Harvey and Donna knew it was going to blow up in their faces at some point, but they decided to play along anyway.
Almost six years ago, while working at the DA's office together, the two young colleagues spent a part of their night in a club to celebrate yet another victory for the lawyer. Aged twenty-eight and twenty-nine at this time, Donna and Harvey walked through the dark streets of New York, hand in hand, not really realizing it due to being slightly tipsy, until they arrived at the bottom of the redhead's building. They had been working together for over a year now, and even if neither of them admitted it, it had been love at first sight. Unfortunately, since they had a boss-secretary relationship, they had never imagined more, but while they were still chatting for a few minutes outside the door, it was Donna who spoke, smiling sadly.
«I have to go»
«Right»muttered Harvey.
«Well, see each other tomorrow?»
«Sure»
As Harvey approached to wish her goodnight, Donna turned her head abruptly, and his mouth landed on the corner of her lips. After that, everything happened very quickly, they looked at each other for a few seconds with shining eyes before rushing to each other's lips, making out in the elevator, then on the floor in the redhead's hallway before ending up in her bed, the lawyer pampering her body for hours, without getting tired of it. The next day, as she felt his warm body against hers, she woke up slowly before sitting up and watching him sleep next to her.
«Shit»whispered Donna.
For a few seconds, she said nothing, just looking at the man lying on his stomach, showing his muscular back, his head buried in the cushion, his cheek slightly crushed, while his arm was still around the redhead's waist, even though she was sitting right now. She was in love with Harvey, and had been since day one, but the lawyer was a woman collector, not looking for anything serious, and their relationship was perfect now, minus the romantic side, but she didn't want that to change. Besides, if she had thought that sex with Harvey would have been intense and hard, she was surprised by his sweetness and passion, making her fall even more in love with him. While she was in her thoughts, she felt him move, and she froze, until she heard his voice hoarse.
«Hey»
«Hey»whispered Donna.
«Last night was fun»
At Harvey's words, Donna cleared her throat before whispering again.
«Fun. Right»
After his words, she was about to get out of bed to pour herself a coffee, hoping it would wake her up completely and hoping the lawyer would leave her apartment quickly, but as she moved, she felt Harvey's arm tighten around her waist, urging her to stay with him. As she saw him looking at her with a gaze full of sweetness, she sighed, biting her bottom lip, not knowing what to say.
«It was more than fun»whispered Harvey.
Seeing that she didn't react, he used his arm still around her waist, forcing her to lie down next to him again, the lawyer on his stomach, his arm still around her while Donna was on her back, their faces a few inches apart. For a few seconds, neither said anything, just looking at each other, Donna melting under his soft gaze while Harvey swallowed hard as he saw a mixture of sadness and hope in her eyes. While he had no idea how to put into words what he was feeling, he leaned in to simply nuzzle her bare shoulder and place a tender kiss on it. Seeing him close his eyes and inhale her scent, Donna gently slid the tips of her fingers against his cheek before hearing him whisper.
«I want more»
Faced with these words, Donna's breath hitched, and not really knowing what to say, she continued to stare at him before simply whispering.
«Harvey»
«I'm ready to risk everything for you»
«You're not ready»
«For you, I would be»
«You don't know what you're talking about»whispered the redhead, tears in her eyes.
As he opened his eyes and saw Donna sad, he gathered his courage and began to speak, peppering her arm and shoulder with tender kisses.
«I've been in love with you since the moment I saw you in that bar. I never wanted a serious relationship, and then you came along, and I couldn't get you out of my head. No matter how many bad relationships I've had, trying to forget you, you're always the one I think about. I know we work together and we're doing well that way, but I need more than just seeing you at the office, I need you in my daily life, and I dream of waking up next to you like I do now. Donna, please, I want more with you, I want everything»
As her lips were inches from his, she leaned in to delicately place them on his, the lawyer sighing before kissing her even deeper. After that, things had gone just as quickly. The next day, they had returned to the office as if nothing had happened, then woke up every morning in each other's arms, going to the office together, pretending to go home on their own, all this to meet again in the evening. For almost six months, everything was perfect, until the day Harvey wanted more once again, and as they were in Paris for their first vacation as a couple, Harvey had gotten down on one knee to ask the redhead to become his wife with a huge diamond that he had spent months saving for. Barely back in the United States, they had gone before the judge, getting married in the state of Connecticut, where Donna was from, with only the couple present, the parents of the redhead, Gordon, Marcus, and Katie, far away from New York. Barely Mr. and Mrs. Specter, they had returned to the DA's office, their wedding rings in the pot on the hall cabinet that they took off when they were leaving the apartment, and put back on as soon as they returned. For a few more months, both of them continued to work at the DA's until one night they found themselves in each other's arms, lying in bed.
