Spencer Kennedy was packing up the last of her belongings. It was a warm May morning, the last morning she would spend at Harvard Law. Her thick, dark brown hair gently blew in the wind as she took one last look around. Three years she had spent here. Three years studying, staying up late for cram sessions, living off of Ramen noodles and Redbull. Three years of tolerating portentous Harvard snobs. But it was worth it.
Spencer came from a humble middle class family. Her upbringing was simple. She was raised in small suburb outside Chicago. Went to a state school, where she studied Liberal Arts and performed in College Theatre productions. She was completely Normal.
After college, Spencer got a job waiting tables in order to save enough money to begin her life in Chicago. Normal for a 22 year old College grad who was just figuring things out and in no rush to grow up.
It was all normal that is until Spencer's father suddenly died. It was a heart attack. It was quick. One day he was there and the next he wasn't. In one instant Spencer's entire world was turned around. The business of death is difficult. Sure there is heartache and emotional pain. But, the actual business side of settling with credit card companies and paying off debt that you never knew even existed, was torture. When someone close to you dies, no one ever talks about the paperwork. They don't talk about the cost of burying a loved one.
Spencer felt helpless. She felt like a little kid again. As an only child, Spencer was alone in trying to not only console her mother, but in helping to manage what was left of her now smaller family's finances. It was in this period of time that Spencer decided to go to law school. She wanted to be a powerful attorney who not only kicked butt, but who could support her mother, as well.
While continuing to wait tables, she began studying for the LSAT. She aced them and received a partial scholarship to Harvard Law. Everything was falling into place.
Everything happens for a reason. It was with that notion that Spencer got into her car and headed for New York City. Upon graduating Harvard Law, Spencer received an offer to be a Junior Associate at Pearson Hardman. This was one of the best and most reputable firms in all of New York City. She would begin work immediately, but still need to pass the Bar Exam in order to officially practice Law.
Spencer moved into a modest apartment on the upper west side with her childhood best friend, Sadie. A two bedroom, third floor walk-up with a lot of character and heart.
"Sadie, one day we are going to be living in condos over looking Central Park, with our model husbands, and our kids who will automatically be best friends with one another."
"Hey, don't forget that you will be a Senior Partner at the firm and I will be the 'it' designer with my own show at fashion week."
They were toasting to their new lives in NYC. At 25, Spencer and Sadie had been best friends for 10 years. They knew one another growing up, but officially became BFFs freshman year of high school when they had their lockers right next to one another. Sadie was going to Parsons to study fashion, while taking an apprenticeship at Vogue magazine. Sadie was a tall slender blonde with green eyes and an obvious killer fashion sense, while Spencer was a petite brunette with Kardashian curves and piercing blue eyes. Seemingly opposites, Spencer and Sadie were the sisters that they both never had.
"So, what are you most nervous about your first day tomorrow"? Sadie asked after sipping their celebratory glass of Champagne.
"Well, for one that I don't sit alone at lunch. I mean seriously…do I go out, eat at my desk? Spencer said this with a Valley girl accent. "But in all seriousness, I'm nervous about impressing Jessica Pearson and of course Harvey Spector."
"Who?"
Spencer got out a recent copy of New York Magzine and flipped to the article entitled "25 Most Eligible Bachelors."
"This is Harvey Spector. He is the number one closer in New York and probably the country. He is a Senior Partner who we actually learned about in Law School. He is a living legend."
"And a hottie"! Damn, is that what all lawyers look like? Clearly I am going into the wrong profession," Sadie exclaimed.
"Yes, he is hot and from what I have heard he definitely knows it. Alright, enough about nerves. Let's have an official toast. To kicking ass and taking names. New York, eat your heart out."