Natsuki tugged at the top of the sweetheart neckline, feeling out of place in the large room of junior and senior partners and their dates. Harvey had gone off to get them drinks. She looked for someone to talk to but no one jumped out at her, until a balding man with a broad face and large teeth sidled up to her.
"Hi," he said. "I'm Litt. Louis Litt. Junior partner."
"Mr. Litt, it's so nice to meet you," she said genuinely, bowing to him before she remembered she was supposed to shake hands. To her surprise, he bowed back – albeit extremely awkwardly.
"So who are you here with?" he asked.
"Harvey," she said.
"Of course," he was still smiling but there was something suddenly rotten underneath his demeanor. "It figures that you'd be here with him. How'd he find you? Art gala? Movie premier? No wait, let me guess… you're a model."
"I'm very flattered, Mr. Litt… but it was nothing like that."
"So where are you from?"
"Japan, actually…" she said, confused by his firing of questions.
Across the room Harvey saw the two of them talking and made a fierce beeline to Natsuki. He handed her champagne and wrapped a possessive arm around her side.
"Hi, Louis. Bye, Louis." He said. Louis rolled his eyes, made the 'I'm watching you' signal with two fingers, and then walked off.
Natsuki turned to him.
"What is our cover story?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, what?" Harvey asked.
"I assume you'd be embarrassed to tell people what I am, and you're not about to tell them that I'm your cleaning lady either, so where am I from?" she took a sip of champagne.
Harvey shrugged. "How about we met in a tea room?" She smiled, delighted.
"That sounds wonderful," she said. A sad, sweet song came on and couples flooded the floor to dance. Harvey took her hand and led her to the middle of the floor.
"So tell me Harvey, were you always king of New York City?" she asked.
"I told you, I don't want to talk about my past."
"You don't want to talk about your past, you don't want to talk about my past… what is there left for us to talk about?" she asked.
"The moment. The moment is much more important than either of our stories."
"Interesting," she said. "It appears I'm not the only one used to wearing a mask."
"Who said I was wearing a mask?" he asked.
"No one. They didn't have to," she said, touching the side of his face and tilting her head. They were on the crowded dance floor and they were dangerously close, breathing the same air.
"I think everyone is staring at us," she said after a few more moments. "Is it that scandalous that you're here with your cleaning lady?" he smiled.
"They're staring at you because you're beautiful, and I'm used to scandal," he said.
"Your arrogance never ceases to amaze me," she said. "But you know, I'd never want you to change. It looks good on you, Harvey."
"Everything looks good on me," he replied with a cocky grin. She laughed.
He drove her room and paused in front of her front door.
"You know, we could always go back to my place," he suggested. She froze, her hand still on the key.
"Harvey…" she began. She swallowed hard, and then forced herself to look into his face. "Harvey," she said again. "You've done so much for me. You took me in, you practically housed me, you gave me a job… but I still consider you my danna. So if you say you want to sleep with me, all you have to do is ask. But if you do ask…" she paused and then swallowed.
"If you do ask, don't pretend it won't change our relationship. I just feel as though I'll never see you again. I'm no fool. I know all the women of New York City want to be with you, and probably a lot of the men, too." He smiled despite himself, but still couldn't meet her eye. "But the thing is, despite my best efforts, I find myself caring about you. And I can't risk losing that… losing you… right now." She looked up at him.
"Is that a no?" he asked.
"No," she said. "It's up to you, Harvey. Who do you want me to be? The woman I was? Or the woman I'm becoming? Because I'm supposed to become whoever you want. And more than I'm supposed to… I want to be that person. I would dedicate my life to becoming that person."
"I want you to be your own person," he said. She smiled.
"I'll always be your girl, Forrest," she said, and they both smiled.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked.
"You'll definitely see me," she said, her eyes glittering. She kissed him on the cheek and then slipped into her apartment, leaving him wanting so much more.