«What should I do?»
«It's up to you»
«Donna, I need you to tell mewhat you think about it »
«Join Jessica»
«What about Cameron Dennis?»
«He did shit, Harvey. You don't want to be that kind of lawyer»
«Yeah, you're right»
After that, both of them had handed in their resignations, Harvey with plans to go work at Pearson Hardman and Donna still thinking about what she was going to do, and a few days later, Harvey was in front of Jessica, discussing his future.
«Terms are non-negotiable, you get what I give you»
«Fine by me. But I'm getting my own secretary»
«Associates don't get their own secretary»
«This isn't about the associates, it's about the secretary, and I'm not coming here without her»
«She must be very special»
«She is»smiled Harvey.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke while Jessica could see that for the lawyer, we were not talking about a simple secretary.
«Harvey»
«Yeah?»
«You know the firm policy, no relationships between co-workers, you're going to have to sign a document that states that you won't be involved romantically or sexually with any employee of the firm. Is that understood?»
«Yeah, yeah. Of course»
Seeing her protégé slightly avoid her gaze, Jessica sighed before murmuring.
«Harvey»
«Hum?»
«The truth»
« About? »
« Her »
« There is nothing to say »
« Harvey? »
«She's my wife»
«So, it's a no»
«I'm not coming without her»
«It's against the firm policy»
«No one will know»
«It's not possible»
«It is, that's what we're currently doing at the DA's office right now. We have two different addresses, we didn't report being married to the HR, so we don't wear our wedding rings to work, and no one knows we're together»
«It'll come out eventually, Harvey»
«No. Look, she's my wife, alright, but before that, she's the one who makes me the lawyer I am today. She's the only one who can keep my head straight and stop me from doing shitty things, I need her to be a good lawyer, I can't do it without her, she needs to come with me»
For a few seconds, she said nothing before looking at the young man and whispering.
«Nobody has to know»
«Nobody»
«Welcome to Pearson Hardman, then»
After that, he came home, where Donna was waiting for him, reading a magazine on the couch, and the two of them started their little lies in the firm again: wake up together in the morning, leaving for the office, their wedding rings in the pot on the hall cabinet that they took off when leaving the apartment, and put back on as soon as they returned, all this, in the greatest secrecy. After that, years passed, and while they had just hired a little genius of a fraudster as an assistant, the couple were talking in bed.
«Do you think it was a good idea?»murmured Donna, caressing his bare chest with her fingertips.
«He's a genius, Donna. I know it's risky, but we manage to hide our marriage well, we can hide the fact that he's not really a lawyer, too? Don't you think?»
«Yeah, you're right. He's such a puppyby the way »snorted the redhead.
«I swear, I feel like he's going to give me a hard time already»
«That's for sure»
After that, they continued their lives, without suspecting that the next few weeks, things were going to get complicated. For his part, Mike didn't understand the relationship between Donna and Harvey, like most people, and while he was watching them from afar clearly flirting in the office, throwing each other dark looks of desire, both with a provocative smile on their lips, Mike started talking to the brunette.
«Rachel?»
«Yeah?»
«They're a couple, right?»
«Who? Harvey and Donna?»
«Yeah»
«No, they're not»
«It's weird, right? I mean, I don't really have any experience in an office yet, but this is the first time I've seen a secretary and a boss get along so well»
«They're best friends, I think. I heard they worked together before at the DA's, and when he came here, she came too. They work very well together, and are complementary. You know, they work sometimes up to fifteen hours a day together, so it creates a deep bond»
«Yeah, maybe you're right»
«Oh, please, stop, leave them alone. There's already enough rumors going around about them as, as you can imagine, degrading Donna's image because she's a woman working for a man»
«Oh, yeah, of course»
«Get back to work»
«Alright, Corporal»chuckled Mike before leaving the brunette's office.
