Fiscal Responsibility- 2005
It was around 11 pm on a Friday night. Harvey and Donna were the only ones left at the firm. It had been two months since Harvey had asked Donna to accompany him to Pearson Hardman.
It was their first night together this late at night. Initially they had tried to not spend alone time together at night because deep down they were both scared of whether they could trust themselves around each other after what had transpired the other time.
They were both neck deep in their work when Donna's flip phone started ringing. She excused herself after seeing the caller id to take the call outside.
She returned after a good fifteen minutes with her eyes swollen insinuating that she had been crying.
Concerned, Harvey asked her "Hey, are you alright?"
To which Donna replied "yes, I'm fine. I'm feeling a bit under the weather suddenly. Do you mind if I just go home?"
Harvey gave her a look which told her to cut the bullshit. He clearly did not buy her answer. "You may know me better than I know myself, but I am learning some things about you too. So I'm going to ask you one more time Donna. What's bothering you?"
"Just leave it Harvey, its family stuff. I don't want to talk about it." Donna snapped. She stood up from the couch and started to organise the documents she had been reviewing. "Donna, I'm sorry." Harvey called her from behind "It is the first time I've seen you cry. I'm just really worried about you."
This made Donna sit right back on the couch beside him. Harvey hardly ever apologised. She often called him out on his big ego. Deep down though, she knew it was all a facade in order to assert dominance to the outside world. He was a good man after all.
"I have a half-sister. She is ten years older than me. My mother had her when she was seventeen. Her boyfriend that got her pregnant didn't want anything to do with the baby so he left my mom to take care of my sister all on her own."
Harvey didn't interrupt her and gave her a look urging her to continue "She was a wild child growing up. She always resented me for having both parents. When my dad lost our money, she was twenty-three, but in spite of being an adult she told me it was my time to suffer now since my life had always been on easy mode. That comment stuck with me."
Harvey seemed visibly upset after hearing this. What kind of a grown adult would say that to a child? A part of him seemed more upset about the fact that someone had upset Donna.
"Anyways, she's getting married for the third time, another doormat husband. She called me to be her maid of honour for this one. The audacity this woman has! I declined because of all the pain she has cause me throughout my life. I told her I had to work and didn't have the time to organise her wedding. She was infuriated and said that I'm a failed actor who will not resort to anything in life"
Her eyes welled up after reiteration. Harvey thought of reaching out and giving her a hug but instead decided against it because he was afraid of any physical contact. Instead he chose to comfort her with his words.
"Donna you're remarkably talented. I've seen you on stage. You know I don't give false praises. You know, considering how giant my ego is" she smiled at him sweetly which did something to his heart.
Fuck it, he thought to himself and reached for her hand and squeezed it. He continued softly, "You're one of the strongest people I know. From what I can gather about your half-sister, she seems immature and incredibly jealous."
"Thanks Harvey, you're right. I should not let her get to me" Donna replied. She then realised that she was still holding Harvey's hand. Panicked she freed it and told him she feels better after venting to him and decided to call it a night.
No sooner than she about to leave when Harvey called out, "Do you regret it? Coming to work for me? Pearson Hardman has long hours and you haven't asked for any time off for theatre since we've moved here."
There was remorse in Harvey's eyes. He was so busy focusing on his career that he had completely forgotten about her desire to become an actress.
Donna read his thoughts like a book and replied "No Harvey, I don't. The odds of becoming a successful actress are extremely low"
"But you're so talented and beautiful you can do it" Harvey interrupted her without thinking.
She was taken aback by his words. He had never explicitly called her beautiful. Her heart started to flutter. She pulled herself together and continued,
"I was thirteen when dad lost our money, Harvey. I just chose financial stability, the practical decision."
It was then something hit Harvey. Just like how he had his own baggage due to his mother so did she, except her baggage made her risk averse.
A part of him selfishly seemed happy that she had chosen to work for him but then the other part of him, the bigger part made a mental note that he would always encourage Donna if and when she decided to pursue acting/theatre again.
"You can still do theatre. I know your heart lies in it. Promise me you won't give up on theatre." He spoke earnestly.
"You're the only boss in the whole world who is telling his employee to follow her dreams." She joked trying to diffuse the mood. "But yes, I promise to still step out on you for occasional auditions"
They had a drink after that and later told each other goodnight. He insisted on Ray, his new driver dropping her which she ultimately agreed to.
After seeing her off, on his way to his apartment, he made a mental promise to himself to always ensure that Donna would never have to financially struggle ever again. All his wins would equally be hers.
It was this reason that when he got promoted he always shared his successes with her by paying her more of his share. Or when she was ready to give her father access to her 401K he personally saw to it that she never made that grave mistake.
She did end up doing a few plays during their tenure at the firm. He made sure to be there for all of them. He was a Donna fan after all.
Years later, when they got together, he often thought about their dynamic early on in their partnership as he wondered when exactly he fell in love with her. This incident always came to his mind. Because, while at that time he would not have admitted to himself that he loved her but he did come to a realization that he cared deeply about her, perhaps more than anyone in the world.
