Harvey smiles tentatively as Donna emerges, freshly showered and wearing another of his old t-shirts over a pair of shorts. He steels his gaze before it sneaks down her long legs and forces his attention back to the table laden with food.
He deliberately didn't tell her about Jessica and Rachel coming around for breakfast. In his mind, she deserved one night free from worrying about the case. Except now there's no avoiding the formal intrusion. Her eyes wash over the elaborate selection of pastries and fruits, and he bites the bullet, explaining himself. "My boss, Jessica Pearson, and a paralegal from the firm want to meet you in person."
Donna stiffens, feeling ambushed by the engagement. His sharp suit and immaculate hair don't exactly paint the picture of an informal breakfast. "You mean, they're coming over to interrogate me," she corrects. Surprisingly, he gives a slight nod, which she respects. At least he's being honest about what to expect. However, it would help her confidence if she wasn't lounging around in his clothes, and her nerves roll out in a sigh. "If you have any Jovani dresses secreted away, now would be the time to pull one out."
He doesn't get the joke at first, not till she pointedly tugs at his t-shirt, which he accepts as an unofficial invite to let his eyes wander. Then he meets her gaze with a smirk. She chides the look he's wearing with a scowl, and he refrains from making an inappropriate quip, setting down the napkins he's holding and angling his body more seriously. "Jessica knows the situation. You don't need a designer dress to win her over."
"What do I need?" she asks, hoping he'll divulge something she can use to her advantage.
"Just be yourself." He shrugs a shoulder. "Worked for me."
His flippancy doesn't reassure her. There are still things she can't bring herself to admit to him. Facing more people with her story, adding to her circle, was inevitable, but her shame isn't all she's afraid of exposing. Anyone who learns what she knows about Vasquez will also become a potential target, and she doesn't want to see more lives ruined. "I'm putting them in danger."
"Hey." He steps forward, tempted to lean his hands on her shoulders. But when she glances up, he holds himself back, keeping his arms down. Jessica is coming over to cast her aspersions on both of them, not just Donna. So instead of touching, he uses his words to assure her. "There's a reason we're meeting here and not in the office. And our firm isn't a two-bit clinic down the street. Jessica can handle herself, believe me."
She doesn't look convinced, and he tries a different approach. "You're the client, not the person on trial here, Donna. This is as much of an opportunity for you to decide if you can trust us."
She gnaws her inner lip, conflicted—something he has a habit of challenging out of her. She does trust Harvey. She wouldn't have stayed the night, otherwise. But before she can debate the other side, a knock cuts through their silent reprieve. It's not like she can run now.
"You'll be fine." He breaks his rule, giving her elbow a quick squeeze. But he keeps the contact brief, moving to answer the door.
"Harvey."
Jessica purses her lips, and he's once again reminded that Donna isn't the only one under his mentor's scrutiny. But he doesn't let her poise fluster him, smiling as he turns on the charm. "Ladies," he greets. "Come on in."
Jessica takes the lead ahead of him, hearing the door click shut as she stops in front of the barefoot redhead. The first thing she assesses are the bruises blossoming on the woman's face. Harvey wasn't exaggerating her injuries. As for the rest, nothing about the woman immediately strikes her as someone Harvey would fawn over. The redhead boasts a natural beauty, but she isn't his obvious modelesque type, and she hides her surprise beneath a curt smile. "Miss Paulen, I'm Jessica Pearson, managing partner, and this is Rachel Zane, our firm's top paralegal."
Rachel stands next to Jessica, curiously taking in Donna with a sympathetic wince. She didn't believe Mike when he first told her Harvey had become a vigilante. And when Jessica assigned her to the deposition instead of Mike, she started to suspect Jessica had her doubts as well. But the redhead is indeed real, and she lumps down the duffle slung over her shoulder, smiling. "I thought you could use a few things."
Harvey's surprised look tells Donna he wasn't responsible for the thoughtful gesture, and she glances at Rachel, who, out of the four of them, would appear the most open. Her features are soft, not locked with any apprehension, and Donna tries to respond in the same way. "Thank you. That's very considerate."
The gratitude seems genuine to Jessica, but she interrupts the exchange, keeping them all on track. "Now the introductions are over. Shall we get down to business?" Her heels click forward, and she slides out a chair at the breakfast table.
Rachel's eyes light up at the impressive spread as she slips in next to Jessica. "This looks amazing."
"It does," Jessica agrees. Harvey clearly went all out, and she pointedly glances at the head of the table, conveying he'll need to do more than just order in from her favorite bakery to get back on her good side.
He chooses the suggested seat, leaving Donna alone on her side of the buffet.
She suspects the move is calculated but sits down regardless, keeping her expression schooled as her ribs twinge painfully. With all eyes focused on her, she takes a shallow breath, addressing the awkward tension. "I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. Especially given the circumstances."
"And which circumstances might those be?" Jessica pushes. "I don't care for platitudes here, Ms. Paulsen, only complete transparency."
Donna flinches at the directness, but she nods, accepting the woman's way forward. "Esteban Vasquez is an influential and dangerous man. Anyone involved in going after him is putting their career, maybe more, at risk."
