Not every morning was like this one, one where Harvey acted out of character. Not every morning did he have the time or the will to just stand in his kitchen and stare at an object on the sofa. But this wasn't like any other morning. This was the morning after Mike had crashed at his place after a late night and the object on the sofa was the young man sprawled over the cushions. His limbs lay at weird angles to his body but his long and skinny frame seemed to have found a comfortable fit on the sofa. His hair was a terrible mess spiking at different places on his tiny head. Harvey had never shown any symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder and yet he felt a strong urge to pat the spikes of hair back to their orderly place on his associate's head. He wasn't someone who could be freaked out by a weird urge, so he just stood in the kitchen halfway through making his coffee, fighting it.
As if the desire to caress his hair wasn't weird enough, the sunlight streaming through the curtains highlighted the features of his handsome face making it all the more difficult not to stare at him. Harvey shook his head and concentrated on making coffee. Mike may be handsome but he was still his associate and could only impress him with his work. Yes! But if he weren't his associate and they had just met at a bar or a party without any history…
"NO!" he asserted in his mind, putting a stop to that train of thought. Perhaps he was just going crazy because they were about to get involved in a case about assets distribution after a divorce. Divorce cases did that to him. He hated them and avoided them. At times when he couldn't avoid them his mind desperately looked for distractions and this morning it seemed to have chosen Mike Ross. He wished that Jessica hadn't personally asked him to look into this case. She was testing him and he knew it. He sighed and went to wake up Mike. Watching him sleep had troubled his mind enough already.
Mike was still drowsy as they left for work in Harvey's car. Usually when he rode his bike he would be in a lot of pressure to be alert and that would keep him awake. Now that he was being driven to work by Ray he could take the liberty of comfortably closing his eyes every now and then.
"Oh when am I gonna have enough money to own a car and a chauffeur?!" he slurred sleepily.
"Is that a general question thrown to the universe or are you asking me?" Even with his eyes closed Mike could sense Harvey's smirk.
"Universe." he replied.
"Then let's talk about why you would need a chauffeur when you own a car, you know, given that you'll have to sell your organs to buy the latter. The universe wants to know why you would want that additional expense."
"I don't know Harvey, why do you have Ray?"
"Not because I am afraid to drive."
"It's because he is bad at it", said Ray and Mike and him laughed together which offended Harvey beyond limits.
"Excuse me? Are you both kidding me? Do you know me at all?!"
Mike and Ray laughed all the way to the office teasing Harvey like no one else would ever dare to.
Harvey left to meet the client with Jessica once they reached their destination and Mike sauntered to Donna's desk. Apparently Mr. Shaw had called Jessica ten times already as he was feeling restless but he had calmed down once he heard that Harvey was on his way.
Mike had often been amazed with the effect Harvey had on his clients. He could tell that none of them truly believed in his potential of caring for them and yet they seemed to trust him with their businesses, their dream projects, their future and at times, though very rare, with the welfare of their families. Harvey rarely got interested and involved in family dispute related cases. He said that divorce cases or brothers fighting over business stakes were a huge waste of time for corporate lawyers but Mike had a feeling that there was more to it. This was confirmed when Harvey most reluctantly took up this case for Mr. Shaw. Jessica had asked him to look into it a week ago and Harvey had been delaying it ever since, until this morning. It seemed like he had forced himself to stop procrastinating and wanted to get done with the case as fast as he could.
"Donna?"
"No Mike."
"But I didn't even ask anything!"
"Yes you just did. And the answer is that it's none of your business," said Donna without shifting her gaze from her computer screen.
"I just wanted to know how old is Mr. Shaw," asked Mike innocently.
This confused Donna and she looked up to see Mike smiling.
"If you won't answer then you better listen to my theory. I think he's close to 80 and that makes me think that he's a really old client of Jessica's and Harvey took this case because she cannot say no to an old client. And that makes me wonder why does he not take up cases like this for the new ones? Or let me rephrase it as what exactly happened that he stopped taking cases like these and how do you think this one is going to play on his psyche?"
