Hello guys…..Happy Friday! Thank you for the feedback. I am glad you all are enjoying this story. Work is getting in the way, but I have been obsessing on this story and these characters a lot, so I somehow managed some time over the week to write this chapter out.
My mind is running wild with the story line and every day I look forward to reading your reviews.
Here is the chapter 7, Awaiting your reviews on this.
Chapter 7- I am sorry.
"Donna, I need you". Harvey shouts from the intercom.
"What is it, Harvey."
"Did you file my motions for Kleinman case."
"Yeah….do you also want to know if the sky is blue, or the sun came out or are the birds chirping" She replied sarcastically.
"What? What got into you?" he asks seeing her pissed off.
"Nothing" she replies annoyed.
"Donna, talk to me."
"It's just one of those days Harvey…. what do you need me for"?
"I was thinking if you were up for it, would you help me figuring out a new place I am looking out to buy."
"Sure, I will get on it."
"Also, what time is my partners meeting today."
"It's in an hour"
"Okay".
With that Donna just left his office and Harvey was left to wonder what was going on with Donna.
He was in meeting with other partners of the firm, where they were discussing strategies and Harvey was given a high-profile case by unanimous decision of the senior partners at the firm because of his skill set to settle instead of going to trial.
Jessica was leading the meeting and continued saying "Now that work has been discussed, last point on today's agenda is a Human Resource topic that I wanted to bring up to your attention. There is a workplace policy that condemns senior members of the firm to get involved in office romance with their sub-ordinates; specially partners getting involved with junior associates or their secretaries."
There are murmurs around the conference room and Jessica looks around the office and holds her glare on Harvey. Harvey looks away when he sees Jessica looking at him.
"I hope you will all keep in mind that the reputation of the firm is an integral part of your work. With that this meeting is now dismissed".
Everyone starts to leave when Jessica says "Harvey, a word".
Harvey chews on the inside of his cheeks and holds back waiting for everyone to leave.
"Jessica"
"This case is really important for us. I want you to close Mr. Schulman and win over his 20-billion-dollar business".
"Consider it done." He gives her a knowing smile.
"Harvey is there something I need to be aware of."
He falters for a second before saying "Nothing that I can think of" and turns around to leave the conference room.
"Oh, Harvey one more thing" he turns around to look at Jessica "you better make sure you win this goddamn case."
He goes back to his office and sets up a call with Melissa his private investigator to know everything there is to know about Mr. Schulman.
It had been a long day and the meeting today had kept him thinking, he knew Jessica knew something. Lying to his mentor was something he didn't like but he also knows what Jessica would do if she found out.
It had been over a week and Harvey hadn't come across any strong discovery that could turn the case in his favor.
It was later in the evening, when he was about to leave for the day, Jessica comes by his office "Harvey…. how is it going with the case"?
"I am all over it."
"Good…. good. You know I wouldn't have wanted to hear otherwise".
"Jessica…. I have not let you down for some time now and I am not looking forward to letting you down".
"Cocky for someone who hasn't closed the case yet…. are you leaving for the day"?
"Yeah…. unless you need me for something?"
"No….so what's the plan?"
"You know my plans" he winks.
"Which one is it today? Blonde or Brunette"? She asks smirking.
He cocks his head and looks at her. "Well…Jessica I can drop either of them for you…but do you really think it's a good idea considering the policy you just announced" he says grinning at her.
"Goodnight Harvey…. don't let the door hit you on your way out". She replies grinning at him.
He leaves the building and decides to go to Donna's, on the way he picks up some Chunky Monkey ice cream for her.
Knocking on the door, he waits for her to open up.
"Harvey, I didn't know you were coming over".
He lifts the bag with ice cream "You were having a bad day, so I bought you some ice cream. Now can I come over or are you hiding someone." He said sarcastically.
"Come on in" unamused she steps aside to let him in.
"You got me Chunky Monkey" she asked all giddy.
"Yeah…. you have been eating that weird ice-cream from as long as I have known you".
