Chapter Text
This trip seemed endless, and on the other hand, Donna could only blame herself. She knew she should have anticipated her trip and left Paris earlier, but as a result, because of the snow, all the planes were immobilized at Charles de Gaulle airport, and she had to take the train to London, where she had found a flight to New York JFK and was thinking of either renting a car or taking the train to Hartford to finally spend Christmas with her family. Except that it was now December 22nd, she was supposed to arrive in New York on the 23rd in the middle of the day to finally celebrate Christmas with her family, but she would never have thought that her holiday would be so complex. Across London Heathrow Airport, Harvey was patiently waiting in line at the security checkpoint. He still had three hours before his flight took off, he had plenty of time, but wasting it futilely while he could be enjoying the VIP area and their champagne was really annoying him. Thinking back, he didn't know why he had taken a flight on December 22nd, the airport was packed with people because of the holidays, thousands of people leaving Great Britain to join their families and celebrate. In reality, nothing was waiting for him in New York, only work, and he could have moved his trip to after the 24th, there would have been fewer people anyway, but to be honest, nothing was waiting for him in London either, he was even bored there. Basically, he had come just to pay a visit to Darby International on behalf of Jessica, and he had mainly gone to show off and show that the New York branch was the most promising of all the others in the firm. So now that he was standing in his uncomfortable shoes and three-piece suit, he was starting to regret this courtesy visit. After nearly forty-five minutes of waiting, the lawyer arrived eagerly in the VIP area and sat down with a sigh. Across the room, Donna had been sitting for about ten minutes, answering a few emails, until her phone rang and she sighed at the sight of her mother's name.
« Hey mom »
« Hey sweetie. So, where are you? »
« Heathrow Airport »
« London? »
« Yeah. But I have a flight for New York in two hours »
« You’ll be in time, then »
« Yeah, don’t worry. But I’ll keep you in touch anyway »
« Alright »
« See you, mom »
« See you, sweetie »
As soon as she hung up, she continued to fiddle on her phone without realizing that she was being watched from afar. For his part, while Harvey had just finished a call on his side, he returned to sit down and heard a captivating, sexy, but sweet voice reasoning in the distance and hurried to look for where this noise was coming from, but when he saw her turning around, his breath caught. Harvey was a womanizer, he loved women and their company, without ever having a particular style, but as the mysterious woman put her phone away to check her computer once again, he took the time to observe her from afar. She had perfectly coiffed shiny red hair, big round eyes staring at her screen, and a few creases appearing between her eyebrows as she looked concentrated while she bit her lip gently. If he didn't have a style until now, he definitely has one now. As his phone beeped, indicating that it only had ten percent battery left, he was forced to look away from the mysterious redhead to search for his charger in his bag, but after a few minutes, he couldn't find it and smiled, thinking that fate was in his favor. As Donna was busy thinking about what to write to the investors, she heard a deep voice address her.
« Excuse me? »
As she slowly lifted her head, she saw classic shoes, then dark gray suit pants, followed by a suit jacket of the same color over a white shirt, and as she reached his face, she felt her breath catch. He was tall, with a sculpted jaw, dirty blonde hair combed to the side, big round chocolate brown eyes, and his smile — god, his smile — he was just so beautiful.
« Yes? »
« I’m sorry, but my phone is almost dead, I can't find my charger, and I wanted to know if it was possible to use yours in the meantime? »
« Oh sure. Here »
« Thank you very much »
After gently touching the soft skin of her hand that had sent a shiver through his body, he plugged it in next to her, connecting his phone, which quickly charged, and then quickly straightened up to clear his throat and start talking again.
« Do you mind if I sit right here? »
« No, of course, please »
The redhead's smile was captivating, and he had a hard time tearing his eyes away from her beautiful face, but when he saw her refocus on her laptop, he took a seat right in front of her, taking out his own computer in turn before starting to work too, alternating between reading his emails and glancing at the redhead, who, for some reason he still didn't know, made his heart beat faster. For almost another hour, the two of them worked in silence until an announcement came over the loudspeaker in the VIP lounge.
« Dear passengers, ladies, and gentlemen, Delta Airlines has been informed by Air Traffic Control that our departure to New York, flight DAL4, is delayed due to the current weather conditions at this airport. As soon as we have updated departure information, you will be advised. Thank you for your patience and understanding »
As soon as the announcement was over, Harvey watched the redhead sigh before picking up her phone, tapping the screen a few times before bringing it to her ear and whispering.
« Hey mom... Apparently, I'll be a little late, but I don't know how long yet... Yeah, I know mom, I got it, but unfortunately I couldn't have foreseen that in addition to Paris, I'd have flight disruptions here in London too... I know, mom.... No, of course.... Sure, yeah.... Bye, see you »
As soon as he hung up, Harvey cleared his throat and whispered.
« You're from Paris? »
God, what was wrong with him? Why was he talking so unsurely, he was Harvey Specter for heaven's sake, all the women were at his feet, why was he so hesitant with her?
« Excuse me? »
« I’m sorry, I heard you talking, and you mentioned Paris »
« Oh yeah, I work in Paris, and they closed the airport there yesterday. So I took the Eurostar all the way here, hoping to find a flight to the US before the same thing happens, but apparently the trouble starts here too »
« You’re going to New York? »
« I do, yeah. Well, Hartford, Connecticut actually »
« Oh, you still have a little way to go after, then »
« Unfortunately, yeah. What about you? »
« New York, Manhattan »
« Lucky you » smiled the redhead.
« Yeah » chuckled the lawyer.
« I’m Donna, by the way »
« Nice to meet you, Donna. I'm Harvey »
As they shook hands, both of them felt the same shiver run through them when their skin touched. With both of them feeling and staring at each other, Harvey decided to clear his throat and continue talking.
