I appreciated them all the more because Brandon had spent years insisting that his confidence was equivalent to expertise.

At the door, Russell paused and said, “Your father always asked the same question whenever a deal looked too good.

Who carries the risk if we’re wrong?”

I thought of Hazel, of Wayne, of Elena Morales and her employees.

“We should ask that about every decision today,” I replied.

Then we walked into the conference room together.

PART 9

After the meeting began, I learned that it was possible to feel both exposed and strangely calm.