In a semi-conscious state, functioning on minimal sleep, Harvey marched through the lobby earlier than usual. Wearing an impeccable suit, showing a perfectly clean shave and the usual 'naturally' sleek hair, he at least looked like his usual self. Crossing the hallways on a quick pace, he squeezed his own right hand, the mark on it still bothering him, a twisted reminder of his night. His professional life had taught him that doing the right thing may bring some immediate relief, but it often comes with its fair share of sorrow. Now his personal life had caught up. "Was it all a lie? Did you ever love me, Harvey?" her words ran once again through his mind, and hadn't he been so exhausted and slightly inebriated, he probably would have thought of a better answer. "I did have feelings for you, Paula. But they'll never compare."

Regardless of the good intentions buried in his resigned demeanor, being the means of someone's pain was heartbreaking. He had feared the confrontation, had wished their story had just faded into oblivion, but there was no easy way of ending what should have never begun. Transference, was it? Unsettling as it was, relationship ruptures could end with both men down. He cared for her.

As he passed by Donna's office, he was for once glad to have beaten her time coming in. Memories of the kiss flooded his mind, as they had last night, keeping him from caving at Paula's hope of a desperate save. " Is Donna threatening to leave you again? Is this one of your panic decisions? one that you'll regret? " she had questioned out of her best analyzing abilities and in that moment, Harvey finally admitted how he truly hated when she did that. As guilty as he had been of failing to see a dozen clues against their relationship, she had been too. Just as much. He doubted there was room for more regret in his life, her questions prompting him to lock his jaw and suddenly he was raw, managing to just merciless whisper "I need the key back now," and somehow watch her rummage through her bag and throw the object on his chest.

It was over. It had to be that way simply because the alternative was worse.

After watching the door close behind her, Harvey had collapsed in bed without even pulling off his duvet, clutching the spare key so hard it drew lines on his skin.

His laptop wasn't even on his desk before he heard Mike's voice.

"You look like you commuted straight from hell," Mike quipped as he walked in Harvey's office, handing him a coffee.

Maybe he didn't look as great as he thought.

"Is it spiked?" Harvey matched his tone, sipping the drink. "Thanks."

"Figured you'd need it."

They both stood for half a minute, Mike wondering what to say next, Harvey wishing he'd just ask. The dark circles under Harvey's eyes were evident, and that was definitely a different tie than usual. That itself was enough of a testament to how awful his friend's night must have been. Years ago Mike would have never noticed the different accessory, but too much time surrounded by perfect suits and flawlessly dressed women had definitely enhanced his fashionable feminine side.

"It's over," Harvey anticipated the question. "If that's what you're here to know. So go ahead and tell Rachel, so she can report it to Donna, gossip boy."

It was fair he was acting even more douchey than usual, Mike thought, letting it slide. "I'm just here to see how you are, man." Kill him with kindness.

Harvey let out a guilty sigh.

"It's done," he added, without much resistance, something he wasn't used to. "But enough of that. I have work to do."

"If I can offer you one advice…" Mike started to say, but Harvey rolled his eyes, raising his voice to cut him off.

"You never seem to stop giving me advice!"

"... You should definitely be the one telling Donna," Mike finished his point. "I bet you that'll be the better part of it."

Harvey walked to his door, extending his hand as a signal for Mike to leave his office, "You know, after last night I figured I'll never be able to find another shrink anywhere near the five boroughs... Hell! I might even have to go to Jersey if I need one! But I forgot I have you, Dr. Ross."

"Remember that I only care about seeing Donna happy, not you," Mike was done having it, kindness my ass. "Oh, and Harvey? There could be a mathematical reason for how bad your tie is."

"Get out, John Nash," Harvey said, catching the quote from A Beautiful Mind and not letting Mike see him laugh.

The call from The Harvard Law Review magazine was transferred to him right before lunch. After brief introductions, the student reporter asked for his time to create the profile of lawyer of the decade , explaining that there would be an interview of short questions. "It's in recognition of being the face of corporate law in New York City, Mr. Specter, it really wouldn't take that long. It would be me and our photographer, who would take a picture of you at Pearson Specter Litt. We're in New York this week so anytime works," the student continued.

