Jessica was gone, and once again, Harvey felt like an orphan. It was stupid, she was just another person who passed by his path, and yet the lawyer had the feeling that the brunette had been more important than anyone else. She had paid for his studies and had given him the opportunity to grow, to evolve, and to become the man he is today, but as she was now gone, Harvey realized that she mattered more than he thought. As he scanned the horizon, he smelled her before he could even see her, her scent filling the room, making the lawyer's head spin as he smiled and heard her advance towards him. As usual, she cared about him first and foremost, and she didn't want to leave him alone and sad, so she was next to him in a second, and the moment their hands touched, both of them were overcome by a shiver. They couldn't have said how long they stood next to each other, holding hands, but as he heard Donna sigh, he squeezed his hand and whispered.
«Hey?»
«Yeah?»
«Do you mind?»
«Of course not»
He didn't even have to ask, she knew what he wanted, and as he tugged on her hand to bring her closer, Donna quickly unbuttoned the two buttons of his jacket before sliding her hands under the garment to rest them on his clothed back. At the same time, Harvey wrapped his arms around her shoulders, nuzzling her neck as he inhaled her delicate scent. After a few minutes, they pulled apart as their faces were inches apart, their hot breaths fanning their faces as they stared at each other with wide eyes. But when Harvey slid his nose along the redhead's, their lips barely brushing, Donna whispered.
«Harvey, don't»
«Tell me you don't want it to»
«You're vulnerable»
«I'm alway when I'm not with you»
«Please don't do that»
«Jessica left, and it hurt, but I'll get over it. But you…»
«I'll never leave»
«I won't survive because you're different, you're not like the other, you're like nobody else for me»
«Stop right there»
«Donna»
«Harvey»
«Can we seriously talk?»
«There is nothing to say, Harv»
«I regret it so much»
«Don't»
«I should never have wasted so much time and let you slip through my fingers»
«Please, stop»
As the lawyer had just placed his hand on the redhead's jaw, gently caressing her cheekbone with his thumb, Donna felt her knees buckle at the gentleness with which he looked at her. While she expected to beg him to stop, he whispered.
«You don't believe me?»
«No»
«Why?»
«Because you had more than ten years to tell me, and you never did. Today, Jessica left, and you feel bad, so since you're afraid that I'll leave too, you think that telling me that will make me stay, but I'm not leaving, never. But I wouldn't stand for that statement to be empty words just because you're sad and you've had a little too much whiskey»
For a few seconds, he said nothing, remained fixed on her, and if she thought he would give up and apologize by blaming the alcohol and this moment of weakness, she was surprised to feel his lips on her cheek, brushing the corner of her lips, before feeling his hot breath against her skin as he murmured.
«I'll try again tomorrow, when I'm less sad and sober. And if you're still not convinced, I'll try again the day after and again after, until you believe me»
Without even waiting for an answer, he placed a last kiss on her cheek and took a deep breath, feeling her scent intoxicate him one last time before leaving the room, leaving Donna alone with her thoughts. She hadn't really slept that night, the lawyer's words looping through her head as she was torn between the fear of this change and the excitement of finally moving forward with Harvey after almost ten years of being on hold. A bit later, when she opened her eyes, exhausted from lack of sleep, seeing that it was already six o'clock, Donna decided to stop this torture and get up. She took a long shower, took the time to get dressed, put on her makeup, and her jewelry when she heard someone knock at the door and felt her heart race at the idea that it could be the man she loved for so many years now. After a deep breath, she headed for the door, and her breath caught when she saw Harvey standing there, a huge bouquet of flowers in his hands, a Gucci bag in the crook of his arm, and a white box balanced on his other hand.
«I'm sober and less sad»
«Harvey»
«I brought you breakfast»
«Did you go all the way to Tribeca to get this?»
«I know you like their cinnamon rolls»
«Come on in»
As he stepped through the door, Harvey handed her the bouquet of flowers before stepping closer, placing a tender kiss on her cheek, and stepping fully into the apartment. For a few minutes, neither of them said anything, Donna setting the table in silence while Harvey watched her move gracefully, until she set the coffee down in front of him — black, two sugars, and a splash of vanilla — and with delicately, he grabbed her hand to place a kiss on her knuckles and whispered.
