Author's Note: This takes place early on during Harvey and Donna's time at Pearson Hardman. Before hiring Mike, maybe three years into their time at the law firm after quitting the D.A's office.
Harvey Specter rarely had time to himself. Contrary to popular belief, his successful bachelor lifestyle was not easy to maintain. His job was intense, and he did not work normal 9-5 hours. His job was constant 24/7, putting out fires every other second and trying to stay ahead of the curve by being three steps ahead of his colleagues and enemies. When his job was not all time consuming, he had to find time to keep up his connections with important people. That included networking over poker tables, schmoozing potential clients at company parties, and finding ways to maintain the relationships over time as well.
He also had to have some...personal needs met in his life as well.
He needed to find time throughout his schedule to bed some women and take the edge off with decent company and amazing nighttime activities in his bedroom. He also wanted to maintain his health and physique, so boxing and running were factored in his head as priorities as well. That left little to no down time for Harvey to have throughout the week.
But for once, he can finally be found on a random Wednesday evening at home.
It was a rarity, but Harvey's workday was slow that day and it resulted in him, on his black leather couch nursing a beer in his hand at a reasonable hour.
He was surfing the channels as he mindlessly ate a slice of pizza, looking for something to catch his eye before he succumbed to watching Cool Hand Luke for the umpteenth time.
And then, he saw her. He nearly dropped his pizza slice on the floor as he caught a glimpse of her dazzling red hair that he had over the years been conditioned to recognize anywhere. Donna was on his plasma tv.
"Oh my god." He mumbled to himself as he saw her in tight black leather jeans and a white puffy blouse, with her hair slightly curled all around. She looked nothing like the Donna he was used to seeing in her fitted dresses prancing around with files at the office. She looked more casual and more enticing than ever before.
He knew she had been given a part to play on some tv show but he couldn't remember the specifics, just that she got it by fitting the description of the character and because she was friends with some of the producers.
He wanted to give his entire bonus check to said producers because they were more than right to give her the role. She looked phenomenal.
Harvey always knew Donna was beautiful but somehow tv magic had worked its way on her to make her everyday beauty look goddamn ethereal.
He started wondering if the reason he had a slow workday was because she wanted a slow day to catch up on her "me-time". How she handled a full-time assistant position where she acted more like an associate than a secretary and starred in a tv show made him think she truly was superhuman.
As he saw her character move across the room, she turned around to face the camera and Harvey felt like she was speaking directly to him. The camera zoomed in on her face, and Harvey realized the makeup she had on completely covered every single one of her freckles that he knew were hidden underneath.
Harvey didn't care for that.
"You do have a choice," Donna spoke, with angst in her voice. Her hazel eyes were wide and depicted heartfelt emotion of sincerity as he saw Donna's throat swallow down something her character was debating saying.
"I'm the one that has no choice. Because I can't stop loving you, Harvey."
Harvey blinked in surprise. Did she just-
"Harry, I'm in love with you."
Harvey shook his head wondering if it was the beer or her phenomenal acting that made him mishear, skyrocketing his heartbeat to an alarming rate.
"And I always will be." Tears sprung in her eyes and Harvey's heart clenched despite the fact he knew they were fake tears that stuck in her lashes. Donna quickly wiped a single tear away from her face. She sniffled and looked up to the ceiling to control her emotions.
Her acting costar said something back to her, but Harvey wasn't entirely sure what it was as his focus was still on Donna.
Harvey was glad that seemed to be the end of the episode because he didn't know if he could handle watching her spout more emotional lines to the camera. He felt his smile widened in pride as the credits rolled and he read her name on the screen.
"Holy fucking shit." Donna Paulsen, his Donna Paulsen had made it on the big screen.
Fear and excitement rolled all in one spread throughout his body as it dawned on him that she was embarking on one of her career dreams that meant taking her away from him.
Harvey quickly got up to grab his laptop from his bedroom and do some research on the role she'd acquired.
The TV show was a classic success. A drama tv show that spanned 7 successful seasons. Donna snagged the role of Jamie Irisern, the new main love interest for the main character Harry Ortega. She played his long-time childhood best friend who was mentioned throughout the years but never once made an appearance in his life.
The fans were obsessed with her. And not Jamie the character but Donna's representation of Jamie. There wasn't one complaint, one bad comment on Donna's portrayal of the character- they absolutely loved her. There were already fan edits and online shrines of hers.
Harvey grinned to himself knowing the almighty Donna would be eating this up. He could already hear her smug reply.
"Are we surprised that the world wants more of Donna?" He could just picture her mock wide eyes and teasing shrug of her shoulders as she rolled around in her office chair.
How long would that chair be hers though if Hollywood were calling? Harvey shook that treacherous thought away and continued scrolling through the fan boards.
Despite Donna's character only being in six to seven episodes, she was already a fan favorite. People were talking about how much chemistry her, and Harry had, how amazing their bond must be, how beautiful she was.
Some of the less than PG rated comments on Donna's looks made Harvey's jaw clench, but he also knew he was a hypocrite because he thought the same remarks in his head 24/7 at the office - but still.
The comments that gushed and praised Donna made a feeling of pride and satisfaction stir in Harvey's gut. He always knew Donna was amazing at everything she did, she managed the firm, his work life, hell, even his personal life, with one hand tied to the back of her hand. But she never got the recognition she deserved, not completely. Louis feared and praised her, Jessica admired and respected her, and everyone else knew she commanded power in a way that had nothing to do with her status as his secretary- Her power was known of yet not aware of.
But here Harvey was, scrolling through a thousand pieces of evidence of pure unadulterated appraisal of her skills.