Even though Jessica has nothing personal against the woman, she's intentionally blunt. The redhead wound up becoming Harvey's house guest overnight, and she wants answers, not to be given the runaround. "And despite realizing that risk, you came to my lawyer and firm for help. Why?"
"Jessica," Harvey grumbles, shifting stiffly in his seat when her eyes train on him. She's testing him, too. But she's twisting the facts, making it sound like Donna manipulated him, which he quickly takes offense to. Not only is he not that gullible, Donna already had one foot out the door when she woke up. If anything, he was the one who took advantage of her vulnerable state to get to the truth. "I offered to—"
"Stop."
To his surprise, and Jessica's, it's Donna who interrupts.
"I did mean to involve him," she admits. Although, not in the way Jessica's implying. When she found herself in a stranger's bed, she had every intention of running. But he didn't force her to stay. She chose to tell him about Vasquez, and she's willing to take full responsibility for the situation they're all facing. "I went after Vasquez alone, and maybe that was reckless, but it didn't work. Harvey offered another solution, and I let myself believe there might be a way out."
She finds Jessica's gaze across the table. She can accept the blame for leading them all here, but ultimately, how they decide to move forward isn't up to her or Harvey. "But respectfully, putting the people in this room in danger, or risking the reputation of your firm, that isn't my decision to make, Ms. Pearson, it's yours."
Jessica arches an eyebrow, the rest of her expression impassive as she leans back. Out of her peripheral, she catches Harvey's perceptible smirk, and if she could reach, she'd kick him hard in the shin. But she settles for wiping the smugness off his face. "And what if I agree to take on this case and assign you a different lawyer? Remove the potential conflict of interest here."
Harvey's shoulders tense and his mouth opens, likely to voice his protest, but Donna keeps him from digging an even deeper hole. "No."
The response earns a surprised reaction from Rachel, whose hand hovers over the croissant she'd been reaching for. Mike's recount of events suggested the redhead was adamant about taking care of herself. The woman has clearly had a change of heart, but to reject Jessica's suggestion straight off the bat is a bold move. And so, sneaking the pastry onto her plate, she waits with the rest of the room for Donna to address the answer.
"Harvey saw this case as an opportunity, despite the risks. If it goes ahead, he's owed the recognition." She defends his position without the fear of repercussions. The only reason she accepted his charity was because he stood to gain something, and she's willing to sacrifice help if it means staying loyal to everything he's done for her so far. "And the more people involved, the harder it will be to contain the fallout if there is one," she adds, hoping to appeal to Jessica's rational side.
Jessica meets Harvey's slight nod—confirming he told Donna about his motivations for taking on the case, and she isn't sure how she feels about the pair brokering a deal in front of her. But she did ask for complete transparency. And she can't deny being dealt the request in droves. Her caution aside, she's starting to see why Harvey was willing to go out on a limb, and she invites the woman to tell her story. "You'd better start at the beginning, Miss Paulsen."
Harvey feels an internal flutter at Jessica's insistence, because it means they've made it through round one. Largely in part due to Donna, but he's in no way surprised by how she's conducting herself. She may not have the clothes to match, but she has the spirit to rival any adversity, and his chest wells with pride as she takes a deep breath.
Because he's certain, by the time they're through, Jessica is going to want to bury Vasquez just as badly as he does.
…
A grueling hour later, Donna sags against the wall as Harvey clicks the door shut. She managed to hold herself together, skimming over details that will come to light eventually. But she recounted all the important parts which led Jessica to the truth; her only agenda is seeking justice. The managing partner agreed to discuss the case with Harvey, and the fact he didn't leave confuses her. "You're staying?"
His gaze soaks in her pallor, grateful Jessica insisted he take the rest of the morning. His mentor may have come across as intimidating, but she isn't without a conscience. At the crux of her professionalism, she cares, which is one of the main differences between them. But Donna is different, and he lightly palms her back. "Jessica wants to know you're okay. Which means she likes you."
He smirks, hiding his worry as he guides her sluggish steps to the couch. Once she's seated, he lowers himself next to her rather than in the chair opposite. "Are you?" he asks, awkwardly clasping his hands together. It's not like she endured a marathon. But he saw how choked up she became when talking about her father, and it was obviously difficult for her to stay composed.
Jessica asking him to check in makes her suddenly feel self-conscious. She's sure both lawyers have better things to do than keep tabs, and she nods."I'm fine, Harvey. You don't need to babysit me."
"If that were the scenario here, you'd be the one in pigtails." He winks, watching her cheeks fill with slightly more color.
Despite the tickle of heat at her neck, she manages to relax under his gaze, and she sinks back, curious about the multi-faceted sides of his personality. As a lawyer, he's stoic, focused and driven. But when the walls come down, he slips into his charisma like it's a second defense, and she can see the trait as being useful in his chosen profession. "Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask." He shrugs, not committing himself to giving a response.
She debates stepping back and not prying, but after a moment, she lets her curiosity wander free. "What made you decide to go into law?"