«Thank you»
«Don't do that, Harvey»
«Why not? Because of your rule?»
«Exactly»
«You made so many exceptions over the years, why can't you do it for me?»
«Because you are not like every other man, plus we don't work together, I work for you. Trust me, it's already hard enough to be considered a slut just because we get along pretty well. I don't want to imagine my reputation if there was something more»
«So you're willing to ruin your life because of your work reputation?»
«My work is my life, Harvey. Apart from that, I don't really have anything else»
«So the only thing holding you back is that you're working for me?»
«That, and also the fact that you're incapable of commitment, that you've had ten years to prove it to me, and that you've never done anything»whispered the redhead.
«Alright»
Hearing that simple work, Donna's heart stopped. What does alright even mean? Alright, I accept? Alright, I will fight for you? Alright, I'm giving up already? What does that even mean? As she was looking at him with big eyes, not being sure she understood, Harvey kept talking in a soft voice.
«I'll prove to you that we can be together forever, and as for the job, I'll figure it out»
«Harvey, I — »
«Do you have faith in me?»
«Always»
«Alright, so let me do it»
«Okay»
«By the way, you look beautiful»
As she blushed, she hurriedly lowered her head to eat as the meal took place in an awkward but comfortable silence. Once finished, they left the apartment to take the driver to the firm while Donna took the time to think. He was still her Harvey, he wasn't that different from before, but aside from the sadness related to Jessica's departure, there was something that had changed, a certain vulnerability and devotion had appeared in his eyes when he spoke to her, traits that disappeared the moment they set foot on the sixty-first floor. Throughout the day, neither of them spoke of their conversation nor of their breakfast, acting as they always did: Donna in front of his office, carrying out the tasks he asked of her, and Harvey secretly observing her from afar, completely obsessed with her sparkling red hair. As she was writing an email in response to one of Harvey's clients, she heard a male voice address her.
«Hello»
«Good evening»
«I think I'm a little lost, can you help me?»
Donna wasn't stupid, she recognized a man who was flirting, and as she was about to answer that she was busy, she shivered when she smelled the cologne that made her head spin, then heard the noises of the footsteps on the carpet, followed by the deep voice of the lawyer.
«She's busy. Maybe I can help you»
As the man stammered for a few seconds in the face of Harvey's passive aggressiveness, he briefly apologized for the disturbance before practically running away as the goosebumps on Donna's skin began to disappear. Barely alone, she heard Harvey whisper behind her.
«Son of a bitch»
«What's your plan? Scare away every man who comes near me?»
«Exactly. I've waited for ten years, now it's my turn»
As he had uttered those words in an almost growl, Donna swallowed hard before hearing and smelling her boss return to his office, allowing the redhead to release a breath she didn't know she was holding until now. God, he was going to be the death of her. The day continued without much trouble until Harvey left the firm a little earlier than usual, surprising the redhead, who noticed that he never left so early and that no appointment was scheduled in his diary. Immediately, she couldn't help but imagine the worst: was he with another woman and had changed his mind about her? Just the idea that it could be a possibility, Donna felt her stomach twist. God, how could she be in a healthy relationship with him when she feared the worst when they weren't even together? Quickly chasing the idea from her head, she continued to work until she was done and noticed that at five, Harvey was still not back, deciding to leave the firm in turn and go home. Barely in her apartment, she took a shower, swapping her designer dress for two-piece pajamas and ordering a pizza, and as it was almost nine, she decided to zap on the TV until she heard someone knock on her door and felt her heart race, knowing full well who was waiting for her in the hallway. Being half naked, she quickly grabbed a thick cardigan that was lying around to put it on and open the door.
«Hey»
«Hey»
«Am I disturbing you? I mean, it's not too late?»
«No, no, what's going on? Is everything okay?»
«Yeah, don't worry. Um, can I come in?»