« So, what does an American girl do in Paris? »
« I work at the Opéra Garnier in Paris »
« Oh, really? »
« Yeah, I'm a company manager »
« What is that? » chuckled Harvey.
« Well, I negotiate contracts, organize payroll, write the checks for purchases of outside materials, organize rehearsals, arrange transportation and lodging for cast and crew, assist the director with noting and communicating changes, and handle emergencies inside and outside of the Opéra — you know, that kind of thing »
« Wow, that's a lot »
« Yeah » giggled Donna.
« I must say I’m impressed »
« Thank you. What about you? What does an American in a three-piece suit is doing in London? »
« Well, it's not as exciting as you, but I'm a corporate lawyer, and I work for the New York branch of Darby International. I just came to consult with some colleagues on a case »
« A lawyer, then »
« The best closer in New York »
« Oh, really? » giggled Donna.
« Yeah, really »
As he winked at her, the redhead felt herself blushing suddenly because, even though he was a stranger and it was a polite conversation, she had noticed the way they were looking at each other. Sensing the tension between them, the redhead cleared her throat.
« I hope we're not going to be too late for Christmas »
« Oh, yeah. Christmas, right »
« What? You forgot? » smiled the redhead.
« Oh, I just don't celebrate »
« And why is that? The problem is the holiday or the people to celebrate with »
« Well, the people to celebrate with, and since Christmas is a family celebration, I would say that, consequently, the holiday too »
« I’m sorry »
« It's fine, don't worry. What about you? Family celebration? »
« Yeah, they haven't seen me for almost six months, so they can't wait to see me again »
« I can imagine »
As Harvey was about to speak again, he was interrupted again by the loudspeakers playing yet another announcement.
« Dear passengers, ladies, and gentlemen, Delta Airlines has been informed by Air Traffic Control that our departure to New York, flight DAL4, will be four hours late due to the current weather conditions at this airport. As soon as we have updated departure information, you will be advised. Thank you for your patience and understanding »
« Four hours? Fucking hell » sighed Donna.
« Well, we better go comfortable, then » added Harvey with a sorry smile.
In the VIP lounge, there was almost no one, just Donna and Harvey sitting across from each other, a businessman sitting a little further away, and a young girl in a corner, focused on her computer screen. So after the redhead quickly sent a message to her mother to warn her, the two strangers started talking about everything and nothing. Even if, from the outside, Harvey would have seemed rather loudmouthed and sure of himself, Donna had the feeling that it was like a facade because just the way he addressed her with gentleness melted her heart. For Harvey, he didn't know what was going on, as if he wasn't himself. Usually, he didn't care about the other, asked a few questions to make conversation, hoping to end somewhere other than around a drink, sitting in a bar, but there, it was as if he wanted to know everything about her, and that each little giggle from her made his heart accelerate to the point that it was painful sometimes. Hours passed, both of them discussed New York, Paris, their jobs, and other futile things until Donna stood up for the first time to approach the screen and observe the information relating to their flight. Barely standing and with her back to him, he swallowed with difficulty. Her face was perfect: it was symmetrical, big green-brown eyes, a mouth neither too thin nor too full — which would swell perfectly after an intense and passionate kiss — her hair, which made you want to slide your hand through it, while all her features were harmonious. But if her face was pure perfection, her body was just as much. She was tall, well, not taller than him, but tall, with legs that seemed endless under her wide-legged light jeans, which hugged her plump ass perfectly — making Harvey want to sink his teeth into them — while the pants hugged her slim waist where she had tucked in a simple, tight white t-shirt. Her arms were also long and thin, but most importantly, was speckled with freckles all over her skin. Sweet baby Jesus, she was perfect.
« Are you kidding? » moaned the redhead.
« What? »
« Two more hours of delay announced. We're going to take off in the middle of the night here »
« Shit »
« Shit indeed »
For a few seconds, while her gaze was still focused on the screen, Harvey couldn't take his eyes off her, but as she turned around quickly, he pretended nothing had happened and cleared his throat.
« Are you hungry? »
Immediately, she nodded, and the two adults dropped off their luggage at the VIP lounge concierge before heading off to explore Heathrow Airport in search of food while continuing to chat and laugh together. It was now 10:30 pm, and all the restaurants and snack bars were closed, leaving the two hungry adults to wander the airport corridors. Once back in the lounge, Donna sat down again, pouting, while the lawyer chuckled softly at her head.
« Alright, stay there, I'll be right back »
Surprised, Donna obeyed and scrolled on her phone for a few minutes before feeling him sitting down next to her, a ton of stuff in his hands.
« Oh my God, did you rob the vending machine? »
« Pretty much. Alright, take what you want »
After helping themselves, the two of them continued to chat about everything and nothing, surprising themselves at how smooth it was and how much fun they were having until they announced that the flight would be delayed by another four hours and Donna began to despair. It was now one in the morning, when Donna fell asleep snuggled against Harvey, and the lawyer felt butterflies in his stomach every time he glanced in her direction, falling asleep himself a few minutes later, his head against hers. It was five hours later that both of them were suddenly woken up by yet another announcement in the airport hallway.
« Ladies and gentlemen, we have been informed that we are unable to depart for New York due to the weather conditions at our destination airport. Please, please go to gate 75 for more information. Thank you for your patience and understanding »
« Fuck » moaned Donna.
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything, emerging a little more from sleep until Donna rummaged in her bag to head to the bathroom.
