"Explain that to me. What do you mean Jessica knows?" Harvey asked, raising an eyebrow. Mike fought back the urge to scream. Why did Harvey insist on this bullcrap, this attitude of not pretending to know what Mike was talking about?

"What I mean Harvey is that she knows my secret! She knows I didn't actually attend Harvard." Mike said through gritted teeth, his voice barely above a whisper.

"And how exactly does she know that?"

"I don't know, but she does! She told me she did, and I am so done for!"

"Stop and take a breath. Now relax, and tell me everything." Harvey said calmly.

Mike did as his mentor asked. He took a breath, and relayed a heavily edited version of his meeting with Jessica Pearson the previous evening.

Pearson/Hardman-15 minutes later

"Whatever you think you know Jessica-"

"I will deal with you in a minute Harvey. Now step outside and shut the door. Give me a moment alone with Mr. Ross."

"Jessica-"

"Now." She said quietly.

"No. Now I don't know what you think you know, but so help me if he goes, I'm walking right after him."

"Give me a moment with Mr. Ross." She said, and he swore before walking out of the room. His point had been made. It would be useless to say anything else right now.

"You look surprised." Jessica said when the door had shut behind her right-hand.

Mike shook his head, silent for a moment.

"I did not expect that. Honestly, some days I think he barely tolerates me."

"In this world, being soft, wearing your heart on your sleeve, can get you destroyed. In our business the best praise you can receive is when you don't hear anything. Silence often means that you're effective." She said, and he grinned.

"That's funny. With you, it's usually the opposite." He said, and she frowned.

"Don't be cute. I haven't decided about you yet."

"Professionally? Or personally?" He asked quietly.

She didn't respond for a moment, and Mike took the time to admire the woman he hoped was still his girlfriend. Jessica was dressed in a champagne blazer and matching top with black pants. It was professional, and quintessential Jessica Pearson. She could show off when she wanted to, but she didn't need to. She walked into a room, and she had every eye on her. Not just because she was beautiful. No, she commanded respect with just her presence. It was one of the many qualities Mike liked about her.

"Can I trust you Mike? Can I trust you to be honest with me?" She asked, looking him in the eye.

"Yes Jessica. I swear to you. No more secrets. No more lies." He said, wanting desperately to walk over to her and take her hand, to pull her into his arms. But even if they were alone he wouldn't. He had lied to her, kept the truth from her. He would let her decide at what pace, if any, they moved forward. He only hoped that they would move forward together.

"Send Harvey in."

He nodded at her clear dismissal, walking over to the door.

"Mike...go for the jugular."

"Well?" Harvey asked by way of greeting.

"She wants to see you, and I have a mock trial to prepare for. So I'm not fired yet. But she knows." Mike said before walking off.

Harvey Specter walked into Jessica Pearson's office and shut the door.

"Harvey, you have been my right-hand. You know me better than nearly anyone in the world. Up until now, I have never thought of you as the enemy."

"Then don't think of me as the enemy Jessica. I'm still loyal. I always have been. I always will be."

"Bull. You bring in some kid with no degree into my firm, into my firm, and you consider that loyalty?"

"You told me to find an associate, to find another me. Well guess what? I did, and his name is Mike Ross." Harvey retorted, and Jessica glared.

"What you did was expose us all! Did you even consider what would happen if he was found out?"

"No one's going to find out because he's damn good at what he does. Sure he's green and gets way too invested in the clients, but he's good Jessica! Extremely good. I'll tell you one thing, he's a hell of a lot better than the majority of those idiots Louis picked."

"Those idiots went to Harvard. Mike Ross may look like he went to Harvard, but we both know he didn't."

"He's still better. I'd put any one of them up against him in a heartbeat." Harvey said, and Jessica smiled. Here was the opening she was looking for.

"That's funny you should say that. He'll be facing Darren Smith. In case you missed the introduction, Darren was mock trial champ his entire high school and college career. So here's the deal. If the kid wins, he stays. If he loses, you fire him. Do we have an understanding?"

Harvey just nodded, hoping he wouldn't have to fire his friend.

Mike walked into the library that served as the makeshift courtroom three hours after his meeting with Jessica. He was nervous. When he'd gotten back to his cubicle Louis had gleefully told him that he wanted Mike to have a challenge. Enter Darren Smith, former mock trial champion and actual graduate of Harvard Law. His pulse raced, and not in a good way. If Mike messed this up, he was screwed. Add in the fact that Jessica hadn't confirmed where they stood, and Mike felt like he was going to be ill. Personally and professionally, his life could very well be over. He looked around, seeing Rachel at the table for the prosecution ready to act as a witness. He saw his fellow associates all set up for their roles and the junior and senior partners who were sitting in the audience, Harvey and Louis among them. So, it wasn't enough that he be destroyed, but he would be publicly humiliated if he lost. He wondered if this was how it had felt to be fed to the lions in the coliseum of rome.

"Are both counselors ready to proceed to opening statements?" Jessica asked from where she sat at the front of the room, acting as the judge in this trial.

As Mike looked at her, he remembered her words from earlier. Go for the jugular. A reference from Scandal, which had become their show to watch whenever they found the time. She was telling him to fight. Well he would fight. He would fight, and he would win. The only thing that was left was to choose his weapon.

"Your honor we have-"

"Defense is ready Your Honor." Darren Smith said, cutting Mike off.

So his weapon had been chosen.

"Very good Mr. Smith. Mr. Ross, are you ready to begin?" Jessica asked, keeping her tone even. Even though she personally desired Mike's victory, he would have to earn it. She hoped he was ready.

"Before we begin your honor, I would like to introduce a counter-suit on behalf of my client Lena Lunders for defamation of character."

Darren's eyes widened and he went to protest. Mike smirked, feeling a small boost of confidence. He may not have gone to Harvard Law, but he was Harvey Specter's associate, and he'd picked up a couple tricks during the two months he'd been with Jessica. He was fighting for his job, but he was fighting for them too. He was going to win.

A/N: So here we have chapter 3! I hope you all enjoyed! Thank you again to everyone who has read and reviewed this story! Chapter 4 will be up soon!