Listening to the kid, Harvey sat back and reclined his chair, reminiscing on his own days at school "Right, I remember the drill, it hasn't been that long."

"Yea, I have read a few of your articles and they were brilliant! You graduated, uh, a little over 20 years ago, correct?" the student questioned, unaware of the effect it would have on her subject of interest.

"Your point being?" Harvey lowered his tone to a mildly threatening one. "You better not add that info in if you want my time, Janeth."

"It's Jen, Mr. Specter," she corrected.

"You're just throwing caution to the wind now, aren't you Jen?"

"I am? I am. Okay. Sorry. I should go. Does tomorrow work?"

While he continued to have fun with torturing the kid on the phone, Harvey caught a glimpse of Donna leaving for lunch.

"Confirming tomorrow afternoon, then? 3 PM? for about 20 minutes?"

"Actually, Jen, what if I told you I can give you more?" he suggested, checking the shared online schedule of all the partners. The future reporter didn't skip a beat.

"Then I'd say it's my lucky day. But what would I have to do?"

"Good. You're learning your ways already. Tell me, do you have any friends at the Harvard Business Review magazine and if so, how fast can you get them to New York?"

"Fast!" she answered, immediately putting Harvey on speaker to text someone. Why?"

"Because there is no Lawyer of the decade without COO of the year ."

"Your COO?" Jen asked, intrigued.

"From my secretary to one of New York's best COOs, seems like quite a story, don't you think? But then again, it's up to you. I don't really have to write headlines for you, do I?" Harvey teased.

"Two interviews it is. Thank you, Mr. Specter."

After seeing her return from lunch, Harvey tried to focus on work, but writing the same sentence on an email five times was definitely not productive, his mind driving him to only think of how he would inform her of the interviews. Closing the tab, he stood up and walked himself to her office.

They had only spoken professionally, both having been stuck in a meeting for almost an hour listening to an HR/associates debacle over health insurance cuts Donna found inadmissible, while Harvey and Louis stood impartial. The meeting had be adjourned without a decision from either partner.

Upon seeing him walk in, she discreetly held her breath. Harvey froze halfway in. Maybe he dreaded something beyond the interview chit chat.

" Harvey," she acknowledged his presence without lifting her gaze from the papers. "What can I do for you?"

He winced at her tone, but it seemed like after everything, this was the best he was going to get.

"I got a call from both the Harvard Law and Harvard Business magazines, they want an interview with us." A little white lie can't hurt.

Donna stopped reading and this time she directed her eyes to him. Something immediately caught her attention, forcing her to focus on what to say without giving away where her eyes had landed.

"An interview? About what?"

"Not sure, professional profiles, I believe. Nothing bad. Suppose to be quick questions, a picture, simple. They'll be here tomorrow at 3."

" You scheduled it already?"

"Figured it was calm enough around here. Is that a problem? If it is I'll call and…"

"It's fine, Harvey, I'll be here," she interrupted him, quickly going over her schedule.

"Thanks, Donna."

She pressed her lips on a thin smile, then furrowed her brows, her eyes darting back to his neck. Harvey took the silence as his cue to leave, turning around towards the door.

"You should be glad they don't want to take your picture today," she whispered to herself, half hoping he'd hear her.

"What did you say?"

Crap. Okay, she fully hoped he hadn't heard her.

"Uh, nothing...it's just…" she fumbled with her words.

"What?" Harvey prompted.

"... You dug that tie out from the last decade?"

He immediately noted her tone, the usual tease he'd so desperately needed.

She couldn't stop herself, words spilling out as she realized old habits die hard, and before she knew she was standing, walking around her desk towards him, completely driven by impulse, a move strikingly similar to days ago when her lips ended on his. She was going for it, for the tie she assured herself, because she needed to make sure it was it, needed to straighten it, make the knot looser, til her brain snapped back and she leaned on the chairs that faced her desk instead, keeping a safe distance between them. "If I may say, that shirt would have gone much better with that metallic silver one, so be glad they're not coming to take your picture today 'cause that's not your best." She wanted to ask where that tie had com from, wanting certainty was now a feeling she couldn't shake off.

It felt like hearing a song that hadn't played in years and still remembering all of the lyrics. It was like reading a poem you know by heart, knowing halfway the best verses are still to come.