«Of course»
As soon as he crossed the threshold of the door, he leaned down to place a tender kiss on her cheek, brushing the corner of her lips, causing butterflies in the stomachs of the two colleagues, before he went inside completely and found himself in the living room. As Donna was about to speak, she saw Harvey hand her a folder, and her eyes widened when she saw the Columbia University crest.
«What is that?»
«It's your application file»
«I don't understand»
«I could have applied to Harvard, but decided to be selfish, I didn't want you to be so far away from me»
«Harvey, what does that mean?»
«I applied so that you could get your MBA this year. At first, they thought it wasn't possible to do it in only one year since you work, but I convinced them, you're the best for it, and you'll get there»
«I don't know what to say»
«Simply that you'll get there and that, afterwards, you'll be able to progress and work with me, not for me»
«Harvey, I won't have time, and I don't want special treatment from you»
«You won't. You keep working for me, and we'll do everything so that you can get there. I'll help you, but please, apply for it»
For a few seconds, Donna hesitated, her gaze fixed on the application file while Harvey twisted his fingers, fearing that the redhead could say no to his proposal. After a moment that seemed like an eternity, she sighed before whispering.
«Alright»
«Yeah?»
«Yeah»
«Thank you»
Immediately, he took her in his arms, their bodies intertwined as both could feel the other's heart beating fast against their chests and butterflies fluttering in their stomachs. The two friends stayed like that for several minutes, until Donna murmured reluctantly.
«Well, it looks like I have a mission for the evening»
«I already wrote my letter of recommendation, it's in the file»
«Thank you»
«You're welcome — Hum, I'll go. Good night, Donna»
«Good night, Harvey»
Barely out of the apartment, Donna hurried to find the letter of recommendation from the lawyer before reading it, her eyes moist. If the text was only complimentary and standard for this kind of document, Donna could understand every subtlety in the choice of words and was moved to see how much he put her on a pedestal, even if she was not really surprised. Once she finished reading, Donna opened the booklet and began to fill out the application documents. After writing down all the information about herself, she wrote down her degrees and experience before signing and taking a deep breath. At thirty-seven, she was going back to school, as she never would have thought that one day, but when she showed up at the university the next day to submit her application, she felt like she was twenty again.
«Hello»
«Hello, can I help you?»
«Um, I'm here to submit my application»
«For which faculty?»
«Columbia Business School»
«What academic degree program?»
«MBA»
«Alright. Your name?»
«Donna Paulsen»
«Oh. Harvey Specter came yesterday about you»
«Yeah»
«You must be very special, Mr. Specter really wanted you to be enrolled. He told me that you absolutely had to have this degree to get the COO position in the legal firm where you work. I expressed my doubts about getting there in a year, but he thinks you're capableof doing so »
«I will»
Donna had no idea about the COO position, the firm didn't even have an employee for the job yet. Why did he bring that up? Maybe it was a lie to get her into college faster? Who knew, but not to look stupid, she nodded with a smile before the man continued.
«Is everything in there?»
«Yeah, hum, my application file is filled out, my personal statement written, a letter of recommendation from my employer too, certified copies of previously obtained qualifications, a full academic record, as well as a copy of my identity documents»
«Perfect, everything is in order. You should hear from us soon»
«Thank you very much»
«You're welcome. Maybe in a few weeks?»
«I hope, yes»
After greeting the man, the redhead left the establishment to return to the firm and resume work. As the days went by, the redhead felt the stress rise as she waited for her acceptance letter. While Donna tended to open her mailbox in the evening when she got home, today she felt like she had to open it in the morning, and, as she took out her mail, between advertisements, she recognized the Columbia University crest on a white envelope, and her heart raced. That was it, her future was in that envelope, and even if it was just about school, deep down, she knew it was so much more. If she got her MBA, she would become COO and would have no excuse not to be with Harvey. Not even taking the time to think, she quickly opened the envelope to read the contents.
«Dear Miss Paulsen, the teaching staff and I are pleased to congratulate you on your admission to Colombia Business School»
Omg. She made it, she was going to Colombia. Without further ado, she picked up her phone and dialed the number she knew by heart and waited for him to answer in his deep voice that gave her chills.
«Hello?»
«Harvey. I got in»
«What?»
