She'd mostly been teasing as she'd said it, a bit of playful ribbing, but the glint in Harvey's eye as he'd responded 'She is.' had been one she'd never seen nor expected to before. It'd made her curious, pausing to consider him and the demand for a moment before she'd agreed (with stipulation), tucking the interaction away for a later date.
When she meets Donna, she is impressed. It's clear why Harvey is enamored with the woman and lord knows someone has to keep the man in check. The fact the redhead seems able and willing to take on the challenge is a tick in her favor. Still, Jessica isn't one to toss her approval around lightly and as high a first impression of the woman that she has, she's reserving judgment.
For the next few weeks she watches them, the way that they interact; how they flirt and banter, but Donna always knows when to put Harvey in his place and when to back down and let him do his thing. She pushes him, but she also guides him while he teters on that ethical line between black and white, playing in the grey. It's rare, but not unheard of for coworkers to have that type of bond, however, the longer Jessica observes them, the more certain she is that there's something deeper beneath the surface.
Harvey is more complex than first appearance might suggest. Arrogant, determined, stubborn… yes, but also kind, principled, and most of all loyal to his core. From the mailroom to her right-hand man, she's watched him grow and develop but seeing him with Donna is something different altogether. She brings out the softer sides, the man beneath the kick ass closer mask all the rest of the world sees.
It's actually an accident when she realizes how deep in it Harvey is.
She's headed to the bullpen to leave a few files for one of the first year associates, but pulls up short when Donna's laugh floats through the stillness of the office this late at night, followed quickly by Harvey's familiar huff of irritation.
"What is so funny about that?"
Donna scoffs, and Jessica takes a cautious step closer so she can peek around the corner to observe the lone pair without being seen herself just in time to spy the redhead spin around in Harvey's chair, propping her crossed ankles up to rest on his desk as she rolls her eyes at him. "If I have to tell you, I can't help you. Tough love, baby. That is the brilliance of Donna."
Shuffling to sit on his hip on the edge of his desk, Harvey's fingers lace together over his knee and he leans in closer, muttering a response that Jessica has to strain to catch though both Donna and Harvey are oblivious to anything except each other. "Oh, the brilliance of Donna, huh? Now that sounds like a much more interesting topic for us to discuss."
The flirtatious lilt to his tone is unmistakable, and Jessica can't help but roll her eyes at how blatantly Harvey-esque the remark is. She shouldn't be surprised to have caught him making inappropriate comments to his secretary, but still, she'd hoped for more from him.
Except upon a second look, Jessica notices a glint in his eyes that's different from his normal pretension, the way he lays a hand on Donna's ankle like it's the most natural move in the world and when Donna gives him a gentle kick and sits up to drive a finger into his chest, chastising him, Harvey's smile lights up his entire face like the idiot he is.
Oh… well, isn't that interesting.
If she didn't know better, she'd say Harvey looks awfully besotted. A notion that only solidifies when Donna stands to strut out the opposite door with a sassy comment and a wink over her shoulder, leaving Harvey smirking after her before following behind like a loyal puppy dog.
There's no doubt, he's definitely sunk.