Harvey didn't take it personally when Jessica laughed; it was a real reaction from her and it had taken the better part of the evening to get her mask to slip. He'd take every inch she gave him. "I think we should finally address this."
She shook her head as she turned on her computer. "Harvey-"
"The first time," Harvey said as he raised his finger, "you said we were crossing so many ethical boundaries and you didn't want to be married. Apparently only the first one was true."
He could tell Jessica was irked by the set of her shoulders. "It was true," she said. "I didn't want you to question my motives. I didn't want to question my motives."
"The second time – "
"The second time you asked was when you told me you were done with Cameron and was ready to work for me, which I still say you should've told me why you were leaving." Jessica turned back to him with an eyebrow raised.
"And that's now in the past, dead and buried." They were going into subjects Harvey knew would distract them; Jessica used words like a magician and a warrior. "So now we're here," he said after a moment. "You're not my boss anymore."
Jessica's face became unreadable. "While that may be true – "
"- and if we're going to be partners," Harvey interrupted, the desire to press his upper hand indefatigable, "and we are, your ethical quandary ceases to exist."
Harvey watched Jessica as she sized him up, not unlike what she did when she was about to bust his balls or call him on his bullshit. He wouldn't lie; there were times he wanted to flinch away or avoid hearing what he probably needed to hear. "Did you ever think that maybe I don't want to marry you?" she asked.
Harvey smirked and held his arms out in an obvious display of his body. "Have you looked at me?" he asked. "No one can say no to this. No one sane," he said as his heart beat wildly within his chest.
No, actually Harvey hadn't thought of that.
"And yet I did, twice." Jessica swatted at him until he put his arms down.
"The excuses you gave were kind you would give if you wanted to let someone down easy. But what I realized was that you don't do that. You don't let people down easy, Jessica. You tell them what's what and how it will be and you do it with class and with grace. But never easy." Harvey stopped when he was mere inches from her and smiled when she didn't back away. "Besides, you were right to say no then. I was a bit of an asshole, an adorable asshole, but not up to snuff; definitely not a match for the magnificent Jessica Pearson."
"My match? Harvey," she said as she tilted her head and smiled the smile that she gave clients and employees needed to be disarmed, "I'm not a little girl. I don't believe in one true match. I think you get what comes and if you can make it work, then good for you. But that soul mate bullshit? I would think you know me better than that."
"I don't think its bullshit to hope someone is out there made for you; someone who cares about you and makes you a better person."
"Well someone has to do it," she said as she moved away. "Harvey…"
"Instead of just compiling reasons why it wouldn't work or why it shouldn't be done, and ask yourself one question. What is keeping you from creating a list of reasons why it would work?"
"Harvey- "
"You told me that a fair and balanced decision comes from weighing both the pros and the cons," Harvey said. "All you've given me were reasons why not. I can't accept that anymore, Jessica." As much as he didn't want to face it, he'd waited for Jessica for a long time. He didn't know if he had it in him to wait much longer.
Jessica cocked her head. "I hear an ultimatum," she said quietly.
Harvey tucked his hands in his pocket and shrugged. "It is what it is," he said. "I can't change how I feel but I will move on."
Jessica's eyebrow rose. "You would abandon the chance to have your name on the door?" Her expression was openly skeptical.
Harvey shook his head. "I still mean where you go I go, but my heart won't wait for you forever." He pulled his phone out of his pocket and frowned. It was a text from Mike; he was just leaving the office and had plenty of info to tell Harvey. "Mike Ross and Donna are on board for whatever we plan. I'm sure it won't take much to get Mike to get rid of his shitty apartment, but Donna actually liked hers."
Jessica's smile was a little tight. "She'll put up a front but she'd follow you to Des Moines," she said mildly. "Dangle a raise in front of her. Tickets to show scene in Seattle."
Harvey huffed a laugh and replaced his phone. "That your response for everything; throw money at it?"
"I thought you knew, I only throw money if I'm sure money won't be the deciding factor. I would hope you've been paying attention all these years." Jessica attempted to move past Harvey but he slid smoothly into her path and pinned her with an earnest gaze. "Harvey," she said.
"Jessica." Harvey smiled. He liked her various expressions when he invaded her personal space. It didn't happen often, but he enjoyed it when it did.
"You know most men would take the hint and stop asking," she said.
"I'm not most men," Harvey reminded her. "And besides, you haven't said no. You forget, I know you as well as you know me." He took Jessica's hands in his and admired their long, tapered fingers. "I've always liked your hands," he said offhand.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Specter," Jessica said, but she didn't remove her hands from his grasp. "Take me to dinner," she said after a moment.
Harvey smiled and raised one of her hands so he could place a short kiss to her palm. "It would be my honor."
And he meant it.
They didn't talk about business, or the question he'd posed to her yet again. It was just dinner between two very good friends. Harvey and Jessica laughed at in jokes and made fun of partners and colleagues they were glad to finally be rid of. They talked about old cases and clients and laughed and ordered more alcohol and sumptuous desserts and Harvey truly relaxed.