If Harvey and Donna had always been discreet and their relationship never discovered, that didn't stop them from remaining a couple as soon as there was no one around. While Donna was in the photocopy room, the lawyer came in and cleared his throat.
«Donna, is everything ready for my ten o'clock meeting?»
«I'm all alone, honey»
«Good»
Harvey quickly closed the door before approaching and brushing her hair to the side to place his lips on her neck.
«I miss you today»
«Well, we could have made a trip to the archives room, but since your puppy keeps following you»snorted Donna.
«Jesus»exhaled Harvey.
For a few minutes, she just hooked her arms around his neck, Harvey around her waist before they chatted quietly, placing small kisses from time to time on their mouths. Hearing footsteps in the hallway, the redhead quickly wiped the lipstick marks off her husband's face before letting him leave the room and going out herself a few seconds later. At the end of the day, as Mike was leaning on Donna's desk reading a document, he saw her pick up the landline.
«Harvey Specter's office»
As the young lawyer pretended to read a document, he recognized the voice of the lawyer on the other side, and he saw out of the corner of his eye Donna move away from the desk as much as she could so he wouldn't hear the conversation.
«Hey... Now? ... Alright, I'll be there»
As soon as she hung up, she picked up her things while Mike looked at her with a big smile.
«Are you leaving?»
«Yeah»
«That was Harvey on the phone, what did he want?»
«What? Nothing, why are you asking?»
«Well, you said: I'll be there. So, you'll be there where?»
«Pizza. We're going to go eat pizza»
«Oh, so good, I'm hungry too. Let's go»
Without much choice, Harvey and Donna, who thought they were going home and spending the evening together, found themselves at Gianno's pizza with Mike, who was explaining to them the last time he got arrested. At that moment, the couple really felt like they had to babysit Harvey's little brother during a date. And when they thought they were done, once outside, if Harvey and Donna finally thought they were alone, they were interrupted by Mike.
«Do you two live far from here?»
«Oh, um, I live in Lower Manhattan»
«What about you, Donna?»
«Soho»smiled the redhead.
« Oh, not far from each other then »
«Yeah»replied the couple together.
«Alright, are you sharing a cab?»
«Probably, I'll take Donna home»
«Good, I'll come with you, so we can do Soho, Lower Manhattan, and then I'll continue to Brooklyn Heights, everyone in the same taxi with three stops. So, what do you think?»
The couple looked at each other briefly before both nodding with tight smiles. So after the redhead dropped off in front of her building, she waited for the cab to pull away to hail another and actually go home. After their wedding, the two of them had moved into the lawyer's condo, keeping the redhead's apartment so that each had a different address, taking advantage of the redhead's old place when their families visited the couple in New York. So about ten minutes later, as she entered the condo, she put on her engagement ring and wedding band, while she heard the sound of the shower running and hurried to undress in the bedroom and join her husband under the water jet.
«Hey»
«Hey»
«Baby?»
«Yeah?»muttered Donna as she dropped a kiss on his bare chest.
«He's such a pain in the ass»
«Hell yeah»
After both laughed, they dried themselves off, put on their pajamas, and chatted for a few more minutes about their romantic evening ruined by Mike while they couldn't help but laugh about the situation. After that evening, the young lawyer was more and more involved, and if it amused the redhead, Harvey was starting to despair. A few weeks later, while the firm was hosting a major investor, the two lawyers were sitting around the table with Jessica and Louis while other employees were either also around the table or standing in the room, Donna was sitting in the corner with her notebook and a pen, taking as many notes as possible to report his every move to Harvey later. If everyone was focused in the meeting, Mike had noticed the way the businessman was looking at the redhead, and if the young lawyer thought he was the only one who had seen it, he could see Jessica going back and forth with her gaze between Harvey, the investor, and Donna, while other people were also exchanging glances. If no one really knew how to react to the man's explicit advances, the worst was Harvey. He felt anger and jealousy rising in him, his knees shaking, biting his fingertips while fixing the man in front of him with a black look while he continued to stare at Donna with a vicious look. Maybe it was fate or Jessica understood that something was wrong in the room, she decided to speak up.
