Jessica was unbelievably irritating when she was right. Yes, Harvey knew this. But he continued to be proven right again and again whenever you caused trouble for the firm- and, in turn, for him.

You were like a puppy. His responsibility. He cleaned up your messes. Couldn't send you to deal with it yourself, because you'd probably just make it worse for all parties involved. And he couldn't afford that without risking exposing his dangerous little game he was playing with the law.

You hated when he would refer to you as a puppy.

If he was honest that was partially why he did it. To see you get just a little more annoyed. He often pulled it out whenever he knew you were already shrinking into that irritating state of mind where you were going to take matters into your own hands. Nope.

Harvey, if you had come at even a slightly different time, probably would have kicked you to the curb. He wouldn't have hired anyone if he had the choice. Puppies make messes. Ideally, you avoid the mess entirely by not having a puppy.

But it was you.

And for some reason Harvey found himself keeping the puppy he never wanted in the first place. His puppy with cheap, ill-fitting suits (that he had you get rid of and buy better ones almost immediately) and scuffed loafers that had seen more years than cases Harvey had given you. But he supposed you had your redeeming qualities.

People skills. You were gentler than him when it came to the more sensitive matters. He wasn't paid to dance around feelings. He was paid to win cases. So having you around to mitigate the contact between him and client meltdowns was... well, it was pretty damn nice.

Didn't mean you didn't get on his nerves plenty. You were probably one of the mouthiest associates Pearson had ever seen. And you dared to do it to Harvey, of everyone. He had watched your coworkers faces the first time. Yep. Seemed about right.

So Harvey, naturally, didn't allow it to continue past a certain point. He made you realize who was in charge. After a particularly rough case, you'd snapped at him. So he'd quietly and ruthlessly reprimanded you in front of the entire bullpen. You'd gone quiet. He felt sorry. Almost.

You'd attempted to avoid him all day. Sending others to deliver the files he requested. Eventually he had Donna send you up by force. No files. Just you. When you entered, Harvey cocked his head, just so.

"Sit down, puppy." His voice was even. But serious in that way Harvey often got, with his intense brown eyes and the set of his jaw.