«Colombia. I got in»
«Oh my God, I'm so proud of you. Where are you right now?»
«Still in the lobby of my building, but I'm going to— »
«Don't move, I'm coming»
Ten minutes later, as she waited on the sidewalk, scrolling through her phone, she looked up as soon as she smelled his cologne near her.
«Hey»
In front of her, Harvey was in a suit and tie going to work, a huge bouquet of flowers in his hand, his arrogant smile on his lips with a tender and proud look.
«Hey»
He came closer to place a tender kiss on her cheek and murmur against her skin, his warm breath caressing her neck.
«I'm so proud of you»
«You know I got in only because of you»
«No. You got in because you're amazing»
«If you say so»
«I do. Anyway, here, that's for you, red roses, because... you know... I feel things for you»
The way he had lowered his gaze and whispered, as if he were embarrassed, melted Donna's heart, who knew how difficult it was for him to express his feelings while she just wanted to kiss him passionately.
«Thank you»
«What if we went to Nougatine's?»
«I like the idea»
«Let's go»
As he intertwined his fingers with those of the redhead, she couldn't help but blush and feel like she was sixteen with her first crush. God, thinking back, if Harvey had been in Tommy Johnson's place, her crush from 10th grade, Donna would have done a lot more stupid things, the boy would have driven her crazy. Lost in her thoughts, she stopped when Harvey opened the door for her before going around and sitting behind the wheel of the sports car. After pancakes and french toast, the two adults went to Gucci to buy the redhead a new dress, Harvey going crazy when she asked him to help her close the zipper, before paying and returning to the firm to start their day. Around five, while they were both still at the firm, the secretary heard her boss call her.
«Donna? Can you come for a second?»
«Sure. What's going on?»
«Here»
In front of her, Harvey was sitting at his desk and had placed a series of documents and timetables in front of her.
«Are you making your schedules now?»
«No, they're yours»
«Mine?»
«Yeah. I looked at the schedule of classes, practical work, seminars, and exams, and I arranged my agenda so that you could attend as many as possible. The rest, you can follow online»
«Harvey, you shouldn't, I was going to do it»
«Hey, I told you I'd help you»
«Thank you»
«You're welcome. I can't wait to be at your graduation. You're going to be the most beautiful woman in the room»
«Harvey»
«You are, you know. You're insane»
«Alright, stop. You know you don't have to do that»
«Do what?»
«The flowers, the gift, the compliments, and all that — it's not necessary. I'm already, you know— »
«— down for me? Maybe, but I've been suppressing my feelings for more than twelve years, and even if we're not together yet, I want you to know»
«Alright»
«So I'll keep acting like that. Just for your information»smirked Harvey.
«Good to know»
«Anyway, you're done?»
«Yep»
«Pizza tonight?»
«Sure»
Once their things were cleared, they both left the firm to go get a pizza at Gianno's and then go home, Harvey walking the redhead to her place, placing an open-mouthed kiss on her cheek, brushing the corner of her lips, his hand on her jaw, before disappearing to go home, both of them with butterflies in their stomachs. Soon, the start of the school year arrived, and Harvey rushed to accompany the redhead to the introduction day and wait in front of the school for her to finish. The weeks went by, and God, she was so in love with him, he was perfect. First, he constantly made sure that Ray dropped her off and picked her up at the end of her classes to take her home, taking advantage of being free to accompany and wait leaning against the car with a huge bouquet of flowers each time, making the redhead's heart race every time. If every time he waited with his typical smirk and his eyes filled with love, today it was different. As she was leaving the establishment laughing with one of her classmates, she stopped dead when she saw Harvey leaning against the car, his typical bouquet of flowers in hands, but his features tense and his jaw clenched. While he stared at the man with hatred, the redhead quickly understood that he was jealous, and in order to avoid him giving her the cold shoulder for too long, she approached him.
«Hey»
«Hey»
Unexpectedly, Harvey slid his arm around Donna's back to pull her closer and place a tender kiss on her cheek while the other man watched them. Sensing the tense atmosphere, the redhead cleared her throat before speaking.
