Play The Cards With Spade to Start
Post 9x10, Seattle (Summer, August)
One of Harvey's old clients from New York, Luxeton Casino Hotel and Spa, opened a new location just right outside of Seattle. Luxeton is one of the biggest companies in the hotel industry. The client is now being handled by Louis Litt since Harvey doesn't handle these kinds of companies anymore. The partners of Litt, Wheeler, Williams, and Bennett were invited to go to the opening for a weekend, and since Harvey and Mike worked closely with the said company they were also invited with their plus ones. It just also helped that they are living in Seattle.
It was a nice weekend getaway as the resort is opened exclusively for family, friends and some business partners of the company. They all had a reason to relax and also see each other while having fun. They were given complimentary vouchers for the slot machines, spa and other amenities.
It was after lunchtime and Donna and Rachel just finished with spa and they went to the slot machines and tried their luck.
"I'm getting bored Rach, I don't even know how I'm winning!"
"Jeez at least you're winning!" Rachel rolled her eyes at Donna. Although Donna is right, she also doesn't know how the slot machines work.
"Why don't we play poker! Harvey and Mike are playing we should join them!" Rachel suggested
"Ohh that'll be fun! I'll bet all my winnings there!"
Unfortunately, the table is full as the other partners, Samantha, Alex, Katrina, Louis were also playing. They decided to go to another poker table and try their luck there.
After how many rounds of poker, Donna glanced at the table where Harvey is playing and noticed that he's left to play with Louis. She knows for sure that Harvey will win, that's why she bought out from the table she's currently in. Rachel already lost a long time ago but stayed with Donna to watch her play.
"Scared to lose your winnings already?" One of the businessmen still playing in her table teased her. There's two of them left on the table but she has the most chips already. Being able to read people has a great advantage at poker.
"No, but I would love to play with my husband, I'm pretty sure you won't win a game with him either. Goodluck, Mr. Johnson" Donna winked at the businessman and tagged Rachel to go to the Harvey and Mike's poker table.
Mr. Johnson has no idea who really the woman was much more who's the husband she's saying, which made him curious.
Samantha, Alex, Katrina and Mike are all watching and making a bet whether Louis or Harvey will win the game.
"Hey…having fun?" Donna sat next to Harvey while Rachel sat next to Donna.
"Now that you're here, yes" Harvey gave her a grin.
Donna got an idea to make the game end faster as she wants to play with Harvey one on one.
"Louis, if you win, I'll tell you what we do with the can opener and thumbtacks" Donna suggested.
"Oh my god your ritual!" Louis bugged Donna for days when he found out that the can opener was part of a ritual that Donna and Harvey do before a trial.
"Hey, I thought that's between us!" Harvey asked Donna annoyingly.
"So you didn't tell Mike about it?" Donna smirked
Harvey glared at Mike who's seating just right across him. "You're a dead meat Mike!"
"I didn't know it was a secret that time! Sorry!" Mike countered.
"So Louis?" Donna asked.
"I like the idea but what happens if I lose?"
"If you lose, you get up and just accept that Harvey beat you at poker"
"Hey! What happens if I win? What do I get?" Harvey asked Donna.
"I'll tell you if you win" Donna whispered to Harvey's ear. Donna knows what makes a man tick, and now she's playing both Harvey and Louis. She knows that Louis will get more nervous knowing what he'll get when he wins which means his head will be more clouded. Harvey, not knowing what he'll get and kept in suspense, will want to win more.
And just as Donna has predicted, Harvey won the game.
"Better luck next time, Louis" Donna bantered.
"So what does Harvey get, Donna" Samantha was smirking. Donna knows that everyone thinks she'll give Harvey a sexy time. But they're all wrong.
Everyone was waiting for Donna's answer. She left Harvey's side and went to Mike's seat, right across Harvey's.
"You…get to play with me, just the two of us" Donna looked at Harvey while motioning to Mike to get up from his seat. The latter took a seat beside Donna.