« Hey, where are you going? »
« There's going to be a huge line at the gate, I'm going to go freshen up a bit while I wait »
« Yeah, you're right. I'll do the same »
Each of them collected things from their suitcases before going to the bathroom areas and getting ready on their own. Donne took off her makeup, brushed her teeth, and put her makeup back on again, taking the opportunity to freshen up with wipes that she always carried with her in her handbag before changing her underwear and clothes. For his part, Harvey had taken his toiletry bag and had even taken the opportunity to shave, wanting to be the most handsome for the redhead — even if he didn’t understand why — while taking the opportunity to swap his three-piece suit for a navy blue pullover collar but keeping the same pants. Once they were both ready, he was surprised to see that Donna was waiting for him, even if he had to admit it, he had panicked at the idea that she could disappear, without seeing her ever again.
« Let’s go? »
« Yep »
After collecting their luggage, both of them stood in line until it was their turn, and they stood in front of a hostess.
« We are so sorry for the inconvenience »
« Don't worry, it's not your fault, unfortunately no one can control the weather. Hum, can you put me on the next flight to New York? » smiled Donna.
« Of course. Unfortunately, it won't take off until the 25th at 1pm »
« What? »
« Yes, I'm sorry »
« And another flight with a stopover? »
« Unfortunately, all the flights with stopovers are here in Europe, I can offer you a flight from Amsterdam or Madrid, but these are two airports that are also likely to be disrupted »
« So I'm going to miss Christmas with my family » whispered Donna.
« Hey, you know what? It's fine, put her on the 25th flight, it's alright. And if there's still a seat for me, I'll take it too. Thank you »
As Harvey handed over his passport, Donna reluctantly followed him before the woman handed them their IDs and new plane tickets a few minutes later. Once back in the longe area, Harvey watched as Donna paced around on the phone, probably with her mother, as he could see how sad and hopeless she was about the situation, breaking the lawyer's heart. So, as soon as she hung up and approached him, the lawyer was talking to her.
« Just take what you need, let's go »
« What? »
« We have a full day and night in London, Christmas Eve no less, we're not going to be stuck inside the airport, right? »
« What do you want to do? »
« Look, it's been so long since I've celebrated Christmas, I'm not even sure how to celebrate it anymore, but I'm going to make you have the best Christmas of your life. Alright? »
« Alright » smiled the redhead excitedly.
Quickly, they dropped their luggage off at the lounge concierge again, saying they'd come back for it tomorrow, before Donna put only the most important things in her large handbag — taking Harvey's things too, making the moment so domestic — before collecting their coat, hat, and scarf and leaving the airport. In the taxi, Harvey scrolled on his phone, looking for things to do in London for Christmas. Barely in the city, Harvey and Donna began to play tourists by strolling in all the places of interest while they continued to chat about everything and nothing while passing in front of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Camden Market, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, or Hyde Park. But while they were walking along the Thames, a hot coffee in hand, Donna stopped and put her hand on his stomach while murmuring with excitement.
« Oh my God »
« What? »
As she looked at him with her beautiful sparkling eyes, he knew that he was going to give in to whatever she was going to ask him.
« Let's go ice skating »
« Donna »
« Please, it's been so long »
« I don't even know if I've done this before »
« Come on, you can hold on to me, and I promise not to laugh if you fall »
« You're too sweet » snorted Harvey.
« Please, please, please »
As she was now almost glued to him and looking at him with her eyes shining and her nose red from the cold, he was unable to say no to her, and after a brief moment of thought, he whispered.
« You won't laugh if I fall? »
« I promise I won’t »
« Alright, then »
« Thank you »
About ten minutes later, they both had their skates on and were cautiously advancing towards the ice. If Donna seemed comfortable on the skates, it was less the case for Harvey, who hesitantly got on and took small steps to move away from the entrance, still clinging to the barrier.
« Alright, give me your hands »
« Donna, I'm going to fall »
« No, you're not. Come on » giggled the redhead.
As he grabbed Donna's hands, the redhead began to move backwards, gently pulling Harvey with her to make him advance on the ice while they chuckled together. For almost twenty minutes, they had fun skating and laughing while the lawyer was more and more comfortable. They couldn't have explained why, but for a moment, they felt like they were teenagers again and oblivious to the world around them. It had been a long time since Harvey had felt this kind of joy with anything other than work, and for the first time in twenty years, he didn't feel like he had to answer to anyone, that he could just do whatever he wanted, while Donna felt like she was putting herself first for the first time, before her bosses, before her parents, before the people under her — just her first. They might be thirty-five and thirty-six, but now, they felt twenty years younger. As Harvey had almost fallen and Donna had just caught him, her arms slipping under the lawyer's jacket, around his torso, both of them were invaded by a flush of warmth until Harvey laughed.
« Alright, I think that's the sign that we need to stop before I really embarrass myself »
« You did good » chuckled Donna.
« Thank you »
As the two of them left the ice skating rink, their hands still sealed together, they changed their shoes and left the place. It was now 9 p.m., and after eating at the Christmas market, the two of them went to get some hot chocolate to stroll among the majestic illuminations of the streets of London. As they continued to stroll hand in hand through the streets, chatting about everything and nothing, it was Harvey who turned to her with a big smile.
« So? I know it's not Christmas with family in Connecticut, but it's good too, right? »
« Well, I'll admit something to you, it's even better than Christmas in Connecticut. In fact, I didn't even really want to go there »
« Why is that? »
« Well, I'm going back because I'm blaming myself for living in Paris and leaving my parents alone in the US, but I know that I’m going to arrive and they’re going to blame me for leaving, while my half-sister is going to come and tell me how perfect her life is while mine is not, and I'm just going to wait for it to pass before going back to Paris »
« Why is your life not perfect? »
« I dreamed of being a stage actress on Broadway, but the competition was tough and New York was expensive, so I moved back to Connecticut, but I was getting bored. I had a bachelor's degree in theater from Yale, and the opportunities weren't crazy in my hometown. So if my first dream didn't come true, I fell back on the second one: Paris. I found a small job at the Opéra Garnier as an assistant, and I decided to leave. My boyfriend didn't want to follow me, so I left alone at thirty to a city I didn't know and had never set foot in while I evolved for five years where I became a company manager »
« It seems perfect to me » smiled Harvey, looking at her.
