The one who settled for low military pay after her private business ventures failed.”

Richard Hail looked down his nose at my navy dress and my silver class ring.

“Ah,” Richard said, his voice booming with condescending corporate jargon.

“The daughter who couldn’t make it in commercial enterprise.”

“I am an operational commander in the Air Force,” I said.

“Government payrolls and bureaucratic titles, my dear,” Richard scoffed, checking his gold wristwatch again before looking back up.

“Out here in the real world, we build equity and manage real risk.