"Okay that's just stupid, money is a conjugal property and all of us knows it. Either of you lose doesn't matter" Louis suggested.
"Louis, I don't think they're gonna play for the money" Rachel answered Louis. Rachel was still on Harvey's side.
"Oohh what if I am" Donna teased Harvey.
"I knew it! You're just after my money. That's it I'm calling for divorce" Harvey teased back. Being best friends for so long and now married, their relationship has been as solid as a rock. Joking about breaking up is something they can take lightly.
"I'll represent you Harvey" Rachel added to the banter.
"Don't worry Donna we'll get you your money from this divorce. I'll fight for you!" Mike said.
Everyone laughed but Harvey's still curious as to what Donna wants. He too knows Donna too well.
"You want something" Harvey said
"I sure do" Donna answered.
"Spill it Paulsen" Harvey challenged her.
"Let's just say I want something that if I asked for it, you will say no but with this you can't say no"
"Sounds like a challenge. And if I win?"
"Name your price, Specter"
"Well then, let's just say that I also want something that if I asked for it, you can't say no" Harvey smirked.
"Let's get started then" Donna dropped her voucher to buy in on the table which is all the winnings she got from the slot machine and poker.
"Holyshit, where did you get this all money from?" Mike saw Donna's buy in voucher as he handed it to the dealer.
"Already taking money from our account?" Harvey teased her.
"She won from the slot machine and poker with the businessmen at the VIP table" Rachel whispered to Harvey.
"How the hell did you guys get to play there" Harvey asked Rachel.
"It's Donna what do you expect?" Rachel answered. She as well can't believe they were playing at the VIP table earlier. Donna smooth talked their way with one of the businessmen.
"Two can play a game, Specter" Donna winked at her.
"Oh I'm not backing down" Harvey said. He really hasn't played poker with Donna before so he doesn't have any idea how she plays. It made the game more exciting for him. He's playing with his wife for God's sake. He knows Donna will want to win the game because she wants something, however he also wants something from her and this is the only way to get it. Therefore, he needs to win.
"I expect nothing more"
Cards were dealt and both of them were reading each other and not the cards that they have. Play the man, just like what Harvey would always say. Donna knows Harvey too well, which gives Harvey a hard time to play properly. Donna was winning already, by having more chips than Harvey. Other people from the said resort were also watching, the table is now surrounded by guests watching patiently of who's going to win. Some of them placing bets with each other rooting for either Donna or Harvey to win. Samantha and Alex rooted for Donna while Katrina and Louis rooted for Harvey.
"So you're the wife of Harvey Specter. Heard the man's good at poker" Mr. Johnson who's standing near Donna said.
"The one and only" Donna smiled
"Your wife's good too, Harvey! Goodluck but I'm rooting for her!" Mr. Johnson said to Harvey. Harvey was feeling proud at that moment. He can't help but smile at the thought of others admiring his wife. But he needs to keep his head in the game. He still needs to win.
It's been almost three hours and the game hasn't ended. Neither of them is backing down. The chips go back and forth. This time, Harvey has the most chips in hand.
"Tell you what Harvey, this game's taking too long. Let's go all in. Winner takes all" Donna suggested.
Harvey doesn't know what his wife is trying to play. The cards haven't been dealt so he knows Donna doesn't have good cards yet. He likes the idea of ending the game early but he doesn't want to lose. However, he's a little bit tired and hungry at the same time. He also wants to have some alone time with Donna, whether he wins or loses. They've been surrounded by their friends and businessmen for the most part that they're there.
"Agreed. I like to claim my prize, the earlier the better"
"Too bold of a statement don't you think?"
"I call it being optimistic"
Their banter ended and Donna nodded at the dealer to start dealing the cards. Her card was 10 diamonds and 10 spades.
The community cards are King spade, king hearts, 10 hearts, 3 diamonds and 10 clubs.
Donna got 4 of a kind and a pair.
"Show your card, Harvey"
"Ladies first"
"I insist"
"If you insist." Harvey dropped his cards. He got a king of diamonds and 3 of hearts. Full house.