« Well, my half-sister is a doctor, married to a rich businessman with whom she has two absolutely perfect but really boring children, while I am the single aunt with no social life who can't find the love of her life. It's pretty pathetic, right? »
« I don't think so. I think everyone is different and that there is no such thing as a perfect life. Some people find the love of their life right away, others wait for it, sometimes it falls on you without knowing it, sometimes it never happens. Some people prioritize their career, others their family, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. No one is better than the other »
« That's one way of looking at it, yeah » smiled Donna.
As they stared at each other intently as they continued to stroll under the lights of Piccadilly Circus, Donna squeezed his hand before speaking in a soft voice.
« What about you? »
« Me? »
« Yeah. You told me you didn't celebrate Christmas and that it wasn't joyful with your family. You don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to, but you can »
« Well, where do I start? I lived with both of my parents, my father wasn't always there — he was a musician — and he wasn't perfect, but he was my father, I adored him. One day, I came home from school and I caught my mother with her lover, and she made me promise not to tell my father so as not to hurt him, and since I loved him too much, I listened to my mother and I lied to him. Except one day, he found out, and my mother preferred to divorce than fight for her relationship. Since that day, I distanced myself from her, I never forgave her, except my father and brother did, but I just can't do it »
« How long has it been? »
« Almost twenty years ago »
« Oh »
« Do you also think it's a whim? »
« No, I think you have the right to feel whatever you want. It's not because she's your mother that you have to forgive everything she did. What about now? »
« My father died two years ago of a heart attack, I went to his funeral, and my mother was there with her lover. I freaked out, I couldn't believe that the woman and the man who had ruined his life had the audacity to come to his own funeral. So I got angry, and my brother took up their defense. That day, I felt like an orphan, as if I had no one left, no parents, no brothers, no one. Since then, things have been a little better with my brother, we call each other sometimes, but our relationship is not optimal, but it's okay. Plus, I'm lucky to have a job that takes up a lot of my time and doesn't leave me much time to think about anything else »
As soon as Harvey's monologue was over, Donna stopped to turn and wrap her arms around his neck to hug him, and despite their big down jackets, hats, and scarves, when he felt the lips and the warm breath of the redhead a few inches from the skin of his neck, he wrapped his arms around her waist in turn to hug her as hard as possible. For several seconds they stayed like that, in the middle of the street, not caring about what was happening around them, too absorbed in the moment without even realizing that a few hours ago they were still strangers in an airport. As she pulled away, she placed a kiss on his cheek before smiling at him and whispering.
« Well, it's a good thing you're spending Christmas with me then »
At that moment, Harvey was glad that the cold was hiding the fact that he was blushing while the butterflies in his stomach were going crazy and his heart was pounding, hoping that Donna wouldn't feel it despite the two big jackets that separated their chest. After this moment that seemed short but at the same time so long, she separated from him before intertwining their fingers again and continuing to walk, this time, discussing more personal and deep things. Neither of them had ever confided in such secret things to anyone, especially not strangers, but between them, it was different, they had the feeling of being safe and serene. So they continued to walk until the redhead started to yawn.
« Are you tired? »
« Well, it's almost two in the morning »
« We could find a room for the night. Our flight is only at one o'clock, we have time to sleep a little »
« Yeah, why not » smiled Donna.
For another ten minutes, they walked hand in hand, chatting and laughing together, until they found themselves in front of the Ritz, and the lawyer stopped in front of the main entrance.
« The Ritz? Really? » chuckled the redhead.
« What? It's only one night, might as well make the most of it. Besides, I remind you that last night, we spent it asleep on uncomfortable chairs in an airport, let's enjoy the Ritz bedding »
« Alright, if you say so »
Barely in the lobby, Harvey quickly explained the situation to the receptionist, who gave them two neighboring rooms for the night while waiting for their flights the next day. If the man was a little confused to see them arrive hand in hand, without luggage, and asked for two separate rooms, he was classy enough not to comment. But as the two adults walked towards the elevators, both of them had a strange and like anticipation twinsting their stomachs. The moment they entered the elevator, Harvey looked up and chuckled softly.
« What? » smiled Donna.
« Look »
Above their heads, the hotel had hung mistletoe, and the redhead looked at the lawyer with an amused look while she had a half-embarrassed, half-provocative smile on her face.
« It's tradition » whispered Harvey, still snuggled in his scarf and hat.
« Well, if it's tradition » whispered Donna, looking at him with big round eyes and red cheeks.
As soon as the doors closed, he pressed the button for the eighth floor while approaching the redhead, blocking his body between hers and the wall of the elevator. As they felt the warm breath of the other on their faces, their hearts were pounding, and the moment their lips touched, it was the explosion of sensation. Harvey had kissed a lot of women, he couldn't even say how many, but he had never felt what he felt now as his body leaned against hers, his hands were on either side of the redhead's face, resting on her cheeks, as he devoured her mouth without being able to stop for a second. For Donna, she didn't even know how to breathe anymore. The moment he had put his lips on hers, she had felt her knees go weak, and she had rushed to slide her hands around his waist, under his open jacket, to stabilize herself. But as he now held her face in his hands and his tongue brushed against hers while their moans were mixed in each other's mouths, she felt like she was dreaming. Quickly, they were interrupted by the elevator bell indicating that they had arrived at the eighth floor, and if the redhead thought that this dream would end, she was surprised to see that he continued to kiss her languidly while sliding a hand around her waist and guiding her out of the elevator. Before she knew it, they were both in the hallway, Donna's body once again stuck between Harvey's and the wall, right next to the door of the room booked by the lawyer. If she thought that they were going to spend the night kissing in the hall, she felt Harvey's lips and tongue leave her mouth to place open mouthed kisses everywhere it was accessible before murmuring against her skin.
