I don’t love this question. It feels uncool to admit that getting a company off the ground is a hell of a lot harder when you don’t have an inheritance to cover a chunk of your starting costs. But I have to acknowledge it, because it’s an enormous privilege. It would be unfair at best, irresponsible at worst to gloss over that fact and let other aspiring entrepreneurs think Sophie and I got here solely based on our own grit. So I spit that out first, then describe the years of legwork, how I won us funding in a business plan competition, and the challenges of finding exactly the right location for our storefront. Talking about the shop makes me anxious; I still haven’t gotten a response from Roy yet.

“You’ve gotten a ton of great press lately,” Haley notes. She holds her eye contact steady as she delivers a killer next line. “Don’t you think it’s unfair that it all comes right on the heels of your engagement announcement?”

“Oh!” I sputter. My heart begins to pound. I hadn’t anticipated this question. I swallow and launch into a rebuttal. “I sell engagement rings, you know. It’s only natural that people would be curious about my personal life. My fiancé and I are flattered by the attention, and I’m excited for this next step in our lives, but ultimately, my focus is and has always been on my work.”

Haley narrows her eyes. “But isn’t it kind of anti-feminist bullshit that you’ve worked this hard for so many years, and that this is the moment that people finally care about you?”

I don’t know what’s worse—to alienate my new followers by saying yes, or to defy Haley by saying no. I take a deep breath.

“Look, it’s unfortunate that we live in a world in which girls are groomed from infancy to view marriage as a prize. There’s a conveyor belt that takes us directly from watching Disney princesses have their happily-ever-after kiss with their prince to watching grown women chasing engagement rings on The Bachelor.” I can feel my voice getting stronger. “I didn’t create this system. I only live in it. I sell engagement rings because I have a lifelong passion for jewelry, and my sister and business partner happens to be a talented designer. If you find something problematic about the sudden spotlight on Brooklyn Jewels because of a development in my personal life, I understand that point of view. Getting engaged isn’t an achievement and shouldn’t be treated as such. But if I shy away from that spotlight, it only hurts my bottom line. And I don’t see anything feminist about avoiding an ethical profit.”

I lean away from the mic, satisfied. The air in the room is very still. I think I nailed it. Haley’s mouth twitches up into a half smile.