«Nicholas, this is Harvey. Harv, this is Nicholas, we follow the same courses»
As the man in front of him held out his hand, the lawyer had no choice but to shake it as the man spoke.
«Nice to meet you, man. So I suppose the boyfriend is real, Eddy is the one who's going to be disappointed»
«What?»snapped Harvey, looking at Donna with big eyes.
«I'll explain later»
«Anyway, I have to go, but see you on Wednesday, Donna?»
«Of course, see you, Nicholas»
As soon as the man left, Donna took the bouquet of flowers in her hands before getting into the car, followed by Harvey. After greeting Ray, the first few minutes of the drive were silent until Donna squeezed Harvey's knee to make him look at her.
«Hey»
«Hum»
«Don't do that»
«I don't know what you're talking about»
«Your jealousy»
«I have every right, no? I'm waiting like an idiot for you to finish school so we can finally be together, and I hear that some asshole named Eddy is flirting with you»
«And did you hear what Nicholas told you? I said I had a boyfriend»
«Yeah, a boyfriend, not that I was your boyfriend either. It's just an excuse»
«Oh, please, you and I both know who I thought about when I said that. Come on, stop complaining»
She then pulled a little on her seat belt to move and place a tender kiss on his cheek and intertwined their fingers together, Ray continuing to drive to the redhead's place, both of them with butterflies in their stomachs thinking about Harvey's jealousy and the fact that the redhead had said he was her almost boyfriend. The days continued to go by, Harvey doing everything to make the redhead's life easier while she continued to juggle her studies and her job perfectly, until the day she felt a little overwhelmed.
«Hey»
«Hey»
«Do you have time for a shitty Thai tonight?»
«Sorry, I have online classes to catch up on, and even then, I'm sick of takeaway food. I'm going to go home and log straight in for work, you don't mind?»
«No, no, don't worry»
After saying goodnight, everyone went home until the redhead heard someone knock on her door and gasped to discover Harvey in black sweatpants with a hoodie of the same color, with a large bag at the end of his arm.
«What are you doing here?»
«Have you eaten yet?»
«No. I haven't had time to cook anything tonight yet, I'm too busy with my Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability class. Urgh»
«Good thing I thought of everything. Come on, go back to your class, I'll take care of it»
Surprised, the redhead complied, sitting back down at the table as she continued the video of the online class while taking notes, focused on what the professor was saying while Harvey immediately headed to her kitchen. Letting him do it, she remained focused on her screen until she saw out of the corner of her eye the lawyer put a plate of pasta in front of her, and she felt her heart race as she paused her online class once again.
«Harv»
«Come on, eat while it's hot»
At the same time, he leaned over and placed a kiss on the top of her head before restarting his course and sitting down opposite, taking out his own computer to advance on his work while the redhead melted, observing how domestic they were. He stayed until her class ended, took the opportunity to do the dishes, tidy up her kitchen, and kiss her on the cheek before leaving her apartment to go home. From that night on, they either ordered or cooked to eat together when the redhead didn't have an online class, and when unfortunately she couldn't do it herself, Harvey went shopping to cook her a good meal for the evening. Mid-November was approaching, and as Harvey was looking for Donna, he was surprised to find her talking out loud, walking in circles on the roof, concentrating on the sheets she was holding in her hand.
«Hey»
«Harvey. You scared me»
«Sorry. What are you doing?»
«I'm studying for my exams»
«And how do you feel?»
«I'm not going to make it, Harv. I have too much material to learn and not enough time»
«Come on, I'm sure you're exaggerating»
«I'm not, I can repeat it over and over again, and yet, I'm sure I'm not ready»
«Alright, give it to me»
«What?»
