"Jessica, I don't-"
"So help me if the next words out of your mouth aren't the truth we are done, and I will fire your ass. Now tell me the truth. If I mean anything to you at all, tell me the truth."
"I just need one thing first." He said quietly, taking her hands.
"And what might that be?"
He didn't answer her. Instead, he kissed her softly, tenderly, hoping against hope that it wouldn't be the last time he was able to do so.
Then he took her hand and led her to the sofa. He sat down, and he began telling his story. He told her every detail. How he had taken the LSAT's for others, and how he had almost gotten himself arrested for possession with intent to distribute. Instead, he had wound up in the interview process for Pearson/Hardman's newest associate. He had gotten the job. But he had never attended even a single day of classes at Harvard Law.
When Mike finished his story, he didn't look up. Instead, he stared at her hands. The hands that had held his after a long night of lovemaking, or after a dinner at a hole in the wall restaurant that not many in New York even knew existed. The hands that hadn't moved in the ninety minutes since he had begun speaking.
"Is there anything else you haven't told me? Anything between you and Miss Zane?" She asked, her question making him lift his gaze to hers.
"No. Rachel is a friend, but that is it. I swear to you Jessica, on my grandmother's life there is only you."
"I want to believe you. You have no idea how much."
"Then believe me Jessica. Please believe me. Please."
His last word was barely above a whisper, and as she looked into his eyes Jessica knew that he had just told her the truth. There was no one else. He had been faithful to her.
"What am I supposed to do with you Michael?" She asked instead. He could tell that in this case, she didn't want an answer, so he kept his mouth shut. He just stared into her eyes, hating the pain that he saw there, hating the fact that he was the cause.
"I should fire you. Practicing law without a license is a felony, as I'm sure you know. But if I fire you-"
"I'll resign. Cite my grandmother's health, and I'll leave quietly. There won't be blowback on you. Your hands will be clean. Just tell Harvey that-"
"Don't mention him. I'll deal with him later." She said quietly, feeling her veins turn to ice. Her protege, the man she had put through law school and Mike Ross, the man who shared her bed had been lying to her. They had conned her and she fell for it hook, line and sinker. Logically, she should do what Mike suggested. He could resign, and that would be the end of it. That was the best option. Except her heart hated that idea. She had grown to care for him more than she ever should have, but she had.
"I guess I'll-"
"You will shut up and listen. I am so angry and hurt that I can barely see straight."
"Jessica I-"
"I said shut up. I don't want apologies. Not now. What I want is for you to go home and get some sleep. You have mock trial tomorrow, and I expect you to win."
"Jessica-"
"Get out."
"Jess-"
"OUT!" She yelled, and he stood up and walked out, leaving Jessica Pearson alone. For a moment, she just sat there feeling the emotion welling up inside her. Then she felt the first tear roll down her cheek.
Forty minutes later she had finished her second glass of scotch, and made a decision. She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"Jessica? It's 2:30 in the morning."
"Louis, I need you to do something for me."
Mike Ross's Apartment-4:00 AM
Mike rolled over again, trying desperately to find the sleep that eluded him. He needed to rest, or he would be useless at mock trial. But his mind wouldn't quiet. Thanks to his photographic memory, he was able to replay every moment of what had happened in Jessica's office. He saw it on a continuous loop, running over and over again. The two kisses he'd shared with her. The anger and pain in her eyes, in her voice as she confronted him. The fury as she ordered him out of her office. He saw it all in perfect clarity, each time feeling as fresh as the moment it first occurred.
He finally passed out from sheer exhaustion at 6:02, his dreams full of Jessica Pearson ordering him out of her firm and out of her life. At 6:25, his alarm went off, and Mike Ross forced himself to get ready for the day. He had heard that dreams could sometimes indicate future events. He hoped that this wasn't the case for him.
He walked out of his house, seeing a black limo waiting for him. The window rolled down, revealing the face of Mike's boss and mentor, Harvey Specter.
"Get in."
Mike got in the car, and Harvey forced a cup of coffee into his hand.
"You look like shit."
"I didn't sleep."
"Care to tell me why? And do you care to tell me why Jessica Pearson is demanding a meeting with us in fifteen minutes? Cause last time I checked, managing partners don't usually meet with associates."
"She knows Harvey. Jessica knows everything."
A/N: Here is chapter 2! I'm so pleased by the response to the initial teaser, especially since I didn't think anyone would read this given that the show is canceled and as far as I know, no one has ever done this pairing before! I hope you all enjoyed chapter 2 and chapter 3 will be up soon!