Hello guys! There seems to be some issue with the site, I cannot see the number of views on the story which makes me wonder if you all are able to read it or not. I hope you are able to see the chapters. Anyway…thank you for your continuous support and reviews. It's been an utmost pleasure writing this story. Here is the next chapter.
Chapter 8- She knows.
It's been more than 3 weeks. Harvey was under pressure; the case was getting too complicated, and all his tactics were futile. And to add to all of this Hardman called a meeting with Jessica and Harvey when he realized that there was a deal on the table, but Harvey was not ready to take the knee. He called him a cocky bastard who was riding on high horse and was too arrogant to take the deal and settle this case.
Donna held out going on auditions, because she knew Harvey would want her to be around for morale support. She was extremely protective of him, not letting anyone enter his office especially Louis, rescheduling his calendar and postponing meetings with clients so that he could focus only on this case. Most nights they just ordered take out and she used to literally force him to eat so that he could continue working.
This one night when they were having food from the takeout in his office Jessica barged in saying, "Harvey, you have 48 hours to wrap up this case, or I am pulling the plug and taking the deal".
That night Harvey pulled an all nighter going through discoveries but still couldn't find a way to get through with the case.
Next day it was later in the evening when he was nursing a glass of whisky when Donna came in his office.
"Harvey Jessica called she needs an answer tomorrow at 10:00 am".
He simply nods, his shoulders slumped. Picking up his glass he drowns the 2 fingers that was left and pours another one.
Donna reaches around to his record collection and pulls out the disc and sets it on. There is no one on the floor and the room echoes with the sweet jazz tune.
She goes around Harvey and takes the glass from his hand and puts it on the table. He looks up at her and she says, "Dance with me."
"Donna…...I am not in the mood".
"I know…. but I am…. now come on" she offers him her hand.
Begrudgingly he takes it and gets up.
Taking one hand of her in his and putting the other on her waist, he pulled her close, instinctively Donna brought up her other one and rested on his shoulder. They started to move slowly. Donna rested her head on his shoulder and Harvey sighed loudly. Neither of them talked, they stayed like that moving for a couple of minutes slowly, when Harvey suddenly said, "I don't think I am gonna win this one Donna".
She simply nods. They continue swaying just enjoying each other's company.
"I can't believe I am going to let Jessica and all the partners down".
"You can still take the deal. It was what was offered in the beginning and it's still not losing. May be its not very generous, but it's still basic".
He slightly pulls away from her and looks down, Donna is startled, and she immediately looks up as to why did Harvey react this way.
"Holyshit Donna, I know exactly what needs to be done, the problem is in the basic and I have been going around and checking everything but not that."
She smiles hard that Harvey had an epiphany, "Then get back at it".
He nods and gives her a sweet kiss that Donna immediately responds and within seconds it gets heated. She pulls back a bit and puts both her palms on his chest.
"Harvey" she calls him out warning that they need to stop before things go out of control and he needs to go back to work.
She gives him one last peck and leaves him to be.
Next morning Harvey settles the case out, so instead of 10 million $, now they settled for a 100 million $.
He went to Jessica and saw Hardman in her office, he entered her office saying, "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, I just wanted to congratulate you. You proved it again that you are an asset to this firm" she looked at Daniel, urging him to say few things.
"Congratulations Harvey" is all that Daniel said.
"Thanks Jessica, I told you I won't let you down." He didn't acknowledge Hardman at all, turned around and left her office.
"Jessica, I know Harvey is your protégé, and you admire his work, but he needs to start putting the firm above him and I don't see him doing that. He cannot go on with the attitude "my way or the highway"".
"Daniel, I know you have your issues with Harvey, but he just delivered a huge win and need I remind you that you were the one that suggested to settle, and he believed he could win. I will make him understand but not today. Today he needs to have his share of fun".
"I have warned you…. if you don't put a leash on him, that man will turn out to be trouble" with that he left her office.
Harvey comes back and sees Donna in his office, "Donna." He acknowledges her.
"Harvey…. what did Jessica say?"
"Nothing she just wanted to congratulate me". She just nods and smiles.
"Donna, I couldn't have done this without you."
"Come on Harvey…...this was all you. I didn't do anything".
"Well, you helped me clear my head and that's all I needed to figure this out".
"Well in that case, yes it was me who helped you win this case. Come to think of it, I am the one who is actually the best closer this city has ever seen."
"Alright…. that's enough" he mocks her and Donna just chuckles.
"What do you say we go out for dinner tonight, have some drinks, celebrate and then I can take you to my place for dessert. We anyway need to commemorate my new penthouse" he winks at her.
"Harvey…. your new place isn't going to be ready for another week, although I wouldn't mind going for dinner and drinks, but the dessert makes more sense at my place" she winks.
"Nope, I just got the message from the decorator, the place is ready, I wanted to show it to you on our 1st anniversary, but I don't want to wait until then".
"Harvey…." She gets emotional that he thought about showing the place to her and had planned it for their 1st anniversary.
"What do you say."
"I say let's do it".
Just when Donna is about to leave his office, Jessica enters "Harvey…. you and me celebratory drinks tonight".
"Jessica…. I have plans for tonight."
"I know what kind of plans you have…. cancel them we two are going out tonight. We leave at 7:30". She leaves.
Donna walks back to where Harvey is standing "It's okay Harvey, we can go out tomorrow. Go out with Jessica, you deserve this". She reaches up on her toes and pecks him.
"Thanks Donna…. I promise to make it up to you".
It was later in the evening Jessica comes to see Harvey again she see's Donna sitting at her desk, "Where is he?"
"He went looking for you, did you need something".
"Yes actually, come to think of it I am not one for office gossips but what is going on with Benjamin" she asks smirking.