« I really hope to spend the night with you, but only if you're alright with that »
Without even thinking, she forcefully grabbed his jaw with her hand before kissing him dirty and whispering against his lips.
« I’m more than alright »
In less than a second, Harvey had drawn his card, and the two adults were inside the room. Without a word, they undressed, until they were in their underwear, and the lawyer thought he was going to lose his mind. If dressed, she was perfect, now that she was half naked in front of him, he fell on his knees to kiss her thighs, her stomach, and all the parts of her body accessible to his mouth. Harvey had never kneeled in front of a woman, never. Usually, he was the typical alpha male in the bedroom, rather dominant, but there, he didn’t recognize himself anymore, she could have asked him anything, and he would have accepted, as if he were drugged by the taste of her lips, the smell she gave off, and the softness of her skin, completely obsessed with her. Meanwhile, Donna didn't even know what to think anymore, torn between the pleasure his lips gave her on her skin and the slight pain of his teeth every time he sank them into her flesh. While still kneeling in front of her, he grabbed her hips to push her to sit on the edge of the bed and then climbed on top of her, the redhead ending up lying on the mattress and the lawyer on top of her. For a few more minutes, Harvey was lying between her legs, kissing her languidly, moving her a bit so she was now with her head on the cushions before whispering against her lips.
« You're so beautiful »
Without giving her time to answer, he continued to kiss her before straightening up slightly, finding himself on his knees on the mattress, Donna still lying on the mattress, her legs now wrapped around his waist as he admired her for a few seconds, his large hands surrounding her thighs as his gaze roamed her body, his eyes filled with desire. After a few seconds of silence, he leaned over her again, the redhead's legs still around him, while she was placing open mouthed kisses on his neck as he leaned over to grab his jacket thrown next to the bed in hope to find his wallet.
« What are you doing? » moaned Donna.
« I think I have a condom in my wallet, at least, I hope so »
« I’m on the pill, and I'm clean »
« Seriously? »
« Yeah. What about you? »
« Clean as fuck »
At the time, they didn't care, they were so lost in the moment that right now, they trusted each other, and while Harvey was eager to be inside the redhead — and without a condom, something he never did, even with his most serious relationships — he quickly flipped them over so that the redhead was on top and the lawyer admired her, sliding his hands on her thighs, then her ass to finish along her back and unhooking her bra. Once topless in front of him, he sat down before kissing her again, then moving his lips down her neck, into her cleavage, then her breasts, completely intoxicated by her scent. Feeling his crotch swollen against her panties, Donna couldn't wait any longer and decided to flip them over to feel the lawyer's heavy body on hers and moaned as he rubbed himself against her while she slid her hand under his boxers, on his ass, to push the fabric and try to remove it. Understanding that she finally wanted to get down to business, he lowered his lips all along her body until he caught the edge of her panties with his teeth and gently removed them. Once at her ankles, he removed them completely before getting rid of his boxers in turn, both of them finally completely naked, the redhead lying on the bed, panting, while the lawyer was standing in front of her, his knees touching the edge of the bed. As they stared at each other intently, breath coming in short gasps, Donna smiled as she watched Harvey stroking himself in front of her as she thought to herself how lucky she was, how well-proportioned the lawyer was, and how restless the night was going to be. As he climbed on top of her again, he grabbed the back of her knee to wrap her leg around his waist before kissing her languidly while sliding his tip against her folds a few times.
« May I? »
In one thrust, Harvey was inside her, and both of them moaned at the feeling of being one, and if the lawyer focused on not coming right away, he knew it was going to be complicated. Two hours later, when all the positions had been tried and Harvey had managed to give the redhead three orgasms, both of them were lying next to each other, Donna on her stomach, hugging her cushion, her lover lying on his side, sliding his fingertips over her soaking wet back, as he heard her whisper.
« I don't usually do that »
« Don’t do what? »
« Sleep with strangers »
« We're not really strangers anymore » chuckled Harvey.
« Oh, shut up, you know what I mean » smiled Donna.
« Yeah, I know. And? »
« And it was really good. Like, really really good »
« I did a good job, then »
« You did, yeah. What about you? »
« Well, I usually do that »
« Oh my God » snorted the redhead as she hid her head in her pillow.
« What? » giggled Harvey as he dropped kisses on her back.
« Do you often sleep with strangers? »
« That's what I usually do »
« No serious relationship? »
« Not really, no. I'm thirty-six, and I think I've had two, maybe three, serious relationships, that never lasted more than six months »
« Why? »
Seeing Harvey fall back on his back, staring at the ceiling, Donna moved until she was lying half on top of him, her chin on his chest, while she gently caressed his abs with one hand and the other had intertwined her fingers with the lawyer's. Seeing him hesitate, she placed a kiss on his wet chest before whispering against his skin, her heart breaking as she spoke her own words.
« You can tell me anything, we'll never see each other again after. Your secret is safe with me »
Hearing the redhead speak, the lawyer's heart broke in turn. He was so good with her, he never wanted to leave her, in a little over twenty-four hours, he had never felt as alive and loved as with her, but she was right, he was going back to Manhattan to resume his job, she was spending a few days in Connecticut only to return to Paris later, and they would never see each other again, so after a deep breath, he whispered.