«Your sheets, give them to me, I'll question you»
«Harv, you have things to do that are more important, it's fine. I'll —»
«You are the most important to me, come on»
As she smiled softly at him, she handed him the documents while he sat on a ledge and began to question her. For almost two hours, the redhead answered everything while he kept complimenting her and telling her how smart she was and that he admired her, until being interrupted by Harvey's phone reminding him that he had a meeting with a client in twenty minutes. After that moment on the roof, Harvey spent his evenings sitting on the redhead's couch making her study and recite as she paced around the living room while talking out loud under the loving gaze of the lawyer, who was torn between the sweetness of seeing her so innocent and being horny seeing her so intelligent and sexy coming out with complicated words that even he didn't understand. Winter exams were coming up, and Harvey was as stressed as the redhead, spending every morning at her place with breakfast, dropping her off at the university before waiting for her to finish so she could tell him how it had gone. God, they would have been such a couple in college where Harvey could already see himself waiting for a twenty-something version of Donna in front of her university building so she could tell him about her day; he would have dropped Harvard for her, that's for sure. Anyway, after his first exam, he saw her come out with a big smile and hurried to kiss her on the cheek and go to the firm to help her revise for the next exam. Two weeks later, the redhead was impatiently waiting for the results by refreshing the page of the student space of the Colombia business school website while she saw Harvey come running out of the corner of her eye.
«So?»
«I don't know. One minute left»
«Alright»
He came closer to stand behind her, leaning down gently to place his hands on her desk, on either side of her, while she was still sitting in front of her computer, their bodies now touching as his warm breath caressed her neck. Once nine o'clock sharp, Donna refreshed the page once more until she saw the results of the exams appear and held her breath. After opening it and looking for a few seconds, she heard Harvey chuckling.
«Donna... You're a genius»
«Oh my God»
«I never saw scores like that, you got the maximum almost everywhere»
While she was still focused on her grades, she felt Harvey's lips delicately rest on her neck, sending a shock throughout her body as she quickly looked up to make sure no one had seen them. As she noticed that the floor was empty, she whispered softly.
«Harvey»
He took the opportunity to place a second open mouthed kiss on her neck, near her ear, before murmuring against her skin.
«I'm so proud of you»
Hearing footsteps, Harvey pulled away to straighten up and smile at her tenderly before returning to his office and the two of them resuming their days. Donna took advantage of her winter break to refocus on her work at the firm and catch up on what she could have accumulated before resuming classes and her routine with Harvey. Once again, the lawyer spent almost all his evenings at the redhead's, studying with her and preparing her meals while Donna slept little and devoted herself body and soul to obtaining her MBA as Harvey was proud of her. The months went by, and while she was preparing to take her final oral exam, Harvey knocked on her door a few days before with yet another bouquet of flowers in his hand.
«Harvey, don't take it badly, but I have so much to do»
«I know, I'm here to help you»
«You don't have either. You have your big trial with the Antonelli case, and— »
«Donna. I told you, you're the most important thing to me. Come on, let me explain the rest of our day to you»
«Our day?»
«Ours, yeah»
«Alright, come on in»
After explaining his plan to her, he settled into the couch, Donna standing in front of him while she repeated her big oral in front of him while he was admiring her. Once finished, Harvey took her to Fifth Avenue, where they unconsciously strolled hand in hand to find the outfit that she would wear during her last exam. While he was sitting on the armchair of the fitting rooms, watching Donna come out each time with a different dress, he felt his breath catch because she was so incredible.
«You're so beautiful»
«That's what you said for the last three dresses that I tried on»
«You looked beautiful in all of her dresses»
«But I'm going to have to choose one»
«And you can take the others for your wardrobe. You know, as extras»
After the sixth dress try-on, as she came out in a gorgeous pine green satin dress with an elegant silhouette featuring artful gathering at the waist and topstitch detailing on the sleeves, covering a part of her freckled upper arms and stopping at her calves, Harvey murmured.
«This is the one»
«You think?»
«Yeah. It's classy but perfectly appropriate for an oral exam»
«You sure?»
«I promised, you're so beautiful, Donna»
«Harv»
«I'm crazy about you»
«Stop that»
Seeing her blush, he couldn't help but chuckle before standing up, grabbing her arm delicately to bring her closer to him and turning her around, inspecting her.