«Alright, on those good words, how about we take a break?»
Before the man could even answer, Donna left the room, discreetly pinching the back of Harvey's neck, a gesture that didn't escape Mike, who continued to be just as confused by their relationship as he was before. Once most of the room was empty, the young lawyer turned to Jessica.
«Is Harvey okay? Why is he being aggressive with the man like that? It's because of Donna, right?»
«Well, he's openly hitting on her»
«So what? They're not together, she can do whatever she want»
«No, they're not, but that doesn't change the fact that they're best friends and he's protective. He doesn't like men who are disrespectful and who treat women like they're just a piece of meat. That's all»
«Oh, alright»
Faced with Jessica's explanation, Mike didn't ask any more questions, simply waiting for the meeting to resume. On the other side of the firm, after a brief glance, the couple had found themselves in the file room, and after making sure that no one was there, the lawyer poured out his anger.
«Fuck, Harvey, the wall»whispered Donna as she inspected the punch mark left in the wall.
«Did you see how he acts with you?The way he looks at you — Fuck »
«Baby, who cares? He signs with the firm, he brings in as much money as he wants, and that's it»
«Donna, he's disrespectful, and his remarks are degrading. It's driving me crazy»
«I understand, but I don't care, in this situation, he's the one who looks stupid, not me. But please, he pays the firm a lot, don't screw it up just because you're jealous»
«I have every rights, no?»
«Of course — and I find you incredibly sexy when you're jealous like that — but not when that asshole can bring in five million dollars for the firm»
«Yeah, you're right»
«I'm always right»chuckled the redhead.
«Jesus»snorted Harvey.
«So, we're good? Can we go?»
«Yeah, yeah, but kiss me first»
For a few seconds, the couple kissed passionately only for Donna to break apart when she felt the lawyer's hands under her skirt, grabbing her ass, so before turning back into the office, she wiped away the traces of lipstick on his face, and the two of them discreetly left the room. Barely seated again and the meeting started again, the man continued his little show, and even if Harvey was a little calmer, he was eager for this man to leave, but as he was about to sign with the firm, Jessica started to speak.
«So we agree on the terms?»
«I would still allow myself to add a small element»chuckled the man.
«Which is?»
«A dinner with Miss with the red hair and the olive dress»
Recognizing herself immediately, Donna, who was still busy writing notes, snorted before speaking.
«It won't be possible»
«Oh really, and why is that?»
«Because I'm married»
Since she had just dropped the bomb without realizing it, the whole room became silent as she looked up from her papers in hands for the first time in the last twenty minutes. Seeing all her colleagues looking at her with big eyes, including her own husband, and she was about to justify herself, the businessman chuckled.
«Oh really? Because I don't see any rings on your finger»
Seeing that he wasn't going to let go, Donna gave her best smile, hiding the panic of what she had just triggered, and speaking in a confident voice.
«My husband is very generous, so rings like that, I prefer not to go out with. It's New York city, after all, everything could happen»
After that, Jessica quickly changed the subject, urging the man to sign the contract while Donna felt all eyes on her and pretended that everything was fine. Barely out of the meeting room, rumors were already starting to circulate in the offices: she was hiding her ring because she was married to someone famous, she was a widow, she was not actually married, her ring was tiny, and of course, the one she was waiting for: she didn't wear it because she didn't want her boss to know so they could sleep together in peace. If she continued to pretend as if nothing had happened and ignored the rumors, it was while sitting across from her husband that she spoke about it for the first time.
«Alright, that was the announcement»
«It came out on its own»
«I understoodthat »sneered the lawyer.
«It sucks»
«You want everyone to know?»
While she could see a mixture of joy and hope on his face at the fact that she was going to announce it and they wouldn't have to hide anymore, Donna was heartbroken when she saw his face change as she sighed.
«Honey..»
