HI Followers and Favorited! I love you that you continually like my work. It keeps me encouraged to keep writing. Now about this chapter. Thomas is in it because I needed to show that Donna and Thomas had somewhat broken up before Harvey went to Donna on that night. Hope you enjoy! Please R&R. I would like to see what you think - Thank you so much - Carebearmaxi.. P.S. Sorry for the long wait!
Loving Each Other Out Loud
Chapter 5 - Gala Affair
Donna examined herself in Harvey's full length mirror. She was wearing a gown similar to the one she wore at her charity's banquet only a couple months ago. Instead of the strawberry red color, she went for one in a sophisticated dark blue. It was floor length, strapless, and had a light blue satin band at the top of the bodice and hugged her from the top of her bosom all the way around her body. Her hair this time was styled upswept with tendrils curling down around her face and in the back down her neck. She wore simple diamond studs in her ears which caught the light. Harvey had surprised her with them earlier when she was in the shower preparing for the evening.
"Harvey?" Donna called from the bathroom as he stepped out of the shower and spotted the little red velvet box on the sink counter.
"Yes, Donna?" Harvey called back smiling as he was changing into his tuxedo for the evening. He was trying not to smile because he knew she would hear the smile in his voice when he spoke.
"Is this box for me?" Donna asked innocently as she came out of the bathroom standing in the doorway. She was wearing a towel wrapped around her thin frame and a towel turban on her head.
Harvey looked over to her when he was sizing up his own look in the full length mirror near the window. He was amused that she was even asking. He decided to play along.
"No, I bought it for an old girlfriend and wanted to get your opinion," Harvey said.
Donna tilted her head and smirked at his sarcasm.
"Of course it's for you," Harvey said as he came closer to her.
Harvey was almost completely dressed in his tuxedo. The only missing piece was his jacket.
"Am I going to like what's in this box?" Donna asked as Harvey took the box from her.
He held it between them and looked her in the eye. Without her sky high heels, Donna was a couple of inches shorter than her boyfriend who loved it when he could tuck her underneath his chin. However, this time he held the box between them and loved the fact that Donna was blushing at his gift. A fact that she decided to not ignore. She especially remarked after Harvey opened the box and smiled as he saw her blush up to the roots of her hair.
"Oh...Harvey, they're beautiful!" Donna exclaimed as she took the earrings out of their little red velvet box and placed them in her ears. She went to the mirror and turned her head from side to side and admired them. She spotted Harvey's big smile as he stood in the bathroom doorway. Donna smirked.
"Finally, a gift from you I did not have to pick out myself or purchase myself," Donna said as she came closer and kissed Harvey who had placed his arms around her. His trailed kisses down her neck.
"Harvey I have to get dressed or we're going to be late," she sang.
"O..k..." Harvey trailed.
Before he could walk away, Donna grabbed him back by his hand and took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply.
"Later... I promise," Donna said.
Harvey smiled and remarked as he looked at his beautiful girlfriend. "You are absolutely stunning. I'm going to have to stick by your side the whole night or I may lose you to some other less handsome man."
Donna smiled and tittered.
"Let's go pretty."
"Oh, I know but so am I," Harvey said smugly. Then he kissed her messing her lipstick just enough. "Well, we will be the two most prettiest people at the entire affair."
Donna shook her head, rolled her eyes and smiled. This should be an interesting evening.
The affair of First Fidelity Bank of New York merging with First New York City Bank was the epitome glitz, wealth, and big business. Celebrating that their biggest customers were now an extension of SpecterLittWheelerWilliams' client base, Donna circulated explaining her role and how she could accommodate the questions about the merger and how it would inevitably drive their business to even greater profitablity. As COO of the firm, Donna had been crucial to the ease of the merger between the two companies which would be represented by the firm. Louis was the financial mastermind and wizard behind this merger but Donna was the public relations portion. From the entrance to the rooftop party, she spotted Louis and Alex speaking with a man whose back looked very familiar. Well, I need to let Louis know I'm here since this is a firm function and not for pleasure. Luckily I left Harvey with one of his clients and they were talking sports. I will be lucky if I see him the rest of the night.
She stopped in her tracks realizing why that back looked so familiar. She was surprised he was there at all after the "stalking horse" incident which left Harvey almost without a law license and for some strange reason Robert Zane losing his. Donna waved at Louis to acknowledge her presence and then made a wild gesture that she was going to talk with someone else.
She went over to the bar and ordered a scotch neat. Nothing like a little liquid courage. She thanked the bartender with a heavy tip and knocked it back. She ordered another and then went off to the edge of the balcony and looked at the street below.
"What do you mean cut out of you?" Thomas asked after Donna stated that she did not ever think she would ever get Harvey Specter out of her heart.
"Thomas, he and I...it's complicated," Donna said. "It goes back too many years and too many heartaches to make sense. But..."
"You're in love with him," Thomas said straight and to the point.
"I don't know... I guess I always have been, but he's never made any move toward me to show me he feels the same. He barely even talks about his feelings."
"Donna," Thomas said and unbuttoning his coat took a seat. "Then why does he want me to protect you so badly?"
"He told me he loved me once, but then he pushed me away. Like he always does..."
"Tell me then what this means for us because if you are in love with him then there is no point in us continuing to see each other. Unless, of course, you really think you can make a break from him?"
"Thomas this is not the time to discuss this. We have to be at the hearing," Donna said and then looked at Thomas who wore a hurt expression on his face.
"Look, Thomas, I don't know if you know this, but I used to be Harvey's executive assistant until about a year ago. I was doing most of a CEO's job already from my cubicle outside his office and I had a taste of being the captain of my own professional destiny, so I decided to ask him for the promotion."
