Arriving at Johnson, she grabbed her hardhat and followed Brad to the reception area. A secretary soon appeared to take Brad to his appointment and a few minutes later a man appeared to greet Kim. He introduced himself as Sam Baxter, the plant manager, and led the way back to the plant floor.As soon as they reached the floor, Kim was glad she was wearing what she was. It was already hot and, since it was still early in the day, it was going to get hotter. If the production area was air-conditioned it wasn’t having much effect.Sam took her to an AT machine and introduced her to its operator, Mary. Kim noted privately the fact that at Johnson, like so many other companies these days, people didn’t seem to have last names. Baxter introduced Kim as the technical expert from AT, and Kim found herself greeted with a frown.The machine was a small stamping press. Mary took a small sheet of steel from a stack, carefully positioned it in the press, then activated it. After the machine cycled

“That’s what we’re looking at. From what marketing tells me, we’re already losing business because of our price, our quality, or a combination of both. Furthermore — and this is in your bailiwick — I understand that the magnitude of our sales allowances is increasing alarmingly. The reason for that is that our delivered quality — to be brutally frank — is a long way from great.”Instead of addressing Baxter’s points, Anders retorted, “Where in hell did this cockamamie idea come from, anyway? This airhead you brought to the meeting with you? She can’t know anything about machine tools. She’s just a pretty face, for God’s sake.”“Wait a minute!” Brad interjected. “While I agree that Miss Kane has a lovely face, it happens to be in front of the most powerful brain I’ve ever encountered. ‘Can’t know anything about machine tools’ I think you said? Well, I have a surprise for you: Miss Kane happens to have her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Cal Tech. Her dissertation deals with machin

“You may,” the judge replied, but then her brow furrowed and she asked, “But didn’t you used to be Candace?”“Yes, Your Honor,” Kim replied with a small grin, “but I got tired of being a piece of candy. While I admit to having a body with all the curves of a candy cane, I still don’t like the name. It’s Kimberly now, or Kim, which I prefer, Your Honor.”“All right, Kim,” Judge Kaplan continued. “What can we do for you?”“Your Honor, I would like to withdraw my complaint and apologize to the court for wasting its time this way—”“You can’t do that!” McCarthy screamed. “This case must continue to trial! It’s far too important to be dropped. Your Honor, please disregard my client’s statement. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”One of Judge Kaplan’s eyebrows rose at McCarthy’s words. “And why, counselor, may your client not withdraw her complaint? She is the plaintiff; you are not. You merely represent her.”“She cannot because of the contract we have with her,” McCarthy answered smugly

Kim stood up straight, returned his grin and extended her hand. “As one kid just out of school to another, will you shake on that?”Suddenly Hopkins’ eyes widened. Almost under his breath he murmured, “Kimberly Kane...” Then, sounding excited, he added in his normal voice, “You just received your Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Cal Tech, didn’t you?”Then he laughed out loud. “Kim, this is really going to be funny. Are you aware of the fact that Cal Tech is selling your dissertation at a hundred bucks a copy? Because they are. No wonder the university-press people are falling all over themselves to get the book out on the streets. They’ll have the second printing going before the initial printing is even off the presses.”Then with another laugh he added, “This is going to be fun. What’s next?”“‘What’s next’ is I would like to get Chester Klem, the plant manager, and the vice president of manufacturing down here right away.”Again Mark laughed. “Klem will be here in a few moment

“And what’s going on? he asks stupidly,” Jack said with a wry grin. “Pamela Canfield, who is the father? It looks like you’re about to deliver any minute.”“Not till next week, Dad,” she replied insouciantly. “And the father is my husband. Who else would it be?” Then with a look that was as phony as a three-dollar bill she added, “Oops! Maybe I forgot to tell you that I’m now Mrs. Mark Hopkins? And have been for quite a few months now ... almost a year, in fact.”Jack took his daughter into his arms and kissed her lovingly. Then he took Mark’s hand in a congratulatory grip.Trying to change the subject, Pam said, “You asked Mark what he’s doing now, Dad. The answer is he’s looking for a job. And I came in to talk to you about severance arrangements, particularly medical coverage since I’ll be delivering in about a week or less.”“Severance?” Jack asked, baffled. This was news to him.“Mark was fired first thing this morning,” Pam replied.“What happened?” Jack asked Mark.“I got too i