Donna won. Except she didn't. She didn't show her cards and threw it facing down with the deck, so nobody else can see. However, Mike saw what she got. He got confused as to why she let Harvey win, but he knows she got a good reason for it. Donna used her acting skills so no one would notice even Harvey.
"You win Harvey, good game!" Donna said. Harvey got busy being congratulated by the other guests.
"Why'd you let him win?" Mike questioned Donna.
"I'm pretty sure, Harvey thought you that already"
"Ahh you played the man"
"Nice to know your photographic memory is still in tact!"
"haha very funny. But what about what you wanted for the bet? You're the one who wanted to play"
"Oh don't you worry about that, I'll still get what I want. And believe me, this is how I wanted this to end"
"Holyshit. So this whole thing is planned?"
"I'm not saying that. But I'm also not not saying that"
" So you wanted Harvey to win"
"Something like that"
"But why and how do you even know he has a good hand"
"I told you I play the man… and read the man" Donna winked at Mike and stood up from the seat to go towards Harvey leaving Mike still confused as to what just happened.
"Come on pretty, let's get out of here" She grabbed Harvey gently from the arm.
"I like nothing more" Harvey said. They both walked away from the crowd and went to their room. Harvey told Mike and Rachel to take care of the winnings and treat them and their other friends for drinks.
"So tell me, why'd you let me win?" Harvey asked while they were having their dinner at their room at the resort. They were both tired and hungry after how many times they made love. They decided to just order room service and enjoy each other's company than to go out and mingle. The question has been on Harvey's mind since the game ended. He knows Donna was acting when she lost. The acceptance of defeat was so fake he can see right through it. Others may not notice it because Donna is so good in acting. But after years of being together, he already knows when Donna is acting or not.
"I knew you'd figure it out but you actually asked me right after you claimed your prize" Donna chuckled. She knows that Harvey will figure it out and if not, she'll use Mike to prove that she actually won.
"Well you said I won and I like my prize" Harvey smirked.
" You know you didn't have to use that to get your prize right?"
"I know, I just thought it'll be fun and you cant say no to it"
"I don't think I'll ever say no to you Harvey"
"Now tell me what I'm in for"
"Huh?"
"Well you technically won, so name your price"
"Don't worry it's not til Halloween"
"No way! Donna I'm not wearing costumes!"
"Hey! You cant say no!" Donna should be mad that Harvey was saying no but the look on Harvey's face when she told him what he's in for was just too priceless, she ended up laughing.
"Hey maybe you're just bluffing me!"
"Ask Mike. That kid is more loyal to you than me"
"Yeah but he's more scared of you than me! God knows what you blackmailed him with"
" I don't think I need to blackmail him just yet though"
"Seriously what was your hand?"
"4 of a kind. I got a pair of 10s" Donna told him proudly.
"But why'd you do it?"
"Because we needed to make a good impression." Donna knew everyone will eventually watch them play. Its no news that Harvey Specter was good at playing poker. However, they are not that known in Seattle. They may be playing in the b leagues but a little recognition won't hurt.
"You didn't have to do that"
"I didn't but I just beat Mr. Johnson, well technically I didn't really beat him, but I had way more chips than him when I left his table. And I may or may not told him that he can't beat you either"
"The more he'll want to play poker with me"
"Yeah play with him, play the man Harvey" Mr. Johnson is an investor from Seattle. Harvey knows the guy and its not easy to make a deal with him. Mr. Johnson's investment is a good asset for the firm that they are now working at. In order to persuade Mr. Johnson, Harvey can play poker with him and beat him.
"You are really something else" Harvey was so amused with Donna's plan.
"Wouldn't argue with you there" Donna said proudly.
"I love you"
"I love you too"
They decided to freshen up and join the rest of their friends who's hanging out by the pool. They're both tired but they know their friends are just here for the weekend. Surely, they will both miss Louis and the rest of them when they leave.