People turned.
Four silver stars gleamed on my shoulders under the chandelier lights. Guests approached with admiration, not mockery. Then I heard a deep, authoritative voice boom across the room:
“Admiral on deck!”
A real Navy commander—Commander Jonathan Price—stood there saluting me with a grin.
Laughter spread, warm and good-natured.
Cameras flashed. The moment was lighthearted, respectful, and honestly pretty cool.
My dad, standing near the entrance with a drink in his hand, froze. His face drained of all color.
Everything he’d warned me about, all his panic and scolding, suddenly looked absurd.
Marcus whispered, “Well… that backfired.”
Then Commander Price walked over, shook my hand, and said, “Anyone who built that cybersecurity system deserves more than four stars.” The crowd applauded. My dad looked like the floor had dropped beneath him.
