A new chapter!
Thanks a lot for your sweet comments; I appreciate every single one of them. Knowing someone is out there, reading this story gives me so much motivation.
Chapter XII
Baby Daddy
Monday morning arrived with the hassle of a week filled with meetings, settlements, and depositions. Harvey and Donna were used to it. In fact, they mastered stressful schedules. However, it was the first time they would have to include a little girl in it, and their main concern was introducing this child to their world.
Harvey didn't want to keep Amanda a secret anymore and Donna agreed, but she also knew an avalanche of gossip and rumors was going land on them as soon as everyone learned they had a child together. The news were going to spread like wildfire; having a baby with your boss was the kind of rumor that unfolded gossip like an epidemic, and Donna's biggest fear was for Harvey. Careers could be harmed and killed by gossip, and she knew there were many people who wanted to bring Harvey down.
"Relax," Harvey told her as the elevator moved up towards the 50th floor.
Donna gave him a look. She was truly worried about him.
The doors of the elevator opened with a ding. Harvey, Donna, and Amanda stepped into the hall of the firm. It was early in the morning, a good time to arrive to work since hardly anyone would be there, or that's what they thought.
The elevator in front of them suddenly opened too, Louis was standing inside. As soon as he noticed that Harvey and Donna were with the little girl he hoped had been a hallucination, Louis entered into a state of shock.
"Hey Louis," Harvey tried to sound casual, but he was enjoying the moment too much. "I think you've met my kid."
Louis didn't move. He remained staring at Amanda as the elevator doors closed with him inside.
"He needs a day," Donna smirked.
Harvey was amused. He was going to take Amanda to Louis' office every day just to see his face.
"Come on, let's go see Jessica." He hurried them.
They walked towards Jessica's office, knowing well she'd be already there. Donna and Amanda followed Harvey closely until he stopped walking, signaling them to wait outside, and out of Jessica's sight.
"Jessica!" He walked alone into her office with his usual glow of Harvey-Specterness.
Jessica was on the sofa, reading a large tome. Her favorite tea set was sitting on a cart by her side.
Harvey could tell she was relaxed.
Softly, Jessica lifted her eyes from the book.
"Harvey," she closed the volume. "Good to see you alive. How was your getaway to Boston? Delightful?"
Harvey cocked an eyebrow, burying his hands in the pockets of his suit. "It wasn't a getaway. I went to Boston because of the accident."
"Of course," Jessica entwined the fingers of her hands, smiling. "So selfless of you"
"My daughter was presumed to be in it," Harvey blurted out. "I had to be there."
"Naturally," Jessica assented softly. "You really need to work on your excuses, Harvey, because this one is goddamn weak."
"It's the truth," Harvey gave her one of his charming smiles. "Donna!"
Outside the office Donna exchanged smiles with Amanda, before holding her daughter's hand.
"Come on," she took her kid into Jessica's office.
"Good Morning, Jessica." Donna and Amanda stood a few steps away from Harvey.
Jessica's eyes moved from Harvey to Donna, to finally focus on the smallest visitor.
Jessica couldn't stop looking at the kid.
"If this is some sort of prank―"
"It's not a prank, Jessica." Harvey approached his daughter. "This is my daughter, Amanda."
Jessica observed Amanda for several seconds. The girl bore an uncanny resemblance to Harvey. The eyes, the two tiny moles above the eyebrow. Almost immediately, Jessica recognized Donna's soft features, and orange red hair on the child too.
Harvey's revelation hit Jessica like a truck, there was no doubt the child belonged to Harvey ―and Donna.
She took a moment to deal with the news before speaking.
"I guess I don't have to ask who the mother is," she raised from her seat, looking at Harvey and Donna like two teenagers who had misbehaved under her supervision. "How old is she?"
"She'll be turning nine on the 31st," Harvey answered. "Halloween."
"Perfect date," Jessica smiled at Amanda. "Now I know why your mom asks for every Halloween off."
Amanda smiled, recalling how her mom used to make of her birthday a one-of-a-kind celebration filled with Halloween treats, presents, and spooky stories by the chimney's warm fire.
Out of the blue, Amanda noticed Jessica's exquisite tea set on the cart.
"A Minton," she tugged on Donna's dress with excitement.
Harvey and Donna looked puzzled at their kid.
"How do you know it's a Minton?" Jessica asked delighted.
"I just…I know," Amanda's eyes admired the tea set; she loved tea sets. "I know everything." They reminded her of Mary Poppins' ceiling tea party.
"Really?" Jessica caught a glimpse of Harvey's confidence in the little girl's eyes. "In that case, what am I thinking?"
She challenged her.
Jessica's question puzzled Amanda. The kid hesitated for a second, she knew she was being tested, and just when Harvey was about to answer for her, Amanda spoke.
"That I know that you know what you're thinking," Amanda tilted her head to a side, thinking. "And that's all I need to know."
Jessica tried to conceal a smile, but it was impossible. Amanda was just like her parents. "Donna, why don't you introduce your kid to what we do?" Jessica walked round her desk. "I'd rather you doing it than Harvey."
"Hey," Harvey complained.
"You," Jessica looked at him with a stern expression. "We have to talk."
Donna knew it was time to leave.
Harvey gave Donna a reassuring wink, as if telling her that everything would be fine. Although Donna wasn't so sure.