«Yeah, sorry, you're right»
«It's just — did you hear the rumors already? That I'm taking it off so we could sleep together. Can you imagine if you were the husband in question»
«Well, maybe they would shut up about it»
«Harv, you know very well they wouldn't. They just learned that I was married, and instead of wondering who is the mysterious guy or things like that, their first thought was to know if I cheat on my husband with my boss»
«They're the same person, so who cares?»muttered Harvey with hope.
«Everyone. Like they won't just accept and continue their lives, they're gonna assume that I slept my way here, that I'm a secretary who married her boss, a rich lawyer per se, just so she could enjoy his money. I mean, honey, you know how people are»
After a brief sighed, Harvey grumbled.
«Yeah, you're right»
«I'm so sorry, honey»
«It's fine, it's just, I want people to know that you're mine, that we're in love, and everything. I don't want what happened today to happen again because, this guy tried something on you because he didn't know you were married»
«Harv. Have you seen the guy?He would have tried anyway »
Seeing her husband silent and in thoughts, she glanced quickly down the hallway before grabbing his hand that was on the desk and placing several small kisses on it before releasing it so early so as not to be seen.
«I love you, you're the love of my life, and even if I agree on the fact that I want people to know that we are together and love each other like crazy despite being married for almost six years, you know how people can be. I don't want to have this reputation of being this slutty secretary that has sex with her boss, just like it's pissing me off when I heard people calling my husband a womaniser, but I'm pretty sure that, if people knew, it would be worse»
«You're right»
«I'm sorry»
«It's fine»sighed the lawyer as he looked at her with a sad face.
«Hey, give me a smile»chuckled Donna as Harvey tried his best.
«You're happy?»
«Well, I've known better, but I'll take it»
«So what are you going to do now?»
«Letting people believe that I'm not married, that I said that so this asshole would leave me alone»
«Alright»
As she stood up to leave the office, when she was close to the exit door, she turned to give her husband a knowing look, who immediately straightened up and felt his breath catch as she began to speak in a sultry voice.
«Oh, and honey. I can't wait to be tonight, so you can show me how jealous you are»
After that, she went back to her desk to continue her day before going to the break room and sharing a salad with Rachel, but barely seated, she heard Kylie, one of the accounting departments that she hated, approach her with a satisfied smile.
«So I heard the mighty Donna Paulsen is married?»
«I'm not married»
«Oh, how sad is that. Why did you lie, then?»
«Because the client was annoying and I wanted him to stop hitting on me, well, I would have asked you if you knew what I meant, but you're not the type to get hit on at work»
While the few people in the room chuckled discreetly, the blonde cleared her throat before sitting down next to her.
«We don't really know you very well, are you an eternal single?»
Deciding not to half-lie, Donna answered out while continuing to eat her salad.
«Oh no, I have someone»
«Oh really?»
«Yeah»
«Is it recent?»
«We've been together for almost seven years if you want to cultivate your morbid curiosity»
«And you never introduced us to him?»
«So you can try to steal him like you did with Martha's ex? No, sorry, I'm not mixing professional and personal»
Faced with this new sneaky remark from the redhead, the few people in the room laughed discreetly again while Donna's phone started ringing, indicating a message from Harvey.
Join me on the roof, I have something for you
«Anyway, it was like every time a pleasure to talk to you, Kylie, but I have to go. See you, Rach»
«See you, Donna»
With these last words, and not giving the blonde time to answer, Donna packed her salad with her, and went up to the roof to join her husband, who was waiting for her in his three-piece suit and two bags in hand, while she melted in front of his adorable face.
«Hey»
«Hey»
«How did your meeting with Mr. Tarsu go?»
«Well, a problem with one of his clients, but I don't think we'll go to court for this little thing»
«Good»
«Here, I got this for us»
In the bag, Harvey had gone to get two slices of cake from Donna's favorite pastry shop, and the two of them sat on one of the edges of the roof to share this dessert together while chatting about everything and nothing, only enjoying being alone in the world, kissing from time to time. As both pieces of cake were finished, Harvey grabbed the second small bag, and Donna recognized the blue packaging from Tiffany's.
