I'm back! Sorry for the later than usual update, have been busy with things. :D


The sun was setting across the island of Manhattan, though the streets were still teeming with life. To a great many, the night really signaled the beginning. The dying rays of the sun illuminated Jessica's silhouette in her office as she looked upon the rest of the city. She should have been at home or out with Darby celebrating the merger but it just didn't feel right. The so-called victory was bitter; marred by recent events.

Jessica was confused. Ever since Hardman had come back, everything seemed to by spiraling out of control. That conniving bastard seemed to have planned for every possible outcome in the five years he was away. But he couldn't have possibly foretold the merger. That this merger would go through. That it would be the tipping point in terms of her relationship with Harvey.

Harvey.

Jessica was always the consummate professional but her dealings with Harvey had temporarily disrupted her ability to handle things skillfully. She had let her anger, her stubbornness dictate her actions and this had left her without her most loyal lieutenant. Her protégé. Her friend.

Most if not all the firm was thoroughly opposing this merger, and had Harvey been beside her, she could have allayed her fears but, without him, her situation was precarious to say the very least. If the other senior partners felt that the merger was unsuccessful or uncalled for, she could be ousted from her own firm- much like Daniel was. In fact, her underhand tactics reminded her of just how much that lying snake in the grass had rubbed off on her; preying on a man's weakness in order to get them to do her bidding.

Jessica had felt deeply betrayed by Harvey when she had found out the truth about Mike Ross. But even she knew, that while Harvey had betrayed her when hiring Mike; she had crossed the line with threatening to go the DA. She just didn't understand what made that Ross kid that special. Admittedly his knowledge about the law was unparalleled because of his memory and he was able to think outside the famed box. However, he was soft, which is not a quality in lawyers. Or at least the in best ones. Getting rid of him would be the best for the firm and Harvey by extension, as it would mean he had no weakness once more. No chink in the impenetrable armor.

Jessica had always been fearless but Monday would have her face Harvey again. While she could most definitely mask her fear, the thought of seeing hatred for her etched across what used to be her greatest asset's face did shake her to the core. Because it meant that she truly was alone.


It had been a long time since Harvey had not looked forward to coming in to work. Perhaps since those mail boy days; which he refused to acknowledge actually occurred. But this was one of those days that he just wanted to avoid. Not that Harvey Specter did avoiding, he was more the sort that faced problems head on. But the fact that he would have to see Jessica again and work for her after all that she had done, did sprinkle salt on the all too fresh wounds.

"Harvey, here's your…", Donna stood in front of Harvey with a stack of all the calls he had received in the last hour.

"I'll go through them later Donna."

"Morning Harvey; I need you to close Whittaker and handle the case with Pfister Insurance."

Jessica was standing in front of Harvey's office with several folders, which was uncalled for considering she could have left them with Donna. Or send them to him through one of the messenger guys. Or emailed him. It looked as though she was purposely engineering another hostile confrontation, to see the aftermath of the last one.

"Okay.", Harvey nodded slightly, taking the files.

No 'consider it done' or 'they won't know what hit them' or any of the witty repartee they normally shared. The tension was thick and palpable in the air, with Donna's eyes subtly moving between the two. Jessica nodded awkwardly and strode away towards her office.

"Harvey, here are the files from last week."

Harvey looked up at Mike with surprise. He was expecting him at work, but not this chipper and bright considering well everything.

"Good. I need you to look up everything on Pfister Insurance and the suit against them."

Mike proceeded to sit down on 'his' chair and open his laptop to get to work. Since when did Mike have a laptop, wondered Harvey.

"When I say get to work, the in your cubicle bit is implied. Heavily." Harvey said, with a poignant stare at Mike.

After looking like he was about to have a stroke and Harvey raised his eyebrows a bit more, Mike rushed back to his cubicle.


JFJD- Thank you! Hope you've enjoyed this chapter.

compplyffy– Thank you!

Rae7788- Thank you! I really love your fanfics; it means a lot to get such a positive review from such a seasoned writer!

Raven Carmichael Will do!

iheartlife- Thank you! I'm thinking of doing a couple of one-shots along side this one, but depends on how much free time I get…

Soyli Oliveira- Thank you!

Hope that wasn't too terrible, please review! I'm going through a bit of a dry spell in terms of where to take the story next, so please PM ideas if you have any!

Thanks to all of the reviewers, followers and people who have favourited this piece!