« It scares me »
« Why? »
« My father always told me that my mother was the love of his life, that she was the one, and yet, she did not hesitate to break his heart and destroy a man and two children. I'm afraid that it will happen to me too, I'm afraid of getting attached, of falling in love, of building a future only to lose everything afterwards. I'm not as strong as my father for that. Since I’m sixteen, I seek the approval of everyone, I want to be appreciated, the best at what I do, so everyone could admire me, because I have the feeling that, since I cut ties with my mother, and especially since my father died, I no longer have anyone who truly loves me. So when I think that I could find a woman who could love me, to whom I would become attached, all that to lose her one day, I prefer to avoid. So it's different girls each time, who leave my apartment satisfied, for a few days I have the feeling of having been appreciated, and when this feeling disappears, I start again, and that's it »
Faced with Harvey's words, Donna kissed him slowly, her hands sliding over his face as she gently wiped away the tears that flowed without him having realized it. They couldn't have said how long they stayed like that, the only thing was that they woke up to the alarm on the redhead's phone at nine, in the same position in which they had fallen asleep: Harvey lying on his back, Donna cuddling against him, her leg draped around his waist as he held her tightly against him. As soon as they woke up, they shared the shower, where they kissed, laughed, and made love against the cold wall one last time before leaving the room and calling a taxi to the airport. As soon as they arrived, they continued to chat as they queued for security, then they returned to the airport's VIP lounge except that this time, instead of sharing M&Ms across from each other, they were now sitting next to each other, Donna's arms wrapped around Harvey's while he stroked her thigh with his fingertips, both watching a movie on the redhead's laptop. Quickly, when they arrived at the time of boarding, Harvey realized that they were not next to each other.
« What seat are you in? »
« 2A, you? »
« 7D »
« We'll see each other in New York, then » smiled Donna.
« Of course »
As she settled into her seat, Harvey continued to move forward until he sat down, the redhead disappearing from his field of vision. For almost half an hour of flight, he thought about what he was going to do because, since takeoff, as crazy as it may seem, his heart had been physically hurting from being far from her. So when he saw the man occupying seat 2B next to Donna get up to go to the bathroom, he quickly got up to go meet him.
« Hey »
« Oh, sorry, were you there before me? »
« No, no, hum, how much to take your place? »
« What? » asked the confused man.
« How much do you want to swap places? I'm 7D, and I'll pay you whatever you want to swap places. Look, I really have to talk to the redhead next to you. Would a thousand dollars be okay with you? »
Without hesitation, the man agreed while Harvey felt his heart pounding. For her part, Donna was reading a book when she felt her neighbor sit down again, but without even looking up from her page, she recognized the smell of the man she had spent the night with, followed by his hoarse voice.
« Hey »
« You realize he just went to the bathroom »
« We switched seats »
« Oh, really? »
« Yeah, I mean, we still have a seven and a half hour flight, might as well spend it in good company »
« That's a good idea »
As she watched him stare at her with his big, soft, brown eyes, she felt like she was melting in her seat as he couldn't take his eyes off her. For the rest of the flight, they talked and laughed together while continuing to flirt non stop. They weren't a couple, and had only spent one night together, but when Donna had put some of the chocolate ice cream from her dessert around her mouth, Harvey had quickly grabbed her chin to pull her closer before sliding his tongue over her lips and then kissing her for a long time. They weren't together, it was only one night, and yet, they couldn't stop. At some point, thanks to the wider spaces of first class, Harvey had taken Donna's seat, the redhead had sat on his lap, snuggled in his arms as she had fallen asleep with her head nestled in his neck, and the lawyer had followed her, his arms closing her body against his, both under a thick blanket. After a few hours, they woke up together, each taking their places back while the number of hours of flight remaining decreased, increasing at the same time the separation anxiety of the two lovers. There were now two hours of flight left, and they continued to chat about everything and nothing, Harvey kissing her more and more frequently as they approached New York. The moment the plane landed on the runway, Harvey wanted to throw up while Donna held back tears until the moment the doors opened, the lawyer helped the redhead with her suitcases while both walked in silence to the arrivals hall, where they looked at each other with emotion. It was Donna who spoke first.
« Alright, it looks like it's time »
« Looks like it, yeah »
« Thank you, Harvey. It was a great Christmas »
« I’m the one who should be thanking you. I never thought I could enjoy it like that, and yet, it was one of the most beautiful days — and night — of my life »
« You're welcome »
« Hum, are we sharing a taxi? »
« I think it's better if we each go our separate ways now »
« Oh, right. Umh, maybe we'll see each other again? »
« I don't think so, but maybe, yeah »
« I hope » murmured the lawyer with an awkward smile.
« Harvey? »
« Yeah? »
« I hope that one day you'll find someone who will make you happy and make you feel loved, because you deserve it »
Without even giving him time to answer, she kissed him tenderly on the lips before turning on her heels and leaving, without even a last glance, moving further and further away until she disappeared, leaving Harvey alone in the middle of the arrivals hall. Maybe he should have run after her, exchanged their number, thanked her more, or done something else, but instead, he had just stood there like an idiot, and the moment he realized, he ran outside to look for the one who had taken his heart with her when she left, but to no avail, she had disappeared, taking a part of him with her. For the first time in just over forty-eight hours, he realized everything that had just happened, and the return to reality was like a cold shower as he muttered for himself.