«That's for you»
«Honey, you shouldn't have»
« It's just that, since you can't wear your ring because it's too suspicious, I had you make a bracelet with exactly the same stones as for your engagement ring and in white gold like our wedding rings, that way, it may not be your rings, but it's just as well. Well, people won't know, but we both will »
«That's a super good idea, honey. I love you»
«I love you too»
As he helped her put the thin silver bracelet around her delicate wrist, the lawyer couldn't help but place tender kisses all around the chain while the redhead gently caressed his cheek before starting to speak.
«Kylie came to bother meearlier »
«Again?»
«Yeah, of course, she asked me about my marriage»
«And?»
«I said I wasn't married, but I had someone in my life for almost seven years»
«Donna..»
«Look, I don't want people to know about both of us, but that shouldn't stop everyone from knowing that I share my life with someone and that I'm already taken and in love, alright?»
«Yeah»
«You're okay with that?»
«More than okay, yeah»chuckled the lawyer before kissing her again.
Once finished, both left the roof to go back to work, and while Harvey was receiving yet another client, Donna was at her desk, Mike leaning on his elbows, looking at her with a pout.
«I'm bored»
«Well, join Harvey at his meeting»
«He told me he didn't want to see my face anymore today, that he'd seen enough of it»
«Of course»snorted Donna.
«I'm bored»
«And you already tell me that. So what? Do you expect me to rock you or amuse you?»
Before the young lawyer could even answer, they were interrupted by Clarisse from the HR department, who called out to the redhead from across the floor, causing all the employees present to turn around to look at her, as if everyone's attention wasn't already focused on her since the meeting.
«Yes?»
«I think there's a mistake»
«What mistake?»
«Well, I received a document from the New York government to be completed by the employer regarding your occupation at the firm, and it is requested to send it to this address, but it is Harvey's»
Shit, that's all she needed today. Seeing that the people present in the open space were already starting to discuss among themselves, Donna decided to play the comedy, after all, she was an actress.
«What a bunch of idiots, yeah, they must have made a mistake. I'm the one who gave all the necessary documents for me and Harvey when he was on a business trip — after all, I'm his secretary — and they must have made a mistake in the address. But fill it in, I'll take care of sending it back and rectifying this mistake»
«Are you sure?»
«Yeah, yeah. Thank you, Clarisse»
As soon as the little brunette left, Donna sighed, forgetting for a moment that Mike was there, who quickly reminded her of his presence.
«Isn't that weird?»
«Hmm? No, we're talking about the administrative, they're big institutions, this kind of mistake happens often. I'll sort it out quickly»
Thank God he didn't ask more questions about it, this document was supposed to arrive at their condo and needed to be completed by Jessica, the only one who knew about their dirty little secret, especially since at the top of the paper, it was clearly marked as a status that she was married and that Harvey's name was marked with all capital letters as well as his social security number next to it, which would have been difficult to deny if it was ever found. Once the stress had passed and Mike had found something to do other than stay at her desk, looking at her with a pout, the office gradually emptied until she smelled the scent of her husband's cologne that made her head spin every time.
«Hey»
After taking a quick look around, he leaned down to kiss her neck and whisper.
«You're so beautiful»
«What do you want?»chuckled the redhead.
«First, am I not allowed to tell my wife she's beautiful?»
«Of course you can»
«Good. Second, I still have some stuff to do, why don't you go home and I'll join you as soon as I'm done?»
«Are you sure?»
«Yeah»
«What do you want to eat?»
«Whatever you want, you're the boss»
«Alright»chuckled Donna.
As Harvey left Donna's desk, he took a few steps to check that no one was there, before heading back to her desk, quickly grabbing Donna's jaw to kiss her passionately before she pushed him away with wide eyes.
«Harv»
«Sorry, it was too tempting. See you later»
With that, he entered his office again while the redhead put her things away, mimed a last kiss with her mouth on the other side of the window, making the lawyer laugh, who quickly winked at her with his typical smirk on his lips. If, about twenty minutes later, Donna was already in the kitchen, her engagement ring and wedding ring back in their places on her finger, Harvey was still in his office and heard someone knocking on the glass of his door.
