Clifford Fitzpatrick eased his car into the parking lot at the headquarters of Murphy Manufacturing Company in the outskirts of Milwaukee. He saw a parking place immediately adjacent to the building entrance with a newly-painted sign reading President and immediately below the title, C J Fitzpatrick. He pulled into the spot and parked.
Cliff Fitzpatrick was a trim six feet two with sandy brown hair and blue eyes. He looked like an athlete and moved like one. As he got out of the car, he looked down the row of what were obviously executive parking spaces, and saw that most were still empty. It was eight-fifteen on a Monday morning in early April but Cliff was not surprised. Although he had been told that working hours at Murphy Manufacturing began at eight o’clock, the late arrival of executives was just one more sign of a general slackness in the operation.
Normally an early starter, Cliff had waited a few extra minutes this morning, his first at Murphy and his first as its president. He wanted to give the other people a chance to arrive before him. He noticed there was a row of signs similar to his own running down the line of preferred parking spaces. Clearly, the sequence of names was the corporate pecking order presented for all the world to see.
Cliff entered the building and was greeted by name by the receptionist. Obviously, she had been told to expect him and had been watching for him. Going up to the second floor which served as the executive offices of the company he went around to the corner where he knew his new office was. He found his secretary, Sandra Donnell, sitting expectantly at her desk waiting for him.
She rose from her chair and held out her hand. Good morning, Mr. Fitzpatrick. Welcome to Murphy Manufacturing!
Cliff was surprised at the firmness of her grip. Good morning, Miss Donnell, he replied. Could you arrange for someone else to cover our phones for a while? I want to talk with you and I don’t want us to be disturbed. While the girl made arrangements Cliff entered his office and sat down in the big chair behind the desk.
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