Chapter 1

Have you ever met someone, and within the first few moments, just know that this person is going to have a significant impact on your life? Well, that’s how it was when Michelle first shook hands with Ms. Julie Covington McGill.

It was the Friday before July 4th weekend in the office of Smith and McGill, a regional accounting firm that occupied three floors of the largest building in downtown Poughkeepsie. Michelle Lynch had just graduated from SUNY Albany the previous May and while her other friends were traveling and enjoying the summer Michelle was eagerly looking for a job to begin her career as an accountant.

Unlike many of her classmates, Michelle came from a modest background, growing up in rural Greene County, New York. She was the only child to John and Sarah Lynch unless you count Chico the black lab mix rescue dog that they got when Michelle was just a girl. Her father was a career Army officer who ran the local recruiting office and her mother was a public defender for the County. These government jobs provided great health and retirement benefits but the family struggled to make ends meet. Michelle had to work hard to earn and keep what little scholarship money was offered and graduated with over $50,000 in school loan debt.

But on the day that she shook hands with Julie Covington McGill, Michelle had a gut feeling that her future was going to be alright.

Ms. Covington McGill was the managing partner of Smith & McGill, the fastest growing firm in New York. Smith had passed away several years ago and even though his widow had sold her shares in the business to Julie it was with the stipulation that her husband’s name remained on the firm. With sole control of the firm, Julie expanded its reach within the tri-state area and grew the business to compete with and win business from the big New York City firms.

In her heels, Julie was almost 6 feet tall, and struck quite an image, in her dark grey custom tailored business suit, that hugged every curve like it was a second skin. Her skirt was cut a few inches above the knee and showed off her toned calves and thighs. Under the suit, she wore a simple cream-colored silk blouse with two buttons open at the top. The jacket and blouse did their best to contain her 40D breasts that swayed hypnotically as she walked toward Michelle to welcome her.

“Welcome love, you must be Michelle,” Julie said in a lovely English accent, making the simple phrase seem like a verse of poetry.

“Yes ... Ms. McG ... I mean ... Ms. Covington McGill ... yes I am,” Michelle responded nervously, hoping she wasn’t gawking, as she returned the firm handshake and pleasantries. Up close, Julie’s steel blue eyes and warm smile were all Michelle could focus on.

“You can call me Julie love,” replied the taller woman, hoping to put Michelle at ease and reduce the formality of the interview. “You’re even more impressive in person than you are on paper,” Julie said, gesturing with Michelle’s resume, which she held in her left hand.

Her kind words comforted and warmed Michelle like a well-worn sweater. At 5 foot, 3 inches Michelle never considered herself “impressive.” Her father wanted a boy so most of her young life she was a tomboy being shuttled from soccer to softball to volleyball to swimming, as the seasons changed. While naturally a shy person and this helped build a competitive edge within Michelle while keeping her small frame toned and fit. Michelle wore the ‘recent college graduate interview uniform,’ which consisted of a navy blue skirt and blazer from Macy’s with a white cotton blouse and sensible black wedges. Her blazer and blouse more than adequately covered modest chest encased in her best Victoria Secret 34B bra.