She brings 2 spoons and the tub of ice cream. Handing over the remote to Harvey she plops on the couch next to him when Harvey puts on a show to watch together.
"You have got to be kidding me…. Star Trek…. you are a Trekkie." She mocks him.
"Hey…. I don't like joking about Captain Kirk".
They continue eating the ice-cream, its Donna who is eating most of it. Usually when they are together like this, Harvey likes to have some physical contact, He would either drape his arm around Donna's shoulder, or hold her hands, or take her feet in his lap and draw lazy patterns, but today he felt distant.
Donna being Donna noticed it.
"You are awfully quiet today".
"What…. No…I am watching the show".
"Harvey, I know you. Your mind is somewhere else."
"I am just thinking about the case."
"Are you sure there is nothing else."
"Yeah. Just the case".
Donna knew there was more to it but gave him space to open up about it.
Couple of days go by and Donna is having coffee in the executive kitchen with one of the other Secretary that she likes and considers a friend.
"So, Kelly what's the new gossip."
Kelly who is a bubbly woman in her late 20's immediately gets excited and says.
"Robert and Joanna ended their affair."
"Really? Did Robert's wife found out about his shenanigans".
"No. It was Jessica."
"Jessica found about it" Donna asked surprised.
"No. Jessica in this week's partners meeting announced about the HR Policy that condemns partners from fraternizing with their sub-ordinates specially their secretaries and associates".
Donna squirms a bit and pales out. She now understands why Harvey was disturbed the other day but what concerns her out is why he didn't say anything.
"Oh shoot, Kelly I have to go but we catch up again soon".
Harvey was having a bad day, he tried to come up with a witness that could back their story but instead got strong armed by the opposition with a threat to witness tampering. Donna walks back towards her desk and sees Harvey sitting at his chair reading a file.
"Harvey, we need to talk."
"I am busy".
"It's important"
He drops his file down and looks up at her.
"When were you going to tell me?" The look on Donna's face made it clear to Harvey what she was talking about.
He immediately gets up from his seat and closes the door, "I wasn't".
"Can I ask why?"
"I didn't say anything because there was nothing to say. Look, if we disclose anything right now it will only complicate things and I don't even want to think about what Jessica would do if she found out."
"What happens when she finds out?"
"She won't"
"Harvey" she asks concerned.
"That's enough. I need you to trust me to handle this by myself. I don't want to talk about this topic anymore and now if you will excuse me some of us do have work to do" he all but ends up biting her head.
Donna was furious, instead of arguing with him she just walks out of his office.
Harvey just shakes his head pissed off at what just happened.
The entire day Harvey was annoyed, Melissa couldn't come up with anything concrete and needed more time to get to the bottom of it and to top it all he had this argument with Donna which is making it even more difficult for him to get anything done.
He saw Donna, packing up her stuff! Usually, she would come first to his office asking if he needed anything else as she was leaving, so he waited for her to do that. Donna saw him looking, and instead of reaching out to him she just leaves for home.
Harvey immediately shuts down his laptop and tries to catch up with her, he misses the elevator and by the time he gets out of the building he sees Donna waiting for taxi.
He calls out after her "Donna".
"What do you want now Harvey."
"I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did this morning. Look you need to understand that all this is not easy for me".
"From whatever you are saying to me, I think you are trying to apologize and since you haven't said that yet, why don't we talk when you have your head out of your ass". She starts to walk away from him.
He catches up with her and turns her around "Look Donna I am an asshole."
She scoffs, "Did you come here to tell me about the things that I already know".
"Donna please".
She looks at him and shakes her head to see he didn't say what she was wanting him to say. She looks at him but when he didn't say anything more, she turns around and takes the taxi that came by.
Next day Harvey was out to see the client and Donna didn't see him until late evening, when she was setting up files in his office, he entered.
He holds her gaze testing the water, but she glares at him.
She turns around shaking her head and is about to leave when Harvey calls her out "Donna".
She turns around to look at him.