«Insanely beautiful»
«Alright, I got it»
«Come on, go change. I'll pay, and then we'll go out for dinner»
«Harv —»
«I didn't ask for your opinion, let's go»
As both of them chuckled, they continued their day until Harvey took Donna home and kissed her on the cheek before going home too. With the end of the year approaching, Harvey had already let the rumor run that Donna would become the next COO of the firm to avoid everyone thinking that she was favored. Even though she knew that the rumors about her and Harvey would circulate, especially if she gave in to his charm and agreed to date him, but she didn't care, she knew that the lawyer would jump at the throat of anyone who implied things about the redhead anyway. Quickly, the big oral exam was scheduled for ten o'clock, and Harvey rushed to send a message.
Can I come by, or do you prefer to be alone?
You can come by
Be there in twenty
As usual, he arrived with breakfast and a hot coffee only to watch her eat, just as stressed as she was before accompanying her and waiting in front of the building for her to come out. As soon as he saw her go down the steps in her magnificent fir green dress, he approached directly, whispering.
«So?»
«I think it went well».
«I'm sure it went well, you're the best. When do you get your results?»
«Two weeks»
Two weeks. Two weeks before she graduates, two weeks before she's no longer his secretary thanks to the deal with the other partners, two weeks before they can finally be together, and God, it was the longest two weeks of their lives. They could have gotten together before; they had been waiting for a year, and their attentions were devoted to each other since Jessica left, flirting with the limits constantly, late date night, sharing dessert, kisses on the neck or the corner of the lips, fingers intertwined, caresses, or romantic moments. They were so down for each other. One Saturday morning, when Harvey had just changed his suit four times, he decided to settle on a navy blue three-piece Tom Ford suit, a white shirt, and a navy blue tie with a slightly lighter thin line. Seeing the time, he smiled when he saw that Donna was already waiting for him there, and he hurried to go there to be in the front row to see her climb the podium. After a series of speeches, each one equally boring, the dean announced the graduates, and Harvey felt his heart beating a thousand miles an hour.
«Donna Paulsen»
The moment the redhead's name was announced, Harvey stood up to applaud like never before as she winked at him before collecting her diploma, shaking the professor's hand, and leaving the stage, forcing the lawyer to sit down again before whispering to his neighbors.
«That's my girl»
Proud of her, he waited several more minutes for it to end, before he hurried to leave his seat in search of his now-former secretary. Quickly, he spotted her with a group of other graduates, her red hair clashing with the sky blue fabric of the gown, while her back was to him. As he hesitated to let her enjoy herself and join later, he saw the man in front of her pointing at him while Donna turned to look in his direction with a big smile before running to him to jump into his arms.
«Congratulations»
«Thank you»
«I don't think I've ever been so proud of something in my life»
«Hey, it's just a master's degree»
«Hey, Donna, come on. You did your job as a legal secretary in one of the most important firms in New York while doing a master's degree at Columbia, one of the best business schools in the world, all in one year when no one believed in it. And on top of that, summa cum laude... I'm so proud of you»
«I want to thank you too for everything you've done for me»
«It was my pleasure»
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything, looking at each other lovingly as Harvey gently grabbed the front of her graduation gown to pull her towards him and whisper.
«You know, it just occurred to me that you don't work for me anymore»
«That didn't just occur to you»
«It didn't, no»chuckled Harvey.
As he got closer and closer, their bodies pressed together, Donna took the opportunity to slip her arms around his neck and Harvey behind her back while their faces were now inches apart. While for the moment, neither of them spoke, simply looking at each other as if they were alone in the world, which was Harvey who murmured first.
«The first problem is fixed, then»
«What?»
«The fact that you work for me, it's done, you're not anymore. So now, the only thing that makes us not together is that you don't believe me capable of commitment. It's been a year that I do everything to show you that I love you and that you're the only one who matters to me. So do you believe me now?»
«You love me?»
«More than my own life»
«Harvey»
«Come on, let's be together forever, Donna»
For a few seconds, she just looked at him while caressing his jaw and whispering.
«Alright»
«Alright?»
As he was smiling wildly, Donna's heart was pounding as she came closer and muttered against his lips.
«Alright»
In a split second, they were kissing passionately, over ten years of pent-up feelings releasing themselves as they kissed again and again, forgetting where they were until Donna pulled away from lack of air and whispered against his lips, their breaths hot on each other's faces.