That night, after binge watching three more episodes that Donna was in, Harvey went to bed dreading what this would mean for Donna's career as his assistant.
The next day, Harvey got to the office and found Donna arranging paperwork on his desk, her back towards him as she bent across his desk.
"Well, if it isn't the star-studded Donna Paulsen in my office! Could I get an autograph?" Harvey teased, his hands stuffed in his pockets and while he couldn't see her face, he knew Donna was rolling her eyes at him.
"Well, if it isn't Harvey Specter, two hours late!" She whirled around with her hands on her hips, an eyebrow raised in amusement at him.
"So, guess what show I caught up with last night, Jamie."
"How happy would you have been if my character's name was Debbie, just so you could keep your girls' names straight."
Harvey's heart fluttered a little at her thinking of herself as his girl.
Donna went to walk back to her cubicle, effectively ending their short exchange when Harvey grabbed her elbow.
"Donna,"
"Yes Harvey?" She gave him a sweet smile in return and Harvey smiled back.
"You were great. I mean it."
"You really liked it?" Her voice had a tinge of curiosity in it.
"I really did." Their eyes met and exchanged a silent conversation like they always did. He hoped she could read all the pride he felt towards her.
"Thought you didn't like 'typical 40-minute tv shows' " she teased, and he smirked at her amusement.
"What can I say, I'm a Donna fan. President of the club even." Donna laughed at that, a true laugh, like she was surprised he got her to crack.
Harvey grinned at that. "So, you have to tell me, do Jamie and Harry get together? Does he call off his wedding for her?"
Donna seemed surprised by the turn of conversation, as Harvey directed them to his couch, wanting to discuss this more at length.
"You seriously want to talk about this?" Donna asked as she perched one leg over the other, turning slightly to face Harvey.
Harvey looked at her with bewilderment and amusement at the same time. Here she was embarking on her life goals, and she was shocked that he wanted to enjoy it with her, like she shared in his enjoyment with every milestone they achieved together at the law firm.
"I can't believe you're not more excited. You couldn't shut up for weeks about some play coming back to Broadway, but this, you need prying out of?"
"Some play -it was Wicked, and it was off Broadway for years! Pattie-"
"I really do not need another lecture on the play." Harvey quickly cut her off.
Donna rolled her eyes.
"No, apparently you want the inside scoop on next Sunday's episode." sarcasm dripped off her tongue.
Harvey swallowed down his fear, trying to remain happy for Donna as he asked his next question. "So, you're going to be in it?"
"Yeah. It's the last episode I shot."
Harvey felt her words give him whiplash. "What?! But you're amazing on the show! Fans adore you; they want you and Harry to end up together!" Donna's eyes widened at his passionate speech, shocked by his outburst. By the looks of it, so was Harvey.
"Did you stalk the show's fanbase for me?" Harvey felt heat crawl up his neck at being caught obsessing over her but quickly put his poker face back on.
"I just… can't believe you're not going to be on it is all. I thought you were great at it."
"I am great at it." Donna huffed, slightly irritated at the assumption she wasn't.
Harvey sent her a look that said then what the hell is the problem?
"I just…" Donna sighed, looking away from Harvey's prying eyes, and settling them on the autographed baskets behind him. "My heart wasn't in it."
Harvey frowned at her confession. If that was her acting when she wasn't into the role, then exactly how much talent did she hold within herself, he wondered.
"You love acting." Harvey stated it as if he was trying to remind her of what her passion was.
"No, I love acting on a Broadway stage, I love plays. I don't love acting for the cameras. The show wanted me to be a regular, even offered me three seasons worth of storylines, but I said no. My heart wasn't in it. You know when I had to come on set and rehearse my lines with Paul," Donna's eyes shifted back to Harvey, "that's Harry by the by," Harvey rolled his eyes at her explanation, "All I could think about was the Hessinger files and whether or not Louis knew about the loophole I found that could get you the case instead of him."
Harvey stiffened at her words. He felt like she was confirming all his worst fears of him being the reason she wasn't pursuing her dream.
"Are you saying this job is the reason you didn't take it?" Harvey's words came out panicked and guilt ridden. "Because I-"
Donna shook her head in response. "No, I'm saying this job seemed more entertaining to me than playing Jamie Irisen for 40 episodes straight."
Harvey gave her a short nod.
He hated himself for the relief he felt engulfing his entire body as she set his anxiety at ease. Her job at the firm was safe for now.
"But Donna," he hesitated with his thoughts, wanting her to selfishly stay close to him, working with him for many more years to come. "This is one step closer to your dreams. Isn't acting in anything better than not acting at all?"
Donna gave him a wistful smile as she slowly raised herself off the couch and smoothed down the blue dress skirt with her hands. "No. Things change. Dreams… change."
You changed me, seemed to be the unspoken words between them.
"I'd rather do a crappy off- off off Broadway rendition of Hamlet once in a blue moon than trade in my Shakespeare sonnets for weekly scripts."
Donna once again moved to leave the office, but Harvey stopped her once again. "For what it's worth… I think you more than have it in you to conquer the acting world."
Donna smiled at him, feeling warm at the thought of Harvey Specter, best closer in the city, in awe of her acting skills.
"Well for what it's worth, I don't mind conquering the world of law firms till the stage calls my name for good." She winked at him as she finally turned around and sashayed out of his office with an extra jaunt in her hip sway.
Harvey shook his head at her retreating frame, forever glad that Donna managed to strut her way into his life.
"Ever the dramatics!" He bellowed out at her.
"Don't act like you don't like it." She spoke into the intercom as she settled into her desk chair and Harvey bit back a smile shaking his head at her audacity.