«Mike»
«Hey, you haven't left yet?»
«No, but I'll be soon»replied Harvey while reading the document in front of him.
«Here, this is the file you asked me for for the toxic treatment company»
«Oh, yeah, thanks. I'll look at it tomorrow»
«Of course»
Seeing the man fidgeting in his chair, Harvey chuckled and then whispered.
«What?»
«What what?»
«I can see you want to ask me something, so?»
«You knew Donna was with someone?»
«What?»
«She said she's been with her partner for seven years. Did you know?»
«Of course, I did»
«But how?»
«How what?»
«I mean, she's here all the time, first at work, last to leave, I mean, how can you invest yourself in a relationship, and for as long as seven years»
«Well, her partner has a lot of patience»smiled Harvey, thinking about all the times he has to wait until no one is at the firm to enjoy Donna, his wife and not his secretary.
«Do you know him?»
«Who?»
«Her boyfriend?»
«Oh, yeah yeah. I do»
«Really? I wonder what he looks like, I mean, we're talking about Donna, I'm sure she didn't have to choose someone ugly»snorted Mike.
«That's for sure. He's a real gentleman, completely crazy about her, and who is also very handsome»
As Harvey smiled like an idiot, Mike looked at him strangely, surprised to hear his boss describe another man in this way, and seeing the man in front of him, the older lawyer hastened to talk again.
«Her words, not mine. But yeah, he's a good guy»
«Good, she's a great girl, she deserves someone good»
«Of course»
After that, the two men each went home, and Harvey rushed to hug his wife, kissing her deeply before helping her finish cooking dinner. Days passed, and Mike still didn't really understand the relationship between the two, especially since he knew that she had been with her partner for almost seven years, making the relationship with his boss even more ambiguous. One morning, as Mike and Harvey had been racking their brains for a week to find a solution, the youngest lawyer rushed to his boss's place after thinking all night and finding a solution. He had no idea where Harvey lived, but he remembered exactly where the taxi had dropped him off after their pizza nights, so as he rushed into the building, he immediately went to the doorman before talking to him.
«Hello, I'm a colleague at Harvey Specter, can you tell me the floor?»
«They live on the 60th, south elevator on the right, it's the only condo on the floor»
«Thank you sir»
As he found himself in the elevator, Mike thought about what the man had just told him and was surprised that he said «they» and not «he», but probably thinking it was a mistake on his part, he went out as soon as the doors opened, they walked to the door and saw a package on the ground. If until then, nothing was shocking, it was seeing the name of the redhead on the box that made Mike even more lost, and if he knocked on the door trying to understand why she had her stuff delivered to her boss' place, he heard a female voice.
«Oh shit»
In front of Mike, Donna was barely awake, wearing a bralette and a pair of men's boxers that she had rolled at the top to fit her waist, her hair in a bun on top of her head as she looked at him with wide eyes, while Mike imitated her, not knowing what else to do, much too surprised to see the redhead at seven in the morning in her pajamas, on a Saturday, at their boss's house. If neither of them knew what to say, the young lawyer heard Harvey arrive in the distance, his voice echoing in the condo and the hallway.
«Baby, who is it?»
As he arrived in turn in front of the door, shirtless except for a pair of boxers similar to the one the redhead was wearing, it was now Harvey who swore.
«Well, shit»
«Oh my God, are you two together?»
«Guilty as charged»murmured the older lawyer.
« But Donna, your boyfriend—»
«Is Harvey»
«Husband, actually»
As they both raised their hands, showing the two wedding bands and the huge diamond on Donna's finger, Mike's eyes opened even wider than before he started to speak again, but in a louder voice.
«Holy shit»
«Yeah»
«You guys are married?»
«We are»
«But like, for real?»
Seeing the couple looking at each other questioningly, Mike shook his head before stammering.
«No, I mean, you're a secretary and a boss, you guys spend your days a few feet from each other while you're married — it's crazy — and even then, doesn't anyone else know?»
«Our families»
«And Jessica»
«But Donna, the other day we dropped you off at your apartment»
«It used to be my apartment, but now it's for when our families are in New York since I live here»
«But how long have you been together?»
