Final answer:
The gap should be filled with the word 'executive,' suggesting the man's professional status and appearance. Literary elements like clothing and personal items in the narrative emphasize the character's career and personal tribulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The man wearing the executive suit left his papers on his desk. This question seems to draw from a literary discussion, focusing on the imagery and significance of a man's attire and his actions within a narrative context. The narrative snippets provided hint at a character deeply impacted by his professional life, with his clothing symbolizing the era (likely the 1970s) and his attitude towards his responsibilities. The worn briefcase, the portrayal of exhaustion, and the presence of personal items such as a faded bunch of flowers or an old bandanna handkerchief, all contribute to a vivid character study within a broader narrative.