"Mr. Ross."
Mike looked up from his phone, placing it in his pocket. He blinked, and then he smiled.
"Ms. Pearson. My goodness, you are beautiful." He said quietly, and she smiled.
"Flattery will get you everywhere. You clean up nice yourself." She said just as their waiter came over. He set two drinks in front of them, handed them their menu and walked away.
"The 52. Very nice."
"I had a win, figured I'd indulge. I'm glad you approve."
"I do. I also approved this." Jessica said, sliding an envelope across the table.
Mike opened it, glancing down at the paper inside.
"Holy shit. Jessica, this is-"
"The standard bonus we give to the lawyer who wins mock trial. It's not advertised but if you earn it, you get it. You earned it."
"Thank you." He said, sliding the envelope into the pocket of his suit jacket.
"So I looked over the pro bono case and-"
"Can we save that for the morning? I'd like to change topics for a minute."
"You're the boss." He said, and she chuckled.
"I got stopped on my way out today by an old friend of yours. Trevor."
"Oh hell. What did he tell you?"
"Nothing I don't already know." She said, giving him a pointed look.
"Great." He said, suddenly grateful that she knew about his secret. They would be having a very different conversation otherwise.
"I thought you cut him out of your life. What the hell is he doing back?"
"He thinks I'm sleeping with his ex. I invited her over to talk about the mock trial, to decide if I was going to use her as part of my strategy. He saw her leaving. He was pissed, but I didn't think-"
"That your loser of an ex-best friend who has wasted his life would come after you when you appear to take the one good thing he had? Oh no, why would he ever think that?" Harvey said as he came up to them.
"Harvey." Jessica said, not moving her eyes from Mike.
"Jessica. Mike. Something you two would like to tell me?"
"The 52 is fantastic." Mike said, taking a sip.
"Funny. Now cut the crap. How long?"
"Oh, about...twenty-six minutes. Can you call the waiter? I've been wondering where my food is." Jessica said, and Harvey snorted.
"Let me rephrase. How long have the two of you been sleeping together?"
Jessica looked at him, her eyes giving nothing away. Then she started laughing.
"Harvey, I think you need to go get some sleep. Mr. Ross and I are having a working dinner to discuss a pro bono case. Or do you honestly think that I would risk my reputation, my firm and everything I have built to sleep with a first year associate?" She asked, and Harvey shook his head.
"Maybe you're right. I think I'll get some rest. See you both tomorrow."
Harvey walked away. For several moments, Jessica and Mike just looked at each other, neither saying a word.
"He knows. No way did he buy that excuse."
"Nope." Mike said, taking a sip of his drink. He took another, longer swallow. Then he finished the glass and poured himself another. His mind kept going back to Jessica's words. Why would she risk everything that she had built to sleep with a first year associate?
"Mike, look at me. Please." She said quietly.
"What I told Harvey, you know that was all crap right? What we have, it's real."
"I know that Jessica. I just wonder how long it's going to last. Excuse me for a moment."
He walked away without giving her a chance to respond.
Three minutes later, the door to the men's room slammed open.
"This is the men's room." Mike said, drying his hands.
"Really? I hadn't noticed. Just like I hadn't noticed that you thought I was playing games."
"That's not what I meant." He said, and she shook her head.
"I wonder how long it's going to last? Do you really think so little of me that you think I would play games with you for months?"
"No I...Harvey just asked a question I ask myself. Why would the managing partner of one of the most successful firms in the country risk that success just to be with a first year associate?" He asked, turning to face her.
"You make me happy. You make me smile, you make me laugh. The sex is great." She said, and he grinned in spite of himself.
"I'm with you because I want to be, and I don't see that changing anytime soon." She said, and he smiled, walking over and kissing her softly.
"I'm sorry, I just...I hate having to hide us from everyone. I have the most intelligent, beautiful girlfriend in the world, and I can't tell anyone. Not even my grandmother knows." He said, and she smiled.
"Then let's go change that. Right now."
"Are you sure?" He asked, and she nodded.
"Absolutely."
Mike smiled. Dinner could wait. It was time for his grandmother to meet the most important woman in his life.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please read and review, and the next chapter will be up soon!