm. I too have served this firm for ten years Harvey, and there are many others who have given every ounce of blood and sweat to it too. You're not the only one having all the responsibility. So stop being such a coward hiding yourself behind your work.
I'm done being a part of your self-obsessed life, and I can no longer work for someone who cannot see anything beyond these glass walls.
Goodbye Harvey, for ever, this time." She finishes, and storms out of the managing partner's office.
—
Harvey jerks awake, sitting bolt upright on his bed. His head hurts at the sudden movement and he reaches for the open bottle of scotch lying next to his bed, with which he drank himself to sleep last night. He hoped the alcohol would dilute the pain of Mike's departure, but the dream brings all of the pain right back.
He is more than late for work today, but that thought doesn't even cross his mind. He has only one thing on his mind, so he forces himself off the bed and heads towards the shower.
He has only one place to be, and his hangover does not slow him down.
He leaves his house to go to the place he has been to ever so often in times of distress. But this time, he heads there with another purpose in mind.