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8 SNAKES IN SUITS
ignore these numbers and put someone who was used to spending
money in charge of a financial problem. But then, these were no
longer his decisions to make.
Helen did very well in the exploratory interview with the
search committee. Her dynamic and engaging manner and her
self-proclaimed ability to fix organizational problems—which
the division certainly had—made her an obvious choice for the
spot. Outside analysts would also see the appointment of such an
assertive, vibrant, and directive person to a failing high-profile
division as a very firm commitment to meeting the government’s
regulatory requirements. Her style and her manner matched
what both the corporation and analysts wanted to see. The timing,
the circumstances, and her abilities seemed like a good fit.
Lynda, from accounting, sat in the corner of the room and
sipped her beer. The raucous conversation of the colleagues who sat
with her provided a soothing backdrop for Lynda’s private thoughts.
“You should be happy, Lynda,” said Julie, the senior member of the
audit team. “You won, and the [expletive deleted] is gone.”
Lynda took a drink and smiled shyly. Just out of school, she
never thought working for a big company would be like this. The last
few months had been very rough on her. She could handle the work,
of course, and brought some new computer assessment techniques to
the department from her schooling, but the hurt she felt just would
not go away.
“Listen, Lyn, the world is made up of all kinds of people, and
you were unlucky to get a jerk on your first job. But most folks are
nice and want to do a good job—you’re one of them, and you’re surrounded
by friends—you did the right thing; you’re our hero.” A collective
expression of sympathy rose from the table, and Julie put her
arm around Lynda, who smiled.
Lynda had been the unlucky target of much of the abuse in the
accounting department. Perhaps it was her naïveté, her youth, or her
propensity to be honest, but even Julie could not completely shield
her from the abuse. Julie had gone to bat for Lynda when her audit