[ WP ] When you were young , your father left you and your mother for another woman . 30 years later you are the CEO of a big company and your father pays a visit for the first time

With 30,000 employees all over the globe and $ 42 billion in revenue to lead, busy does n't even begin to describe my day. I'm good, though. Mama taught me young how to trust, how to delegate, and how to get things done. Hell, even my delegating is delegated these days. Hiring decisions below the Vice-President level do n't even come across my desk. 
 
 But more goes on at this company than I'll ever know about. I like to walk through the cube mazes on the lower floors sometimes, check in with the various administrative assistants, hear what's going on. More often than not this grapevine gives me more insight into what's going on in the company than 300 different `` executive dashboards''. It's a good habit. And this habit led me to overhearing a phone conversation. 
 
 I was checking in on Samantha Beeman in HR, making some joke that bordered on inappropriate but definitely was n't, and I heard a voice in the cubicle next to hers. 
 
 `` Yes, may I please speak with James Finnegan?'' 
 
 I froze. I realized that I froze, and tried not to look like I was freezing, which really resulted in an awkward stumbling of words and a fake-confident grin. Did I mention 30,000 employees? Million and billion dollar acquisitions? Why did one name cause my heart to jump into my throat? 
 
 `` We received your resume for the Sales Associate position. Can you come in for an interview?'' 
 
 I was struggling to still pay attention to Samantha while focusing intently on this conversation. 
 
 `` Next Tuesday at 3:00? Perfect. We'll see you there. You'll be meeting with Jane Goodrich, our Senior Retail Manager, and Rob Freeman from Human Resources.'' 
 
 I quickly made a mental note and reinforced my eye contact with Samantha, just in time to laugh at the end of her anecdote. I excused myself ( `` CEO stuff...'' ) and made my way down to the 8th floor, where Jane Goodrich had a modest office with an assistant outside. 
 
 I did n't know Jane personally, but I knew Bobby, her assistant. He was actually my younger brother's friend. `` Hi, Jim!'' the young man smiled at me. `` Hey, Bobby. How the job treating you?'' `` Oh, man, I love this place!'' I'd worked hard to build a vibrant culture in this company, and the millenials were soaking it up. 
 
 `` Bobby, quick question for you. Did I overhear that Jane's going to be interviewing someone next Tuesday at 3:00 PM?'' Bobby checked Jane's calendar. `` Yup. James Finnegan. I sorted the resumes for her; this guy seemed okay. Not much on his resume that was impressive, but not many people are applying these days.'' 
 
 `` Bobby, can you forward me a copy of that resume?'' `` Sure thing, Jim. Why?'' `` Oh, you know me... just keeping my finger on the pulse.'' 
 
 Back in my office, I had 15 minutes before I had to head to the airport for a weekend trip. I pulled up the resume for James Finnegan. Indianapolis address. Most recently worked for the better part of a decade at a low-end mattress retailer. That seemed right. Everything matched up with what the private investigator had found for me 5 years ago. Was it a coincidence? I decided it was n't. 
 
 My flight was short but I barely noticed it; I was wrapped up in thought. Even when my rental car was delivered, I almost ran over the attendant pulling out. It was n't until I got to Mama's house that I was able to focus again. `` Mama!'' I shouted, when she greeted me at her door. `` Jim! You're looking taller and more handsome than usual!'' We laughed as I gave her a kiss on the forehead and we marched right back out to the car. 
 
 She talked for a while as I drove, though she politely let me answer a call from our Development VP, who wanted to fill me in on the upcoming FDA approval audit for our new baby-food line. Did I mention $ 42 billion in revenue last year? We're *diversified*. Anyway, she talked and I drove. I found myself driving up to North Shore looking for a fancy restaurant with a view. She did n't seem to notice, and I was okay with that. 
 
