The episode’s central conflict arises when Louis discovers that Harvey has been personally supplementing Donna’s salary out of his own pocket for years.
Donna is more offended by the secrecy than the money, feeling that Harvey used the payments to maintain a sense of "ownership" over her rather than viewing her as a true partner. The Jack Soloff Maneuver "Suits" Compensation(2015)
Harvey tells Louis that if he wants Donna as his secretary, he must match the "market value" Harvey has been paying her, which is significantly higher than the firm's standard administrative pay. The episode’s central conflict arises when Louis discovers
While the personal drama unfolds, a new antagonist, Jack Soloff , uses the firm's Compensation Committee to attack Harvey’s power. Suits 5x02 "Compensation" (I See Your Value Now) a new antagonist