« Goodbye Donna »
Barely arriving in Connecticut, she had tried to hold back from crying since leaving Harvey, and as soon as she arrived in the house, her parents reproached her for having missed Christmas in family while her half-sister was walking around with her two supposedly perfect children, supporting her mother-in-law's words only to sink Donna. So as soon as the redhead had arrived in her bedroom, she had locked herself in her bathroom before crying in the shower for long minutes. He was just a stranger with whom she had spent a day and a night, but she could not get him out of her head, and it didn’t change until she left Connecticut and wandered around the New York airport, hoping to catch a glimpse of him,. Unfortunately, it was disappointing and sad that she boarded the plane to find herself almost eight hours later plunged into her daily life and routine, the memories of Harvey haunting her days and nights. For his part, Harvey was just as lost as her, and while he continued to be New York's best closer, on a personal level, he felt like a part of him was missing forever. As it was almost one in the morning — so six in Paris, where Donna was probably waking up to go to work — he heard a knock on the glass door of his office.
« Jessica? What are you doing here? »
« I should ask you the same »
« I have a lot of work »
« Sure. Do you mind if I sit? »
« No, of course »
As the brunette sat down in front of him, Harvey closed his laptop before looking at her and seeing her sigh.
« Harvey, what's going on? »
« What? Nothing »
« Since you came back from your trip to London, you've been different »
« I don't know what you're talking about »
« I’ve known you for almost fifteen years, I know when something's wrong, so? »
« Nothing, Jessica »
« When was the last time you went out? »
« It has nothing to do with — »
« You're a ladies' man. Sure, you love your job, you give it your all, but you still enjoy life on the side, you flirt, you drink, and you spend your night here and there, but since London, you're at the office when I arrive, and you're always there when I leave, no matter when. So? What's going on? »
Seeing the lawyer staring at his closed computer, sliding a pen between his fingers, Jessica sighed before hearing him whisper.
« I’m in love »
For a few seconds, the office remained silent, Jessica not expecting at all to hear that from her protégé's mouth, especially knowing his past, while Harvey was torn between the relief of having finally said it out loud and, on the other hand, the pain of admitting it to himself.
« Alright. And where is the problem? »
« I’m never gonna see her again, and when she left, I felt like she took a piece of me, and I’m not able to feel good anymore. It’s stupid, right? »
« No, it’s not. You’re just in love »
« You know, my dad always told me that, if she was the one, I’d know it. I always thought it was stupid and false, but now that she’s gone, I start to understand what he meant »
« Where is she now? »
« Paris »
« Well, you didn’t choose the closest »
« No, I didn’t » sighed Harvey as he rubbed his face.
For a few seconds, the room fell silent until he began to speak in a firm and convinced voice.
« Go find her »
« What? »
« Harvey, you’re an amazing lawyer and a great man. I don’t know what this woman did to you, but you’re not okay. For years, I’ve been watching you ruin your personal life by pushing everyone away, and it looked like it was okay, but right now, it’s been three months since you’ve been back and things are not getting better, it’s worse. So you have two choices: either you forget about her, move on, and turn back to the man you were before, or you’re going to Paris, find her, tell her how you feel, and figure out a way to be happy because, right now, I’m just watching you wasting away slowly »
« I’m not going to find her. I just know her name and where she works »
« If you really want to be with her, you’ll find her »
Faced with the lawyer's silence, Jessica left the office, leaving Harvey alone sitting at his desk, staring into space, while he thought about everything she had just told him. He was in love with Donna, a little less than three days had been enough for him to fall madly in love with her and for what he feared most in the world to happen: losing the person he loved and suffering from her absence. His situation was not comparable to that of his father, he and Donna were not married with children, but at that moment, he had the impression of suffering just as much as his dad. He had never been better than when he was with her, and now that she was no longer there, he had never felt so alone and had been waking up every morning for three months with a start after having dreamed of her all night, thinking he would wake up in her arms. He felt like he was going crazy, and all that for a woman he barely knew, but he couldn't help it, he was crazy about her. So without thinking, he left his office, leaving everything behind to run home, pack a bag, and rush to the airport. Out of breath, he arrived in front of the check-in counter and began to speak quickly.
« Hello, I would like a seat on a flight to Paris. As soon as possible »
« Unfortunately, you just missed the last flight of the day. The next one leaves at four in the morning, but you have an eight-hour layover in Dallas to arrive in Paris in the evening, while you have another flight at seven that goes directly to Paris or you arrive early in the morning there »
« I’ll take the direct flight, thank you »
It was two in the morning, he hadn't slept much the night before, and he had five hours left before his plane took off. Much too impatient to board, he decided to stay at the airport without going back home, wandering through the dark corridors thinking about what he was going to be able to tell her the moment he would find her. At five in the morning, he continued his research, without finding anything additional about her while he took the opportunity to book a hotel room opposite the Opera Garnier, where he knew she worked. Once boarded, Harvey slept the entire flight before landing in Paris for the first time in his life and rushing out to find a taxi that would take him directly to the opera. But as he climbed the steps two at a time to go up, he noticed all the doors closed and a guard positioned in front.
« Excuse me, do you speak English? »
« Yes »
« Hum, I’m looking for someone named Donna, she’s working here. She’s a manager something »
« Donna? I don’t know, I’m sorry »
« Is there anyone else I could ask? »
« Look, if she works as a manager, it's mostly in the evening. I advise you to come back tonight, there's a performance at seven o'clock today, ask at that time, you'll probably find her »
« You think? »
« I’m sure »
« Alright, thank you, sir »
After a final nod, he headed to the hotel next door to get some sleep, take a shower, put on the best outfit, and go get a huge bouquet of flowers while waiting for time to pass. At six thirty, he was in the lobby dressed in his suit and tie with a huge bouquet of red roses in his hand as he talked to the two girls at the front desk.
« It's full tonight »
« I’m not here for the opera. Look, I'm looking for someone who works here, her name is Donna, and she's a manager of something here »
« Donna? » asked the first girl before the other one continued.