 The restaurant was crowded, but the maitre d' recognized my name and got us a good seat. As we sipped a glass of wine, I decided to ask her what had been on my mind. `` Mama, 30 years ago...'' I paused. `` 30 years ago, a lot happened. Do you have any regrets? `` She seemed genuinely taken aback by this. `` Oh, Jim. Of course I do n't! Everything that happened since then has been a blessing! I met Fred - God rest his soul - and without Fred, you would n't have had Rachel or Nelson. We've traveled, we've learned... oh, sweetie, I would n't change a thing.'' 
 
 I nervously rubbed a small scar on my forearm. `` Do you forgive him?'' `` Honey, I stopped caring about him or his life a long time ago. Do I forgive him? Of course I do. Not forgiving him would take much more effort than anything else at this point.'' 
 
 `` Okay, Mama. Thank you.'' I did n't want to talk about it any more, and guided the conversation to more pleasant things. 
 
 Tuesday arrived and, after my 5:30 AM workout, I showered, put on my suit, and drove into work. I reviewed a press release regarding our new product line that was waiting on my desk. Our marketing VP had wanted me to sign off on it. I trusted his work and sent it back with a quick note. I had a lunch meeting with the Chairman of the Board. Her name was Susan Rowden; she and my step-father Fred had gone to college together and kept in touch, and she was the one who had recruited me to lead our not-so-humble enterprise. We talked about the direction of the company and the investor conference call that was approaching, and, as we parted ways, I gave her a hug. `` I miss my dad,'' I quietly said. I could feel her smile. `` Fred was a great man. He was a leader, and I think he'd like how you've turned out.'' It was my turn to smile. 
 
 At 2:55 PM I walked into Jane Goodrich's office. `` Mr. Reardon!'' she smiled. `` What brings you to the 8th floor?'' `` Oh, I was thinking of acquiring... `` I checked, she was wearing a decent Kate Spade necklace `` Kate Spade and was looking for an executive team. You know, the usual.'' She laughed. Executive humor kills them every time. 
 
 `` Actually, I heard you have an interview in a few minutes with a man named James Finnegan.'' 
 
 `` Yes, as a matter of fact I do. How did you know that?'' I smiled. Like I was going to remove the CEO mystique that I'd cultivated. 
 
 `` Mind if I sit in on it? I'll be discreet.'' 
 
 At 3:00 we walked into what was generously described as a conference room, but was basically a closet with four chairs and a small table. I almost stumbled walking in. There were two men sitting there, one of whom was probably named Rob Freeman, but the other one, well... he looked like a much older, heavier, worn out version of *me*. I saw presumably-Rob's eyes glance back and forth between us, and Jane hesitated so that I almost crashed into her. She recovered, as I would expect our senior managers to do, and introduced herself. Before she could introduce me, I simply held out my hand and said, `` Jim *Lyman*'', emphasizing Mama's maiden name and not giving myself a title. I could see something working in the back of his mind, but it was the faintest of spark, one that the slightest wind would extinguish. 
 
 Perhaps, in my position, I'm used to a much higher caliber of interviewee. Perhaps everyone in the room - except James - felt that it significantly more awkward than it should have been. Whatever it was, I found myself trying not to frown and shake my head as his wretched grammar and horrid malapropisms assaulted me. Still, he had a solid history, and we have pretty low expectations for our sales associates. 
 
 We all shook hands at the end of the interview. Rob escorted James down to the lobby to sign out, and I went back to Jane's office with her. `` Mr. Reardon, what was that about?'' she demanded. 
 
 `` Let me ask you this first, `` I responded. `` Does he have the qualifications for the job? Do we have a better candidate?'' `` Yes, then no.'' She replied. `` Then I recommend hiring him.'' `` That was a horrible interview!'' `` Yes, it was, and that's mostly my fault,'' I answered. `` But I think he'll be okay.'' 
 
 `` What's going on?'' she pressed, one last time. 
 
 I paused for a moment, then quietly said, `` I was n't born as Jim Reardon. I was born with the name James Theodore Finnegan, Junior.''
