When Harvey arrived the next morning he found his office empty. There was no sign of Mike. Harvey checked his watch. He was already later than normal so Mike should have been there.
He frowned and wondered if he had pushed it too far the day before. He picked up his phone to call him but before he could do so the door swung open and Giovanni stepped in.

Harvey immediately saw that there was something wrong. The seductive smile was gone. His green eyes were cold and distant. Giovanni closed the door behind him. "You don't have to call him Harvey. Mike won't be coming back."

Harvey felt his stomach turn. What did Giovanni do? He sat down, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the handsome Italian.

There was no use pretending that Harvey was clueless as to what was going on. He didn't know exactly what Giovanni had done but he was sure what his motivation had been. Men like Giovanni were used to getting what they wanted. And if something got in the way, they would find a way to neutralize it. "What did you do?"

"Why do you immediately think I had something to do with this?" He smiled at Harvey. It was the kind of smile that made you reach for your gun. "But you're right. I might have had something to do with it. See, it was starting to annoy me that Mike seemed to show up all the time. And I was beginning to get the distinct impression that you aren't really interested in me. Even worse, that you were using me." Giovanni's eyes narrowed as he said those words. "And I really don't deal with that very well, Harvey."

Harvey closed his eyes for a moment. Giovanni was right. He had used him. He was so caught up in trying to win Mike over that he never even considered Giovanni's feelings. He had just assumed that apart from lust the man really didn't have any. And it began to dawn on him that he was going to pay a steep price for that mistake.

"I told the board the simple truth. That Mike is gay and tried to seduce you. Which is completely inappropriate behaviour at a university. One might even call it sexual harassment."

Harvey stared at the man. He had some nerve. "And that differs from what you are doing, how exactly?"

Giovanni sat down on the corner of Harvey's desk. He looked at him pensively while pouting his lips. "It doesn't really. But the funny thing is, that when I complain about it, they tend to listen. See, they really like me here. A few of the board members really like me. It is always surprising to find that the men who scream murder at the top of their lungs when talking about homosexualty turn out to be the ones that love it the most."

Harvey had seriously underestimated this man. Behind that charming exterior was a ruthless guy who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. The realization that he had kissed this man made Harvey want to throw up.

Giovanni smiled at him while he got off from the desk and walked to the door again. "Shall I pick you up at eight?"

Harvey had to use every bit of self control not to get up and punch the arrogant bastard in his pretty face. "Go to Hell."

Giovanni laughed out loud. "I thought you might say that. Doesn't matter, you'll change your mind before this week is over." He closed the door behind him before Harvey could respond.

Harvey stared at the door and wondered how he was going to salvage this mess. He had to go and see Mike. But his class was about to start. If he skipped classes to go to Mike it would only fuel the accusations. He got out his phone and tried to call Mike but all he got was his voicemail. He texted him a short message to let him now he would come over as soon as he could.

He sighed and closed his eyes. For a moment he relished in imagining how it would be to beat the crap out of the smug Italian bastard. Then he got up to go to class.

…..

Mike was sitting on the edge of the Piazza. He watched the first herds of tourists pass by. It was going to be a hot day. It was only nine and the sun was already burning on his skin. Around him was the sound of cutlery, plates and glasses being set out on the tables, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee that drifted in from the restaurants and bars behind him.

Mike felt the onset of a migraine and he heaved himself from the ground.

Slowly he walked up the stairs leading away from the square and he made his way through the small streets where the shops were opening their doors. He almost bumped into a shop owner who was carrying crates filled with delicious fresh fruit in bright summer colors to stack in front of his shop.

He slalomed his way through the early morning traffic, which consisted of small trucks that supplied the stores, before turning the corner to the street where he lived.

While walking up the stairs to his apartment Mike heard his phone ring. He looked at his screen to find that it was Harvey. He shook his head in disbelief. Like he would want to talk to him.

He opened the door to his apartment and walked over to the kitchen where he poured himself a glass of water and used it to wash two painkillers down.

