And when someone did not match his personal image of wealth, he became suspicious.
Most people never challenged him.
Some were intimidated by his uniform.
Others simply wanted to reach their destinations without confrontation.
Richard interpreted their silence as respect.
In reality, it often represented exhaustion.
His employment with Bennett Aviation Management had begun only six weeks earlier.
He was an experienced contract captain assigned to several aircraft within the company's fleet.
He had completed the required training and passed the technical evaluations.
But he had not yet met Naomi Bennett.
His supervisor had mentioned that the company's owner sometimes traveled without an assistant or security team.
Richard had barely paid attention.
He assumed that when the owner eventually appeared, he would recognize her.
That assumption would become the most expensive mistake of his career.
The confrontation began on a Tuesday morning at a private aviation terminal outside Atlanta.
Naomi was scheduled to fly to Washington, D.C., for a meeting involving a major aviation technology partnership.
The meeting was important.
Her company was negotiating a long-term agreement that could improve aircraft maintenance efficiency across several large fleets.
She had spent weeks preparing.
The previous evening, her mother had called.
"Are you getting enough rest?" Evelyn asked.
"I'm trying, Mama."
"That's not what I asked."
Naomi laughed.
"I'm sleeping."
"How much?"
"Enough to function."
"Naomi."
"All right. Not enough."
Her mother sighed.
"You've been taking care of everybody else for years. Don't forget yourself."
Naomi looked around her office.
Framed photographs decorated the walls.
One showed her parents standing outside their old house.
Another showed the company's first five employees celebrating their initial major contract.
A third showed Naomi beside her father at an airport shortly before he passed away.
"I won't," Naomi promised.
Before ending the call, Evelyn added something unexpected.
"Your father would be proud of you."
Naomi swallowed.
"I hope so."
"He wouldn't be proud because of the money or the airplanes. He'd be proud because you never let people make you smaller."
Those words stayed with Naomi throughout the night.
The following morning, she arrived at the private terminal wearing her favorite turquoise-blue suit.
She had chosen it because the color reminded her of the sky on the afternoon her father first took her to watch airplanes.
Her driver dropped her near the entrance.
She thanked him, carried her own handbag inside, and greeted the receptionist.
"Good morning, Ms. Bennett."
"Morning, Lisa. How's your daughter doing?"
Lisa smiled.
"Much better. Thank you for asking."
Naomi remembered that the receptionist's daughter had recently undergone surgery.
She had arranged additional paid leave without announcing her involvement.
After a brief conversation, Naomi continued toward the aircraft.
The jet stood gleaming beneath the morning sun.
Its white fuselage reflected the clear blue sky.
A thin silver stripe extended along its side.
The aircraft's registration was visible near the tail.
Naomi stopped for a moment.
Even after years of success, seeing the airplane still stirred something emotional inside her.
She imagined her father standing beside her.
She imagined his proud smile.
Then she climbed the stairs.
Inside, the cabin smelled faintly of fresh leather and coffee.
Cream-colored seats lined the forward section.
Warm lighting illuminated the polished wood panels.
A flight attendant named Olivia Grant was checking supplies near the rear galley.
Olivia had worked for Bennett Aviation Management for almost three years.
She recognized Naomi immediately.
"Good morning, Dr. Bennett."
"Good morning, Olivia."
"Would you like your usual coffee?"
"Please. And don't worry about rushing. We're ahead of schedule."
Olivia smiled.
"Of course."
Naomi settled into her preferred seat near the front.
She placed her handbag beside her and opened a document on her phone.
The meeting in Washington would require careful attention.
She wanted to review the final financial projections before departure.
Meanwhile, Captain Richard Whitmore arrived at the aircraft with his first officer, Daniel Hayes.
Daniel was thirty-two, professional, and relatively new to private aviation.
He had heard Richard complain about passengers before.
Usually, the complaints involved luggage, catering requests, or delays.
That morning, however, Richard seemed particularly irritated.
A scheduling change had required him to report earlier than expected.
He had argued with operations about the assignment.
And when he learned that the passenger would be traveling without a personal assistant, he became annoyed.
"Who's the client?" Richard asked Daniel while walking toward the aircraft.