The shine had returned to Jessica's eyes, and the tense set of her shoulders had relaxed into the graceful posture she always carried. "Are you going to miss New York?" she asked as Harvey removed his credit card from the presenter and handed it to the waiter.
Harvey shrugged as he finished off his whiskey. "It's not like Daniel can make us limp out of here as if he owns the place. We just can't practice law here. I don't see why we wouldn't maintain a residence here."
Jessica's smile is hidden behind her own glass, but Harvey knows she's smiling the way her eyes gleam. "You know what I mean. Your theatrics work so much better with a backdrop like that." Jessica gestured to the breath taking view of the city, its lights out-twinkling the stars.
"If theatrics are supposed to scare me you've got the wrong man, Bond," Harvey said with as much menace he could muster.
Jessica paused and rolled her eyes. "You're so childish," she said fondly.
"Don't call me a child just because you don't know what movie it's from." Harvey resisted the urge to preen and settled for the patented, all knowing grin that normally made Jessica sigh regretfully.
"I do believe we've both seen Casino Royale more than once," Jessica fired back smugly. "I'm ready to go," she announced. Harvey rose and pulled her chair out for her, like it was any other night, and they received their coats and stepped out into the crisp night. Harvey's limo waited patiently at the curb, Ray at the door standing at attention. "Why don't we walk? It's a beautiful night."
Harvey glanced at Jessica's shoes; four inch heels and strappy. "Are you sure?" Jessica shot him a look and started down the street. Harvey sent Ray a shrug. "Follow behind," he said as he went to catch up with her. "So do we have a destination in mind?" he asked.
Jessica shook her head. "Sometimes a walk is just a walk. Besides, I like the view from the pier. It's just around the corner." They walked in silence for a while; Harvey liked to listen to the click of Jessica's heels on the asphalt. It was a sound he always associated with her for as long as he could remember, and they were content to walk in silence until sound of water against rocks could be heard. The air picked up in to a brisk breeze and Harvey shivered a moment before his body acclimated.
There were lights as far as they could see; twinkling in the sky and from office buildings where people just like them worked until they had to go home to change their clothes, and come back for another day of it. Harvey realized he would miss his morning routine, just for the sake of routine. It was a daily reminder that he was on a particular rung of his career, and he reveled in it each day.
He leaned against the pier rail and watched the dark water move. "I can see why you like it out here," Harvey said after a moment. "It's not quite silent, but very…"
"Peaceful," Jessica said with a sigh. "Yes. I don't eat here often, but after I always take a quick trip to this pier and enjoy the view. For some reason I don't like it as much in the daytime. That probably says something about me," she said as she ran her hand along the rail.
"Masks all the imperfections," Harvey supplied. "What you're enjoying is potential."
Jessica hums in what sounds like agreement and he doesn't press his luck. He does, however, press himself against her side and smile secretly when she leaned into his embrace. "How long have we known each other?" she asked in the still silence.
Harvey almost started at the sound of her voice. "More years than I want to count; but I cherish each one."
"All bullshit aside, so do I." She turned to him and smiled. "When I first met you I only considered you a project. Someone who had such potential it was practically shining out of your ass, but no one to mold you. I considered turning you over to Daniel, did you know?" she asked absently. "I thought he did such a good job with me, why not you?"
Harvey did not know this. "What made you take me under your wing yourself?" he asked curiously.
Jessica smirked. "I told Daniel how you threatened to report us if we didn't correct that associate's error of judgment. He thought you should have been fired for threatening the firm."
Harvey rolled his eyes; typical Daniel Hardman. "Then you decided that I was worth it?"
Jessica shook her head. "No, it wasn't then." She looked over her shoulder to see Ray standing patiently by the limo door. "Your driver looks bored."
"I don't care; I pay for his time," Harvey said.
Jessica's smile turned a little sly as she reached out to straighten his tie. "You'll have to get a whole new wardrobe," she murmured. "They dress differently out west."
"I don't know; keeping an edge of New York won't hurt us in the long run," Harvey said. "And besides, I know my tie was straight," he said as he took her hands. "You're stalling for something."
"Not stalling," Jessica corrected, seriously. "I'm merely thinking. And I'm done with that for the night." She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against Harvey's cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow." She walked away toward a cab Harvey hadn't remember seeing before.
"I can take you home," Harvey said as he gestured to his driver.
"Good night, Harvey," Jessica called over her shoulder, and disappeared into the cab.
"Shit." Harvey said. He glanced over at Ray who looked vaguely apologetic.
"You'll get her next time, boss," he said as Harvey stalked over to the car.
"You better be glad I can't tolerate anyone else's driving by yours and my own," Harvey thundered as he slid into the back of the limo. There was no real heat in the words but Ray knew to treat it as a subtle warning. He merely nodded and closed the door behind Harvey.
He looked out the window and could only see his own reflection. Harvey glared and looked away.