He sat on the couch and stared at the wall.

He had spent the whole evening reliving every second of every touch. And he was left with one simple conclusion. He was in love with Harvey and he wanted him more than he had ever wanted anyone before.

If Harvey would let him he would follow him back to the States when summer school was over. He had woken up that morning with the feeling of hundreds of butterflies doing their little happy dance in his stomach. He couldn't wait to get back to the university and see Harvey again.

But when Mike had arrived at the university that morning, Roberto had been waiting for him. And he had known the minute he saw the man's face that he was in trouble. And the only trouble he could think of was Harvey.

Mike had followed the man to his office where he had been told that it had come to their attention that Mike had displayed inappropriate behaviour towards Mr. Specter and that it had left the board with no other choice than to terminate his contract immediately.

Mike had been listening to Roberto while the sickening feeling in his insides grew with every word Roberto spoke. At first he thought that a jealous student had complained about him but when he heard who had accused him his heart plummeted. "Mr. Specter has stated that he thought highly of you as an assistant and that he therefore decided to overlook the first incident, but that you unfortunately didn't back down, so he felt forced to report you."

MIke had had the feeling as if someone had just hit him with a sledgehammer. Why had Harvey done that? Was it some sort of payback? He felt sick and just wanted to get out.

He got up from his chair and stumbled to the door when Roberto's voice finally reached him again. "Mike? Mike, did you hear me? I really want to hear what you have to say. Do you think you have behaved inappropriately in the presence of Mr. Specter?"

Images of the day before flashed before him. He slowly nodded. No use in denying it. Of course he could point out that Harvey had been the one who started it all but he got the feeling that it somehow wouldn't help, that it maybe would only make things worse. At Roberto's disappointed look, Mike had left.

The sound of an incoming text message snapped him back to the present. When he opened it he stared at it for a while. Why on earth did the man want to see him? To rub it in? Gloat?

He thought about ignoring it but his anger was building up. He texted a reply. Vaffanculo.

He would like to see the expression on the face of the Italian that had to translate that for Harvey.

….

Harvey was just about to enter the classroom when he received the text message from Mike. He knew the expression. He had heard Luciano use it on a number of occasions. None of them being very pleasant. Mike was pissed at him. To say the least.

Before he could try to figure out why, one of the students had opened the door for him.

….

When the last student had finally left his office it was already after five o'clock. Roberto had left him a number of messages asking him to call him, but Harvey wasn't in the mood. He wanted to hear what Mike had to say first, before answering any questions Roberto might have.

He grabbed his keys from his desk and headed for the exit. Just before he stepped outside he saw Giovanni coming down the hallway. He pushed the door open but Giovanni had already spotted him. "Harvey, I'm glad I caught you. There is one tiny detail I forgot to mention this morning."

Harvey stopped in his tracks. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear this but there was no avoiding it.

Giovanni stopped in front of him. Too close. But Harvey didn't flinch. "What?"

Giovanni smiled. "I might have told them that the complaint came from you. That you told me. "

That would certainly explain Mike's comment that he could shove his text message somewhere it wouldn't see the light of day. Harvey took a deep breath to calm himself down. "And why exactly did you do that?"

Giovanni narrowed his eyes as if he had to think about it. "I don't know, it just seemed more...fun."

Harvey wanted to kill him. "And what is stopping me from going over to Roberto and telling him it was all a figment of your wild imagination?"

Giovanni smiled. "That would have been a good idea and it certainly would have worked if Mike hadn't already admitted to Roberto that he did behave around you in a way that is not considered decent by some people. That was an unexpected bonus, I must admit." Giovanni tilted his head. "But it did get me wondering what the two of you have you been up to."

Harvey stepped aside and pushed the front door open. He was seconds away from seriously hurting the guy.

"Have a nice evening, Harvey. Don't forget to dream about me." Giovanni called after him.

Oh I'll dream about you, alright, Harvey thought. I'll dream about ripping your insides out.