«Let's go home»
«Yeah»
After one last kiss, the two of them walked hand in hand to the car, going into the vehicle, kissing at every stoplight until they arrived in front of the redhead's apartment, their lips never parting for more than a second. Quickly, they found themselves under the sheets, where both of them found the sensations that they had only felt once twelve years ago and never again after. For Harvey, it was as if Donna's body was made for him; between her breasts in his hands, his fingers gripping her hips, his length inside her, everything merged to make one, as if it were meant to be. And for the redhead, she had never felt as sexy and desirable as when she was with him. No matter what part of her body he touched with his mouth, his tongue, or his fingers, it caused each time a fire in her that only he was able to extinguish as he worked hard on her. They were obsessed with each other and never had they felt as much pleasure as with each other, Donna having orgasm after orgasm and Harvey wanting tirelessly to make her come again and again, reading the pleasure on her face or the way the noises escaping from her throat was driving him crazy. They had spent hours making love, whispering I love you's against each other's sweaty skin until they fell sound asleep, limbs intertwined until the next morning when Donna woke up to kisses on her neck and the smell of coffee.
«Good morning»
«Did you sleep well?»
«Not enough»snorted Donna.
«What? Too much hot sex with your man?»
«Exactly»
«Good. You're hungry?»
«Starving»
As she turned around, holding the sheet against her naked body, she opened her eyes wide, seeing the large tray with pastries, fruits, red roses, and coffee.
«Although you're very cute, you know you don't have to do all of this. I've been in love with you for almost thirteen years, you already charmed me»
«Oh, trust me, I know. But I want to make up for all the wasted time, you know, the fact that I was a fucking idiot by not seeing what was right in front of me for years»
«I'm here now»
«I'm glad. I love you so much»
«I love you too»
«By the way, how are you feeling, Miss COO?»
«I'm feeling good. Do you have a new secretary, by the way?»
«The HR department will send me one»
«Harv»
«Yeah?»
«Don't be too hard on this one. They will probably not be me»
«They will never be you, but I'll try to be sympathetic»
«And don't you fall in love with them either»
«Oh, trust me, it'll never happen. I'm way too obsessed with my girlfriend»
«Oh my god»
After that, the coffee was quickly forgotten, cooling on the tray on the nightstand as the two of them made passionate love, Harvey sitting against the headboard, Donna straddling him, their chests brushing against each other with each movements, both of them moaning with pleasure. After spending their Sundays under the sheets eating, chatting, laughing, and making love, as soon as Monday arrived, the partners officially announced Donna's promotion to COO, even though everyone already knew. Barely settled in her new office, the one next to Harvey, of course, who had rushed to get rid of his neighbor to be closer to the redhead, Donna rushed to start working. The days passed, and while the lawyer spent all his nights with the redhead, he found himself in a period of stress with the bad news falling day after day. If usually, as soon as things weren't going well, he went to Donna's desk during the day to be reassured, each time he went out, he faced Cameron, who looked at him with fear while Donna was either in a meeting or a business appointment. That day, when he had just finished looking for a way to get his client out of trouble, he realized that he had barely seen his girlfriend, too busy with work, arriving at her apartment after midnight when she was already asleep and leaving in the morning when she was still in the arms of Morpheus. He was exhausted and needed her, and as it was already late and dark outside, he sat on his black leather sofa, his elbows resting on his knees and his face in his hands.
«Hey»
As he sighed, he heard the soft, delicate voice of his girlfriend and looked up.
«Baby, hey»
«Are you alright?»
Seeing him not answering and lowering his gaze, she went to sit next to him while he immediately rested his forehead on her shoulder to sigh for the umpteenth time while murmuring.
«I'm exhausted»
«You have to slow down»
«I can't. Not now»
«Harvey»
«I'm fine. I just need you»
Taking advantage of this proximity, she slid her arm around his head and put her hand in his hair, delicately scratching his scalp with her nails while she placed a tender kiss on his head and murmured against his hair.
«I'm here. I'll always be, as you have always been for me. I love you so much»