"I am sorry" he whispers the words.
"Say it again" she smirks.
"Don't push it, okay. Look I don't want us fighting over these things, if I need to really bring something to you, I will do that"!
"Neither do I, but Harvey you cannot keep things like this from me, we need to be more honest with each other if we want this to work" she says gesturing her hands between the two of them.
Nodding he says, "It's hard for me to say that I don't want to lose you, I just don't want this stupid work bullshit to come in between of what we have."
"Alright" she says smirking.
"So, we good" he asks her tentatively.
"Yeah, we are good." She smiles.
"I will see you tomorrow."
"You are not coming over tonight."
"Not tonight, no, I still need to figure out how to deal with this case" she nods and leaves.
Holding the handle of the door Donna turns around saying "Oh Harvey, one more thing, if you don't want to lose me over some stupid work bullshit, please don't do stupid work bullshit."
"Goodnight Donna" he smiles at her.
Next day Louis reaches to Donna at her desk.
"Hi Donna"
"Hi Louis" Donna continues to type on her computer.
"Where is the wonder boy".
"Harvey is not here, what do you need".
"Nothing, I just wanted to know how his case turning out to, I am sure he is under extreme pressure to deliver this win."
Donna looks up at Louis, trying to understand why he is being so considerate.
"You know something, wait a minute you want something."
"No, I am just trying to help". Louis raises both his hands in mock surrender.
"Louis, Harvey doesn't need your help."
"Well, Donna if he needs, you know where to find me".
She immediately looks up on the docket number of Harvey's case and turns out that he drew Judge Nelson, she immediately walks up to Harvey,
"Harvey, you drew Judge Nelson."
"Shit"
"You know what you would have to do". She smirks.
"Yeah…what is it that he needs now?"
"The least I could do is dinner and drinks but it's still 2 hours".
"2 hours, Donna that's ridiculous." He asks surprised.
"Harvey its better than going to ballet or the theatre or mudding" she all but shudders at the thought of Harvey going to mudding and so does Harvey.
"Okay, but you are going to have to bail me out after 1 drink."
"Okay, but now get your ass down there and tell Louis to help you out with Judge Nelson".
"One thing that I hate with every fiber of my being." He stomps out of his office.
Harvey walks down to Louis's office and sees him trimming his nails.
"Louis….Louiee" Harvey all but musters up a smile.
"If it isn't the wonder kid. Harvey, what do you need."
"I need you to help me out with my case with Judge Nelson".
"Oh…. Judge Nelson…. that's funny cause I just got off from the call with him today morning when we were planning on our next game of tennis".
"Yeah, I know Louis, you and he share the common love for Tennis and play every week, so now will you help me out."
"You know…. you can always join us".
"I am more of a baseball guy Louis, so now will you help me out?"
"Well since you are begging me to help Harvey, I will but I want something in return".
"What do you want." He asks begrudgingly.
"I need time to think about it, right now it just stashes as the mighty Harvey specter owing me one."
"Alright Louis, but if it has anything to do with mudding or me being subjected to being naked or semi-naked around you, the deal is off" he all but shudders at the thought of mudding with Louis.
"Oh Harvey, I don't need to see you naked when I can have that image with my eyes closed".
"Okay, I am out of here", he outright runs back to his office.
Donna follows him inside all giddy to know what happened, "So how did it go with Louis."
"Ugh…he is picturing me naked". He shudders at the thought.
Donna bursts out laughing at the sheer expression Harvey has on his face.
He turns around looking at Donna in disgust,
"I see you are having a lot of fun in all this…. You know what, you are fired".
She laughs on her way out, "I can't wait to see what Louis is going to ask you".
#So, what do you think would Louis ask Harvey…. let's wait and see. This chapter is a filler, it was needed to pave through the story line and build a bit more on the characters you still need to wait to see how Jessica reacts, I mean to be fair she only has a doubt and hasn't caught them yet.
Next chapter, I promise I will pick up right from the cliffhanger of Jessica finding out.