«Together for seven years and married for six and a half»
«What?»shouted Mike.
«You can stop shouting, and anyway, what are you doing at our place at seven in the morning on a Saturday?»
«It's for the Carrosser case»
«I'm going to take a shower»murmured Donna as she left the doorstep, unconsciously caressing Harvey's abs as she passed, a intention that did not escape Mike.
«Come on in and sit on the couch. I'm going to get dressed»
As Mike entered the open space of the condo, Harvey advanced towards the master bedroom, leaving the door open, allowing Mike to glimpse inside and their unmade bed while hearing the lawyer and the redhead discussing while the water from the shower resonated in the room. While waiting for Harvey to come out, Mike decided to take a tour of the apartment and felt like he was hallucinating seeing different photos of the couple on vacation, during their wedding, and random selfies. While he was fixated on a photo of them in front of a heavenly landscape, he heard Harvey enter the room and was surprised to see the lawyer in sweatpants and a tight white t-shirt.
«Wow»
«What?»
«Harvey, I admit I'm not used to seeing you like this, it's a change from three-piece suits»
«Well, I'm home. Anyway, about the Carrosser care?»
«Oh no, no, no»
«What?»
«As if we weren't going to talk about the elephant in the room»snorted Mike.
«Alright, go ahead»
«Dude, you're married to Donna»
«I am, yeah»
«Donna. I mean, she's…»
«Absolutely perfect?»
«A lot»giggled the younger lawyer.
«Yeah, I know»
«And… how?»
«Mike»
«Come on, I'm curious. Talk to me about your relationship»
«Well, we both worked at the DA's but not together, and one night, she came to see me in a bar and asked me to work for me because she knew that I would give her more freedom because I would not devote myself to my job since I was planning to leave anyway. But I saw her in this bar, and it was love at first sight, both for her and for me. Then we hid our feelings, worked together for almost a year, and one night, we were at a nightclub to celebrate one of my victories, and things happened. The next day, I told her that I wanted everything with her, that I was in love, and six months later, I proposed to her, and that's it»
«So what? You went back to work like nothing happened?»
«Exactly. Then we left for Pearson Hardman, my only condition for coming was that she come with me because I knew that I couldn't be the lawyer that I was without her»
«But the firm has this policy about employee relationships..»
«I know, Jessica was against it, but I wasn't coming without her, so I promised her that it would stay a secret»
«Well, now there is me»
«Yeah»sighed Harvey as he rubbed his face, his wedding band shinning on his finger.
At the same time, Donna came out of the room, dressed in black wide leg jeans and a light blue blouse, her hair impeccably blow-dried as usual, and walked confidently on her high heels.
«Donna»
«Mike»
«So you and your boss»started the younger lawyer with a smirk.
«Be careful of what you're gonna say next»said Harvey with a deep voice.
«Alright, I get it, no one touches the boss's wife. I should have guessed that, it seems so logical to me now»
«Anyway, I'm going to take advantage of this to go shopping, what do you want to eat for lunch?»
«Pasta with tomato sauce»smiled her husband.
«Of course»snorted Donna.
As she approached the couch and leaned in to kiss Harvey, she stopped short when she felt Mike's gaze on them.
«Oh, pretend I'm not there, kiss»
After a second of hesitation, they kissed quickly before Donna greeted Mike and left the condo. As soon as the door closed, and seeing the arrogant face of his protégé, Harvey began to speak.
«If you tell anyone that Donna and I are married, I swear to God I'll kill you»
«I won't say a word»
«You better»
«You know, you and Donna hide my secret that I'm a fraud, and I hide the fact that you two are married. It's a win-win»
«Good»
For a few seconds neither man spoke, just staring into each other's eyes before Mike whispered teasingly.
«She has you wrapped around her fingers, right?»
«You have no idea»snorted Harvey as he stood up, the two men laughing together at the crazy situation.
Even if now there was one more person who knew about their secret marriage, Harvey and Donna wouldn't change it for anything in the world, they were still so madly in love with each other and loved their lives like that. Their love for each other was so deep, and they could never live without each other anymore.
Secret or not.