He considers the question, fidgeting with his hands. He likes to win, and there's very little complexity hidden beneath the answer. There wasn't a compassionate motivation, he didn't have aspirations to build a kingdom. The simple truth is he's addicted to gambling high stakes and coming out on top. "I've always liked playing in the gray to get what I want," he admits. "I don't win because I'm smarter. I win because I play the man, not the odds, and I'm damn good at it."
His honesty surprises her. And she's grateful. Because going up against Vasquez, she feels like they're teetering on the edge of shark-infested waters, and without a weapon of her own, knowing who she's diving in with is her best defense. "What do you want?"
'To make name partner' is at the top of his list, but when he goes to answer, the prominent bruising across her cheek makes him hesitate.
If it hadn't been for Mike's empathy, God knows where she would have wound up. Under her soft gaze, he's ashamed to admit he's the kind of man who doesn't burden himself with other people's problems without an agenda. And while he does have one, protecting her is becoming an instinct, nestling in places he doesn't have to search hard to find. "I want Vasquez to pay for what he did to you."
The need is full of conviction, and she struggles with a slow breath that twists and turns in her throat. Because when his walls come down, beneath his defenses, there's a side of him that makes her feel safe and cared for, beyond what she should feel for the short amount of time they've known each other. But as quickly as he let his guard down, he withdraws again.
"I should get going." He clears his throat, buttoning his blazer as he stands up—afraid that if he stays, he'll reveal more of himself than he should. "Call if there's anything you need."
She nods, and when he makes it through the other side of his apartment door, he leans against the wood with a slow breath of his own.
…
It's nearing midnight by the time Harvey finally makes it back home, his mood sour and patience frayed. After he arrived at the office, he was forced to deal with one screw-up after the next—one of Louis' biblical blunders costing him a client and setting his work on Donna's case back by days. Due to the late hour, he hopes for a silent reprieve and is caught off guard when he finds Donna curled up on his couch, reading a book.
His eyes roam over the satin negligee and robe she's changed into, leaving him confused for a moment, until he remembers the bag Rachel left.
The set obviously belongs to the paralegal, because it fits a little too snugly around Donna's slightly larger breasts. He swallows thickly, silently cursing Mike, who he's sure had a hand in picking it out—to screw with him. The sight is the last thing he needs compounding his already heightened frustration, and he strides in with a muffled greeting.
"Hey." She sets the book down with a smile, but it fades as he leans tensely against the kitchen counter averting his gaze. She glances down, and can't determine what's offending him, but she tugs the robe, covering herself for good measure. "How was work?" she asks awkwardly.
"Fine," he snaps. He doesn't elaborate on the shitty day from hell as he tries to find something to distract himself with. And it's then he notices several subtle differences around the place. When he came home yesterday everything was the same, but today the mess from breakfast has been cleared away, there's takeout waiting in a container, and the dry cleaning he didn't have time to pick up this morning is folded neatly over his office chair.
His jaw twitches, and worried she's overstepped, she quickly picks herself up off the couch. "I was actually just heading to bed."
She collects her mug from the table, moving around him to place it in the sink. She smiles tentatively as she passes him again, and without thinking, his hand slips out to catch her elbow. "Donna, wait."
A heavy sigh expels from his chest. She was supposed to be resting, not playing house-keeper, but he doesn't want to come across as an ungrateful prick. "You didn't have to do all this."
"It was nothing, really." She thought he would appreciate coming home to have a few things organized, but she never intended to make him uncomfortable.
Guilt flickers beneath her lashes, and the irritation that's been balling itself tightly all day starts to slowly unwind. She did nothing wrong. He did. "I'm just not used to…"
He trails off, probably not wanting to admit she is the problem, at least indirectly. "You're not used to sharing your space." She smiles softly. "It's okay to say it, Harvey."
She doesn't seem offended, and he relaxes, breathing in calming notes of vanilla from her hair—the shampoo likely another donation from Rachel. Somewhat distracted, it takes him several seconds to realize he still has her elbow clutched in his hand, and he quickly lets go. If he was alone, he would spend the entire evening skulking around, but he doesn't want to do that or force her into hiding. "Can we start again?" She tilts her head hesitantly, and he quirks his lips. "I was being an asshole. It's okay to say it."
A laugh vibrates in her throat, and she nods her agreement. "A jerk, maybe." His smile hikes up through the tension wound in his jaw, and she easily forgives him for snapping. "Why don't you take a shower? I'll heat up some food."
"Careful. I might want to keep you." The comment slips out casually, but it lands with its own gravitational pull when her pale skin flushes. How far it spreads teases his curiosity, but answering his fascination—sliding his palm beneath the fabric to see—would be a devastating mistake; one he now needs a brutally cold shower to erase from his mind. "I won't be long."
She cups the back of her neck, berating her body for having reacted to his gaze as he pivots around her. However long she's going to end up staying with him, she's only asking for trouble by letting herself get caught up in the charm that is Harvey Specter.
AN: Thank you to everyone sticking with the slow burn! Next chapter things are going to start picking up ;) And thank you to Southsidesister (darvey_love) for making the magic happen! xxxx