"How can you talk so much without pausing for a breath?" laughed Donna, "And I answered your question when I told you that it's none of your business." She stressed on the last five words as if giving Mike the last chance to let it go. In her mind though she was thinking about how adorably curious Mike had been about Harvey and his ways ever since he had joined the firm. She usually enjoyed divulging Harvey-Specter-facts to him and laughing at his reactions to them but this time it was personal and only Harvey had the right to decide whether he wanted to share it with Mike or not.
"Do you really think you can do anything about it if you knew?" she asked in a softer tone when Mike showed no sign of leaving her desk.
"No, I wouldn't, even if I could. But one should understand his boss to the fullest if he wants to work for him the best way possible."
"And do you understand that I don't like you wasting work time trying to get my secretary to talk about me?!" The voice made Mike jump and Donna burst out laughing.
"Says the man who set spies on me!" exclaimed Mike, "And it was indeed a waste of work time as she wouldn't tell me anything."
"Well what did you expect?" asked Harvey giving Donna a look of appreciation.
Mike rolled his eyes. "So how was the meeting with Mr. Shaw?" he asked.
"His son and daughter-in-law split up last month and it was a very public affair. He ousted her from their family business that she was a part of.."
"And let me guess, she got in touch with a lawyer and has come back for her share."
"No Mike she has come back for all of it, and I need to stop her."
"I ?" asked Mike confused with the way Harvey stressed on it.
"This case doesn't require two lawyers, Mike."
"I am sorry what?"
Mike was surprised. This was the first time Harvey was telling him to stay away from a case that he was working on. Why?
"Don't you have crazy work piling up that you need to do for Louis?" asked Harvey.
"Stop trying to make it sound like this is for my benefit. I will not be part of this case if that is what you want." said Mike and left feeling dejected.
"God he is such a kid!"
"And so are you, Harvey" said Donna accusingly, "You're freaked out by his curiosity and are pushing him away so that he doesn't see you get affected by this case in case that happens."
She went back to work before without waiting for a reply, clearly demonstrating her disapproval with his choice of action. Why are men like that? Why can't they let others see their vulnerable side? She hoped he would get done with this case soon.
Mike didn't realize that it was 11 pm already. He had been quietly working on the briefs for Louis, not wanting to interact with the other associates. He knew that they were all wondering why he has in his cubicle all day and not frequenting his boss's office. He packed his satchel and contemplated going to Harvey's office before he left. Chances were that both he and Donna would have left already. His instinct told him that he should check nevertheless.
He was few steps away from Harvey's office when he heard his voice. Harvey had never sounded so angry before. He quickened his pace to see what was happening. Donna's desk was empty but Harvey was in his office, seething with rage and shouting at someone on the phone.
"I DON'T care what your reasons were! YOU CHEATED.. You cheated on her.. and then you had your father oust her from the Company!.. What do you mean whose side am I on? If I had a choice I wouldn't be talking to you right now...
...I offered her a deal and we are settling on it.. There's no more negotiation that I can do on your behalf!"
He tossed his cell phone on the sofa and stared at his with disgust.
"Harvey? Are you okay?" asked Mike treading carefully. He had been silent, rooted on his spot outside the office door waiting for the call to end.
"What are you still doing here? Didn't I ask you to finish all pending work and then head home?" Harvey asked annoyed.
"I.. I was..."
"Why can't you for once listen to me?!" he snapped, venting out some of the frustration that had built up within him.
He closed his eyes and sat down with his head in his palms. "Now is not a good time, Mike. Let's talk in the morning. Just leave me alone right now."
He heard the door close a second later and suddenly felt alone. Like he had felt all those years ago. And now this feeling was beginning to haunt him again, till he felt a firm hand on his shoulder and a presence next to him.
Of course he hadn't listened.