« As Donna Paulsen? »
« Hmm, I don't know. Is she a redhead? »
« Oh, it's definitely Donna » chuckled the brunette in front of him.
« Really? » Harvey whispered excitedly.
« Yeah. Look, for the next three hours she's probably going to be very busy with the play, but you can come back a little later »
« Do you mind if I wait here? »
« Oh, no, of course »
« Thank you » smiled the lawyer before sitting down on the steps of the staircase and waiting for time to pass.
For her part, Donna was overwhelmed, tonight's performance was sold out, and if she was supposed to be home by now, unfortunately, there had been a lot of small problems and she had spent the day running. But now that she was in the backstage, watching the opera unfold before her, she couldn't help but get watery-eyed. As luck would have it, it was Romeo and Juliet, and the redhead had to admit to herself that, for three months now, it was no longer good to talk to her about love since she lost her own Romeo. Since Harvey, she only had one date that had turned out to be perfect: Thomas, an American architect who shared his life between France and the United States, he was kind, attractive, and sweet, but the moment he wanted to kiss her goodnight, she had turned her face, as if the lips of another would erase the memory of Harvey. After that, she had rushed to block his number and spend her night crying in her bed, thinking about Harvey. She couldn't get him out of her head, he was constantly in her thoughts, to the point where Donna didn't think she would ever move on. So she had dove into work hoping to forget him, but it didn't happen, and as she watched the end of the opera, she began to pack her things to get ready to leave until her mother called her, and she stayed in her office a bit longer, talking to her.
« Sir? You're going to have to go out. The play is over, and the audience is leaving the theater »
« But Donna? »
« Well, she's supposedly still here, but you can wait for her outside »
« Are you sure she's coming out this way? »
« Well, she usually always comes by to say goodbye, so I guess so »
« Alright. I'll wait outside then, thank you »
Harvey hurried out, but as he saw the tidal wave that came out of the building, he swallowed hard as he scanned the people, looking for the one that made his heart beat. As almost two thousand people left the place, Harvey began to panic at the thought of missing Donna, but, now that the place was deserted and he was the only one still standing in his suit and his huge bouquet of red roses in his hand, he began to despair. It was now midnight thirty in Paris, he had been waiting for six hours now, and as he looked at his watch for the umpteenth time, he heard the voice that had made his heart skip a beat three months ago.
« Harvey? »
As he looked up hastily, Donna couldn't believe it: he was there. If he was still as handsome as before, but it was seeing him swinging on his aching feet after probably waiting a long time, in an impeccable suit and a bow tie, his hair combed to the side and eyes looking at her with so much love and relief, that she thought she would faint.
« Hey »
She looked gorgeous. She wore a long, calf-length beige Burberry raincoat, revealing only her wide black pants and matching high heels under. Her long red hair cascaded over her shoulder and down her back as she held her luxury bag in the crook of her arm, her eyes previously focused on her phone screen now looking at him with shock. For several hours, he had rehearsed what he was going to tell her, but now that she was a few feet away from him, it was as if his brain was no longer connected to the rest, and he remained completely stupid in front of her. But seeing her with a surprised look and her moist eyes, he simply declared.
« I’m in love with you »
« What? »
« When you left, you took a part of me, and I was so unhappy without you, Donna. I never thought I could fall in love with someone so quickly — simply fall in love — but I'm crazy about you, I can't stop thinking about you that it obsesses me, and I’m doing nothing else. I don't know where you are in your life, if you’re with someone or anything, but I wanted you to know that I love you »
As soon as his monologue was over, she ran towards him before kissing him tenderly, the lawyer responding instantly by hugging her, almost breaking her ribs with how hard he squeezed her while the bouquet of flowers was pushed against her back. Donna had missed Harvey's lips, and, as he devoured her mouth like he had done three months ago, she could feel a mix of their tears on their lips, but neither of them cared. They couldn't have said how long they had stayed kissing in the middle of the busy street in front of the Opera Garnier, but the one thing they knew was that they never wanted to stop. So they continued, and continued, until they ran out of oxygen and were forced to separate, Harvey alternating between pecks and murmurs against her lips.
« I love you, Donna. In just a few days, you showed me how good it was to feel loved and alive, and I die when I'm away from you, I never want to be unhappy again »
« Harvey »
« I’m ready to risk everything for both of us. Everything »
« How do you want to do it? You're in New York and I'm in Paris, I — »
« Do you have faith in me? »
« Of course, I do »
« So trust me, we'll find a solution. I told you, I'm ready to risk everything for you, I'm crazy about you, I love you so much you have no idea »
« I love you too, Harvey. So much »
With these last words, they continued to kiss lovingly in the middle of the street, as if they were alone in the world while they thought about finally being with each other. Harvey had never thought he would find love because he didn't want to suffer, but when he met Donna, he realized that it was without her love that he was suffering. In just three days, she had given him a taste for life again, had made him feel things that he had decided to run away from so long ago, and that only she had been able to do that. For years, he thought he would find the comfort and love he needed in work and one-night stands, but it took just one moment with her to understand that it was her he needed, her and no one else. For Donna, she had spent all her years devoting herself to others and making sure that everyone around her was okay that she had forgotten herself, and if she always had the feeling of not finding anyone who understood her and saw her for what she was, it had not taken her an hour to understand that Harvey was one. No one had ever looked at her like that, made love to her like that, let alone travel over three thousand miles and wait for hours just to find her, but as he kissed her with all the love he had for her, she felt like the little flame that used to burn inside her so long again had just been rekindled, as she had just found something that made her feel alive, and apparently, that something was actually someone.
All these years, they had both been looking for what they were missing and would finally make them happy, but they never would have thought they would find it in a stranger they met in an airport at Christmas time.
They had just found their missing piece.
They had just found each other.