"Oh…. his wife found out about his shenanigans with their babysitter and there is full drama with capital D" they both end up chuckling.
"Are you sleeping with Harvey?"
"What?" Donna is surprised.
Jessica just glares at her, and Donna knows there is no way out.
"Yes" she all but whispers her reply.
"God damnit" Jessica says hissing.
"Jessica…. it's not what you think".
"What I think is none of your business and not a word to Harvey about this." She all but glares and Donna just simply nods.
Just then Harvey walks by…." I have been looking all over for you…. you ready to go?"
"Yes" Jessica all but smiles at him.
Harvey looks between the two ladies and Donna gives him a tentative smile.
"Goodnight Donna" he says but Donna doesn't reply.
Jessica took Harvey to Le Bernardin; this place was special to Jessica and Harvey was very well aware of it.
The manager takes them to Jessica's regular table, and she orders them an expensive bottle of wine. They had dinner, talked about work, silly things Louis is obsessing about these days and the Knicks.
"So, Jessica a French restaurant, expensive wine, you must be very impressed by me."
Jessica smiles and they clink their glasses, taking a sip she put her glass down.
"Harvey….do you know why I brought you here tonight?"
"What do you mean why? Of course, we are out here to celebrate my win".
"No…. that's not all of it. I want to know why you lied to me."
"Lie to you…. what are you talking about" Harvey asks confused.
"The fact that you are sleeping with your secretary".
"Jessica" Harvey squirms in her seat.
"God Damnit Harvey…. I asked you point blank not once but twice if there is anything you want to talk about and you denied it".
"No, you said is there anything you need to know, and I said no".
"Oh, don't lawyer me up Harvey."
"What do you want me to say."
"I want to know why you are doing it when you very well know there is a policy in place that forbids you to."
"I am not just sleeping with Donna…. we are in a relationship together."
"Bullshit…. you and relationship…. I have known you for years now Harvey…. half of the women in Manhattan have slept with you! Don't try to weasel your way out of this."
"I am not weaseling my way out of anything. I am telling you the truth. Donna and I have been dating each other for almost a year now "
"You got to be kidding me…. if you were dating her why the hell did you hire her as your secretary"
"She was my secretary in the DA's office, and she is the best and I told you I won't be coming to Pearson Hardman if it weren't with her".
"I don't care but I am not putting you or this firm at any risk."
"There is no risk."
"Didn't you listen, if any one at the firm even gets a whiff about this, I don't have a leg to stand on, and more importantly do you even understand what would happen if word got out that a partner is screwing his secretary."
"What do you want Jessica…. because I can tell you this, I am not breaking up with her".
"I'll tell you what you are going to do you are going to accept the fact that starting tomorrow Donna will no longer be your secretary, I will appoint her to another partner."
"Bullshit…. that's not gonna happen…. I am not going to let Donna go".
"What did you just say to me"?
"You heard me…. I am not working in the firm without Donna."
"Okay Harvey then the second option is you are going to ask her to sign a declaration that she will not sue for sexual harassment, that whatever it is that's between the two of you is purely mutual, if this goes south, she will also put up an equity amounting to 100,000 dollars as retainer".
"Jessica that's outrageous, Donna is never going to sue me or the firm".
"No, you listen to me Harvey and you listen good I am not giving you any other choice…. you either do this or I will find you a different secretary".
She gets up from her chair, throws the napkin on the table "Cheque's been paid."
Harvey kept tossing and turning the entire night, he knew he needed to talk to Donna but wasn't sure how she would react. To get her to sign the declaration in itself was enormous ask and to top it up, she had to put up equity as well all this because she is in relationship with him, and he has to face no repercussions whatsoever seemed very unfair.
He reaches the office and sees Donna sitting at her desk, he doesn't greet or acknowledge her, he enters his office and turns around to see Donna.
One look at her and he knows she knows.
The moment he sits on his chair, Donna walks in his office.
"You know".
"I am sorry Harvey, I told Jessica".
"You did what" he barks at her.
"Just before you both left for dinner, Jessica asked me if we were sleeping together, and I couldn't lie."
"Donna it's not your fault, if she asked you point blank means she already knew".
"What happened at dinner last night."
"She asked me the same thing and I told her; we aren't just sleeping, we are together."
"How did she react".
"You don't want to know that" he pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Harvey, we promised we will be more open."
"She asked me to ask you to sign a document saying if we don't work, you won't sue me or the firm for sexual harassment".
"What…. that's ridiculous. You know Harvey I wouldn't ever do that".
"And that's exactly what I told her….it was either that or she assigns you to another partner and I said I couldn't have that. I have 24 hours, to make you agree to this, or she assigns you to someone else".
Donna just simply tilts her head to the side.
"No Donna…. before you think of the other option, I am not letting you go".
"Harvey…. it's the perfect solution, we can still be together".
"Donna…. I am not having it".
"Think about it Harvey, even if I sign this document, people can still come at you and it's still a risk, but if I work for someone else it won't matter".
"Donna…. if you really want to consider that, you might as well breakup with me".
"I can't believe you just said that. Are you saying you want to breakup with me?" she scoffs.
"No, that's not what I meant. Just think about it, all you need to do is sign couple of papers that say you won't sue which anyway we both know you aren't going to; you can continue working with me and we can still be together. It's a win-win".
She takes a couple of minutes to comprehend what he is saying.
"Okay Harvey, if all it takes is to sign the papers, I will sign them." She agrees hesitantly.
She walks towards the door, turns around and says "Harvey, is that all she wanted"?
He simply nods at her.
She leaves his office and Harvey sits back on his chair. He knows he conveniently left out the equity part that Jessica asked for, thinking he would put up the money so that Donna isn't burdened further by it and as far as Donna doesn't know about it, it would be okay.
