Chapter 4 – Judge Palermo

Why the hell are we still married?

He repeated the words in his head. She had definitely found out. He thought for a second about telling the truth, that he simply couldn't do it. Annul their wedding. He had postponed taking care of the annulment because of the house warming party.

That night had made him realise that he had made a mistake accepting her rule. As much as he needed her in his life in whatever way she allowed him, he still felt there was something going on between them.

The final drop was his farther passing away. Gordon had always loved Donna and kept bugging him about their relationship. If and when he was going to marry her? He never told his father about their deal, but after he passed away he couldn't undo it anymore. From that moment on he kind of had forgotten that he still had to take care of it. Not that he had really forgotten about it, he just chose to ignore it.

"I forgot," he lied, he couldn't tell her the real reason he had never annulled their wedding. She had to have that stupid rule and worse she had to reinforce it.

"You forgot?"

"Yeah, Donna," he shook his head, not wanting to look at her, "Sometimes people, just forget about things." She swallowed, his last statement hit her hard. She knew neither of them had a memory like Mike, but forgetting he had married her? He lived in the freaking reason they got married.

She realised she had hoped for something, anything, a reason for them to be still married. But apparently there wasn't and now she was just angry. "Fix it," she ordered as she walked around the desk, towards the door of his office. "Fine," he scoffed back, "Could you get judge Palermo on the phone for me?"

"Ooh, so now you've forgotten how to use a phone as well?!" she yelled. He stared at her in disbelief, his jaw clenching as he fought the urge to yell something back at her, but he knew it wasn't her fault. "I'm out for lunch," she said as she stormed out of the office.

.

Scottie's mouth fell open at hearing the discussion going on in Harvey's office. She knew it; she just knew. The lying bastard. It reminded her of the one thing that had always annoyed her, his door number sign which read Harvey & Donna.

He had always explained that it was a joke from the real estate agent as she had helped him get the apartment, she never understood why he had never replaced the it.

She recalled an argument before they split; she had been scooping around his penthouse when he wasn't there and she had found a golden ring in his desk drawer. At first she hoped he would propose, but she quickly realised the ring was way too big and designed for a man.

She wondered if Harvey had ever been married without her knowing it, but that couldn't be the case. Harvey had severe commitment issues. Maybe it was his father's wedding ring? She had questioned Harvey if he ever had been in a relationship with Donna, the only woman that made sense in this picture, and he flat out said no.

She tried to believe him, but Donna somehow was the basis of all there fights. The drop that made the cup flow over was when she accused him of lying about his feelings for Donna. He had never answered that question and she knew why; he couldn't tell her the truth. So she had walked away; knowing that she wasn't enough for him at the time.

It was eight months later and she was in the city for business. Deep down she had wanted to give their relationship or whatever it was another shot. She had come to convince him, but when she heard the yelling coming from his office she got stopped in her tracks.

He had been married to Donna even when he was with her. She hid when Donna stormed out of the office and she stormed in with the same anger. Harvey didn't look up at the sound of the heels of his floor; he wasn't in the mood. "Donna, not now!"

"Ooh, I'm most definitely not Donna," she laughed nervously.

Harvey looked up, letting out a sigh as he took in the woman in front of him "Scottie," he nodded. "Harvey," she answered in the same flat tone. "What are you doing here?" he was surprised to see her, but annoyed at the same time.

"I was in town and came to ask if you wanted to grab dinner, but I guess your wife wouldn't approve," she shook her head, her hands on her hips. "What are you talking about," he said as he got out of his chair and walked towards her. "Donna," she answered, a combination of anger and hurt clearly visible in her voice.

"Scottie, it's not what.." but before he could finish his sentence she slapped him in the face. "You lying bastard!"

His eyes closed by the impact of her palm on his cheek, his jaw clenching as he looked at her, but he knew he deserved it. Even though it had never really been like that. He'd never been in a romantic relationship with Donna, he just hadn't been able to keep up with his end of the deal. "Scottie, listen.." he tried. "No! I'm done listening to you. I'm done," she said as she walked away.

He let out a sigh, but he didn't even bother going after her. Within the course of ten minutes two important woman had walked out of his life, but there was only one that really mattered to him. Harvey retreated himself back to his desk, wondering how he was going to get himself out of this situation. He let himself fall down in his chair and he sighed.

Opening the bottom drawer of his desk, he reached for the folder that had been there for nine years. He sighed again, as if he was finding the courage to just open the folder. When he did, he stared at the file, at the signed date and at Donna's autograph.

The spot where he was supposed to sign still empty. He picked up his phone and dialled judge Palermo's number, afterwards he texted Donna. 'Called Palermo. Meeting tomorrow; I will pick you up at 10 am. - H'

There was no way back now.