Before he could think twice, his feelings spoke louder. "You need no permission to say what you want," he said, chuckling.

Donna breathed in her emotions, her heart begging her to follow up, whisper or scream she missed this too as if she could read what he really meant to say. "I can't believe you still have it," she let out the words and the air she held altogether.

Harvey took two steps towards her and she immediately stood up straighter, hands on the chair behind her, she couldn't trust her legs. It was one of the first ties she had given him, he hadn't worn it in years.

"I had a rough night," he confessed, even though she hadn't asked the question. "The tie caught my eye this morning when I was getting dressed. Might not look great but it felt right."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have...it's none of my business."

He grinned and walked another step as she tightened her grip on the chair, they were mimicking a duel, one action leading to a reaction as they waited to see who'd charge first.

"It is never just business with you, Donna," he added, and this time she stared as he continued to approach her, her mind relentlessly flashing back to their kiss. I had to know.

"Harvey," she pleaded, the way only she knew how. One word, his name out of her lips, was all he needed to hear to know she still wanted an explanation. She wanted to be sure. He knew he had to say it, tell her now before the moment was gone.

"It can't be just business with you anymore."

Donna let her head slowly fall, unable to hold his gaze, a symbol to the dominance Harvey had over her, a bow to the strong hand of her feelings for him. She closed her eyes firmly, wanting unsuccessfully to keep the tears from showing. "And does that mean what I think it means, Harvey?" she asked, head still down, unable to tell if she had actually spoken amid her shaky breath or just imagined she did.

He took a second to respond and she gathered the courage to look up, look at him, her hands leaving the chair and sliding up through the tie, loosening the knot ever so slightly as if to help his words make their way out.

Harvey covered her hands with his, locked his eyes on hers and swallowed hard. "Donna, I..." he whispered.

But before he had to chance to say it, Donna saw the head of HR approaching her office, causing her to quickly push the chair back and walk back to her seat.

Last thing they needed was another HR crisis.

"Is Mr. Litt going to join us for this meeting, Ms Paulsen?" the woman said, looking at both Harvey and Donna. "Afternoon, Mr. Specter."

"He'll be here soon, " Donna asserted her, holding herself together and turning her face to Harvey. "I was about to tell you that we need to continue the meeting from this morning, " she said, firmly, not a fault on her tone. "I think I know a way to decrease the associates' insurance charge without cutting benefits."

"What, now?" Harvey asked arching his brows to her, tension rising in his body, but a different tension that he was used to, still recovering from how close they stood seconds ago.

"Figured it was calm enough around here, is that a problem?" she quipped back, a smirk on her face reminding him of the moves she used to pull.

Seeing her recover so quickly, all power and dominance taking over the vulnerability of seconds ago, he wanted to run back to her, pin her against the wall for challenging the managing partner in front of other employees. Pin her against the wall and pull her skirt up, roll down her underwear and let his hands take back control in a different way.

Harvey clenched his jaw, swallowing dryly.

Donna breathed in, a confident look on her face, and somehow Harvey knew she could feel his mind was anywhere but the associates's insurance.

She had won this fight before it even began.

Nearly another hour went by and as he sat listening to her go over numbers with Louis, Harvey caught himself thinking back to the morning, when he dreaded that collecting the gains and praises from righting a wrong wouldn't come fast like he was used to seeing in his cases. Patience was not usually a virtue he carried. Yet only a few hours passed and he had already felt better. As Louis left, Harvey stared at his watch while Donna finished signing paperwork for their deal, anxiously waiting to be alone with her again, but fearing he'd miss a meeting across town. He needed to tell her that it meant everything, to give her the answer she was after, but HR definitely didn't need to be present for that.

Then he thought of it, walking to the side oh her desk, quickly figuring out that he needed no words to assure her. Freely opening the drawer next to her, he discreetly pulled the object out of his pocket and placed it inside, grabbing a pen to keep any suspicions away.

"Don't you have your own pens?" she asked, annoyed, not lifting her eyes from her signatures.

"I have a bad habit of taking things from you that I should never have taken it," he said as he walked to the door, smug grin on his face.

As the other woman finally collected all the paperwork and headed out, Donna spotted the key on the drawer that remained opened and suddenly she had to cover her mouth not to cry, or not to laugh too loudly.

Now she knew.