"I didn't know that. That takes a lot of courage on your part to ask for a position like that," Thomas said admiringly.
Donna had taken a perch on the end of her chair facing Thomas. She did not know how to respond to that remark so she just hung her head.
Then looking up with tears in her eyes, she said, "I'm sorry, Thomas. I want to let him go, so I can have a real life outside the firm but it just never happens. I don't blame you if you don't want us to see each other anymore. It's not the first time that Harvey Specter has come between myself and a real life." Donna really did not want to sound bitter because she truly loved Harvey, but she was tired of waiting, apologizing, and making him the center of her world without even an inkling that he wanted her in that way.
Donna watched Thomas rise at that point and look at her. Thomas wore a look of regret. Donna knew the inevitable was happening. This handsome and wonderful loving man wanted to be hers exclusively it seemed forever, but again, Harvey Specter came between them. Why did she torture herself? Harvey, though protective and a great friend, had not for a long, long time responded in anyway that Donna could understand that he wanted her. Hell, even after the kiss last year when he said it effected him, he could not admit feeling more than he showed. He was so nasty to her. She had expected that but it was filled with such vitriol and she could not understand. Strangely, a few weeks later after they had somewhat tried to return to normalcy, Harvey did choose their professional relationship over his personal one with Paula. Now with what Thomas had just said regarding Harvey's nocturnal visit to Thomas, little sparks of hope shot up into her heart. Donna wanted to dampen them down because she knew that if she appeared at the hearing that she could not bear to see Harvey's reaction when they strip him of his license and she knows it was all her fault.
"Donna, I don't think it's a good idea for us to see each other anymore right now while you're so caught up in this situation with Harvey and the firm. It's nothing against you, and I truly admire you in trying to make a clean break from Harvey personally, but I think you and Harvey need to clear the air between you. If I am not mistaken that man I spoke with last night loves you more than his whole career and life put together. I know I would not want to spoil a chance for you should he finally see the light."
"Thomas, Harvey and I play this cat and mouse game all the time. I admit sometimes he gives me a glimpse but he never follows through. I do understand. We all need time to sort ourselves out. I understand," Donna said as Thomas bent down to kiss her one last time.
As Thomas walked away, Donna said, "I can't bring myself to go this hearing after all. I can't bear to see Harvey's face when they strip him of his license. I know I've been summoned, but there is no way I can go.
Then Thomas Kessler turned away and walked out of Donna's life until she saw him tonight speaking with Louis.
From across the room, Thomas Kessler had seen Donna wave at Louis. He thought she had not seen him, so his panic in seeing her again after their breakup stopped churning in his stomach. Louis had been prattling on about an anecdote with one of his other clients. Thomas had smiled politely while his mind wandered and his eyes looked for a glimpse of Donna.
Thomas Kessler had realized that there had been more to Harvey and Donna's relationship when Harvey asked Thomas to protect her from any implications of being the leak that alerted Thomas to the bad faith deal brewing. Donna, though open with him with some of her past, was really a consummate actress and had not told him all concerning Harvey Specter. Thomas realized after their conversation the morning of the hearing that Thomas had run smack into the wall which Donna's love for Harvey Specter.
There she is leaning on the balcony wall. She looks pensive. She looks beautiful as usual. I guess I should say hello to her.
I remember only a few weeks ago. Maybe I was wrong in breaking up with her. I miss her. I could have loved her and made her forget Harvey. Maybe...
Just as Thomas went to excuse himself and walk over to Donna to say hello, Thomas saw Harvey walked up behind Donna and embrace her from behind. She leaned into his embrace as he kissed her neck and she raised her arm behind her and placed her hand on his cheek. They were bathed in moonlight.
She's smiling! He's smiling! I guess they had that talk. Well, I am glad. I hope they are very happy together. Don't hurt each other. Just love each other. Harvey, man, I hope you realize how lucky you are.
Instead of walking toward Donna now since she was otherwise engaged, Thomas laid his wineglass on the bar and walked inside the building planning to take the elevator down and move on from his relationship with Donna Paulsen, COO of SpecterLittWheeler Williams.
Feeling two arms clasp her from behind she jumped at first so lost in her thoughts and not really expecting any PDA from her man, she joked, "Excuse me, sir, but aren't you a little forward for approaching a strange woman?"
Harvey whispered in her ear as he led his arms glide around her. "Not if that woman is mine," Harvey knew they were a darker space on the balcony and took this minute to pull her against him and trail kisses from her ear to that wonderful soft spot he liked to get lost in between her long neck and her beautiful freckled shoulder.
"Do you know what I want to do right now?" Donna asked as her hand came up and smoothed Harvey's cheek and ear.
"No, what?" Harvey whispered deeply and seductively. He could feel the goosebumps rise on her shoulder as he nuzzled. Oh if he says what I think she's going to say we're going to have to find an empty office.
"Well, you know, but we can't...at least not right now, " Donna said as she rubbed herself against Harvey and could feel him hardening. "Calm down. You don't want be embarrassed when we walk away from here, do you?" Donna sighed hard.
"Right now. I don't care. Either way, Louis is about to make a speech," Harvey said as he reluctantly released her, rolled his eyes, and held his arm out for her.
Donna turned around and looked down and noticed that Harvey's tuxedo pants were a little tighter than normal.
"Good thing it's dark and those trousers are darker. Let's go, handsome," Donna said as she took Harvey's proffered arm and they walked together back to the light and the large crowd waiting for Louis' speech.