THAT PARIS WEEKEND CHAPTER 3
Morning in Paris. Donna can never get used to the surreal experience of flying. One minute she's signing documents at the office, and a few hours later, she's feeling fabulous in a fabulous city surrounded by fabulous people.
It's her first time in Paris. She was far too excited to completely rest on the flight, but she did manage a couple of hours. Thomas had already arranged for a car service to take her to Le Bristol Paris. Based on the pictures she saw online, it's a gorgeous hotel, just steps away from the best that Paris has to offer.
With her suitcase rolling along behind, Donna enters the 'Arrivals' area and searches for her driver. She spies a bright yellow sign and starts giggling – "Ms. Donna Sunshine."
Very funny, Thomas.
Donna has to admit, it's been just over two months of dating and she can feel herself falling, especially when he does charming things like this. As she settles into the Town Car, she turns on her phone. A late-night text from Thomas and three missed calls from Harvey.
Determined to break from her old habits, Donna intentionally reads Thomas's message first, before reviewing the rest.
No voicemails. Harvey probably just pocket-dialed me. If it's anything else, he can wait.
xxx
It's six thirty in the morning and Harvey finds himself outside the new Upper East Side condo building. The traffic noise is kicking into high gear and it's an assault on his senses. Wearing a grey power suit and black tie, Harvey leans against the building's polished façade, the manila envelope under one arm.
The early morning air is cool, revealing puffs of his short, nervous breaths. He's already downed one coffee but he definitely needs more. Sleep was out of the question last night, as intimate snapshots of Donna and Thomas rattled his brain.
Until now, Harvey knew very little about Donna's new man, except for seeing him in action at corporate events. Harvey read him to be a bit of a player, but his billables were high, so he never gave it much thought.
Thomas's attractiveness, however, had certainly gotten the attention of the firm's female staff. One time, in the kitchen, he and Mike caught Rachel and Katrina gossiping about "the totally hot Thomas Kessler". The handsome man certainly played it up when he came by, charming his way through the office, and leaving the ladies with the impression that each and every one of them could have him if they wanted. Harvey couldn't fault him for that, though. The guy was recently single. And Harvey, himself, has charmed his way into closing a few deals, including with more than a few women.
Several years ago, the firm helped Thomas with his messy divorce settlement. It was rumoured his marriage ended as the result of an affair that produced a child. Harvey wasn't surprised to hear that since every rich guy getting divorced in New York is accused of infidelity. So he took the office gossip with a grain salt. The entire thing also went down around the time Mike was facing prison and needless to say, Harvey was focused solely on that.
But now Donna was involved and that changed everything. Harvey knew Donna and Thomas were sleeping together after he saw them at a fundraiser nearly two months ago. She was discreet, but Harvey could tell, and it more than bothered him. It drove him crazy. It still does, and last night's pictures didn't help.
Why him, Donna? He doesn't deserve you.
Harvey is surprised Donna would even consider a guy like Thomas, especially since she's always had a talent for reading smooth-talking players like him... and then Stephen Huntley comes to mind.
Maybe she doesn't?
Looking at the manila envelope, Harvey lets out a long sigh. He knows everything there is to know about Mr. Thomas Kessler now, and he's no fan.
Within minutes, the tall, impeccably dressed man exits the building's revolving door.
"Thomas Kessler." Harvey calls, his left leg bent against the building. He pushes himself away as Thomas turns to face him.
"Nice to see you, Harvey. How's our lovely friend, Donna, doing these days?"
Friend? What the hell? These assholes are all the same.
"Not a social visit, Thomas, so I'm going to get straight to the point," he says, taking a determined step towards him. "I know Donna is more than your friend. I also know your wife is not going to be too happy about it when she finds out."
Stunned, Thomas steps back. His left hand fiddling with the ring deep in his pocket. "Excuse me? You know your firm represented me in my divorce settlement, right? Donna knows that too… and my personal life is none of your business. Seems to me the issue here is jealousy, not infidelity." Turning on his heel, he starts to walk away. Harvey doesn't bite, but follows him.
"So… you'll have no issue if I show Donna these family photos? He raises the envelope in the air. "They're nice shots of you and the wife, all time-stamped too. How many months along is she now? She looks great."
Harvey waits, lets his words sink in as he pulls out a photo of a child. "I have to say though, you've got your hands full with little Tommy here, especially if he grows up to be a charmer like his daddy."
Thomas stops in his tracks. Harvey is right behind him.
"I might even drive up to Connecticut myself, show Elizabeth dinner pictures with our lovely friend. I'm sure she'll understand, she was once your mistress, wasn't she?"
He's spitting the words out now, "That dinner…the one where Donna wore that gown and you couldn't keep your hands to yourself?"
Thomas slowly turns. The men are a foot apart. Towering over Harvey, Thomas's blue eyes zero in.
"I care a lot about Donna. And I am not playing her." His eyes shift left, then right, as he tries to justify. "My marriage has been over for a while and I was planning to leave. The baby is… unexpected. And this thing with Donna… it just happened. I know she wants more. So do I."
For a second, Harvey freezes. More. That God damn word. Without even realizing it, Thomas just dumped a bucket of salt into the one wound he and Donna have never been able to heal.
Harvey is seething.
"I don't give a shit how you feel! You're married with a kid and another one on the way!" He wants to pummel the guy, his own issues with infidelity breaking through. "You don't do that to your family, and I sure as hell won't let you do that to Donna!"
Thomas looks around, shifting from one foot to the other, as if he's weighing his options. "What do you want, Harvey?"
Harvey's tone is threatening. "Stay away from her... Do you hear me? Cancel the trip. If I find out you so much as sent her a text, I'll tell Elizabeth everything about the asshole she's married to."
Then he leans in further. "You think you're unhappy now? Wait until you face a child custody battle. And don't think I won't take you there…"
"I can't just drop off the face of the earth without saying something," He fights back. "I've got important business in Paris and she's expecting me."
"You can and you will. You're a good liar, Thomas, you figure it out," Harvey pauses, shooting him a final burning stare. "And while you're at it, find yourself new representation. You're done at the firm."
With that, Harvey steps away. His head is pounding. He's built a career out of strong-arming guys like Thomas, but this took a piece of him.
Further down the block, after slowing his breath, he pulls out his cellphone. Not that he expected it, but Donna has not returned his calls. He hits #4 on his speed dial.
"Gretchen, it's Harvey. I need you to book me on the first flight to Paris tomorrow morning, and I need you to keep it to yourself. "
xxx
Day two and Donna is exhausted. She's certain she's walked to the moon and back since arriving, and she's loved every second of it. Paris is simply magic. Her afternoon of boutique shopping has been more fun than she could have ever imagined, and she swears she saw Jean Paul Gaultier walking down the street!
Sinking back onto the antique king-size bed, Donna decides she'll relax before Thomas arrives at seven. She hasn't heard from him since yesterday, but he mentioned he'd be busy at his Connecticut office, getting things together for Paris. Thomas is bringing his furniture design company to the European market next year, and she knows how important these upcoming meetings are.
Maybe the romance of this city is casting its spell, but Donna is really looking forward to seeing her handsome man. He will likely be tired, so she'll suggest a quiet evening. They can eat dinner in the gorgeous courtyard restaurant downstairs, and enjoy a romantic bath to celebrate their first night together in Paris.
Maybe this "moving forward" thing might not be so difficult after all.