Jessica waited until Donna and Amanda were gone, to speak.
"How could you hide something like this from me?" Jessica was indignant.
"You never asked," Harvey tried to be honest. "Besides, my personal life doesn't have anything to do with the firm."
"It has everything to do," Jessica placed her palms flat on the desk. "A lot."
"Would you have kept me as your associate if you knew I had a kid?" Harvey asked her.
"A kid with your assistant," Jessica emphasized in a whisper, as if the walls could listen.
"Don't get Donna in this," Harvey interrupted before Jessica could say something that could anger him.
"When you asked me to let you come with Donna to this firm, I knew it was because she meant something to you," Jessica began.
"Jessica―"
"Don't deny it because it's true," she continued. "But the fact that you've been hiding that kid from everyone isn't going to look good on you."
"I never hid her," Harvey tried to believe his own words. "I protected her, and gave her the best education ―She had everything she needed."
"However, you omitted to mention her existence," Jessica highlighted.
"I care about my kid," Harvey knew what Jessica was trying to tell him.
"This is going to put your career at stake," Jessica pointed out. "Your reputation is going to be questioned, Harvey. There are people out there that are dying to put an end to your career." She looked at him with concern.
Harvey's mind was conflicted with thoughts.
"There's only one way to reduce the chance of a scandal," Jessica sat behind her desk.
She gave Harvey a particular stare, and he narrowed his eyes at her.
Jessica Pearson had spoken with her gaze.
xoxo
"What did she say?" Donna followed Harvey into his office, leaving Amanda sitting at her desk.
Harvey rubbed his eyes, trying to relieve the tension. "She's worried about this. That's all."
Donna pressed her lips together. She knew Harvey was omitting information.
"I had a kid with my assistant, and kept it a secret," Harvey explained. "We're scandal potential, and Jessica is worried about it."
"Right, because what we did is taboo." Donna suddenly found it silly. "Almost sinful…"
"We're marked by sin," Harvey added, a little entertained.
"It's kind of hot," Donna admitted.
"Very," Harvey lowered his voice. "It makes me think of strawberries and whipped cream."
Donna shook her head, smiling. She tilted her head to a side, getting serious. "What are we going to do, Harvey? Jessica is right."
"I've got a reputation to uphold, so there's only one way out," Harvey recalled Jessica's words.
Donna gave him an inquisitive look.
"Mexico," He put on a serious face. "If a scandal strikes, get three tickets."
Donna rolled her eyes, "Harvey."
"She's got to go back to Boston, Donna." Harvey looked into her eyes with guilt. He couldn't tell Donna what he and Jessica had discussed, yet. "How else can we keep her from the mess we've made?"
They turned their heads to look at their child through the glass wall. Amanda stamped her hand with Donna's date stamp. She studied the impression on her hand for a second, and all of a sudden she began to stamp excitedly all over her arm.
"She got that from you," Donna told him, trying to cheer up herself.
"Hey!" Mike stopped by Donna's desk to greet Amanda.
"Mike!" Amanda squealed, dropping the stamp on the desk, she was extremely happy to see him.
"We'll talk about it later," Harvey told Donna.
Harvey and Donna saw Mike and Amanda high-five each other.
"Good morning, Family!" Mike walked into the office sporting a big smile. "How are the Specters today?
"Don't, Mike. Just don't." Donna walked past him out of the office.
"Okay, no jokes. So serious, all the time." Mike stood by the large window, as Harvey went to sit behind his desk.
The boy remained staring at him with a smile stuck on his face.
"What?" Harvey leaned back in his seat.
"Look who had a secret personal life," Mike was delighted about it all. "You never mentioned that you and Donna―"
"Mike," Harvey gave him a warning look.
"You're a baby daddy," Mike teased him.
"Another word and I fire you," Harvey warned him. "Let's focus on Berkeley."
"You know? It's great, because I always pictured you with a little Harvey specter; hair all gelled up and in a pin-striped Oshkosh…" Mike continued. "Now, you happen to have a little Donna; orange red hair and all." He said, all eager. "Is it only Amanda, or you guys have more kids?"
Harvey stared at Mike without blinking. He looked like he was going to murder him.
"Mike," Donna's voice came over the intercom. "If you treasure your life, keep your mouth shut. You both have a meeting with Berkeley and Jessica in two minutes. Conference room."
"Damn it," Harvey raised to his feet, hurrying to get out of the office.
"You shouldn't swear, you know?" Mike followed him. "You don't want Amanda to learn that daddy has a colorful vocabulary."
"Colorful is what you're going to see when my fist kisses your face," Harvey half joked.
"That's pretty aggressive, but I'm going to forgive you because you're a baby daddy," Mike teased him again.
Harvey tried to ignore Mike's comment as they walked past Donna's desk. It was hard not to look at the girls sitting behind it when one looked like a smaller replica of the other.
He smiled.
"Good luck, daddy" Amanda waved her hand. Donna's eyes were glued to her computer screen, but she smiled too. She knew Harvey was glad to have them there despite everything.
Harvey continued walking along with Mike towards the conference room.
"Good luck, Daddy," Mike mouthed. "It's so cute!"
Harvey pressed his lips together, irritated. Mike was going to be a pain in the ass all the goddamn day.
Get ready for the "scandal" of the year, and a very sticky stituation...Coming soon!
Thanks so much for reading!
