I sent Vivien a message, “Ms. Hoton, with friends like you, what more could I ask for? I thought someone like Ivan would charge at least a hundred grand just to get started, but he’s letting me pay him a standard fee. Ms. Hoton, I’m really benefiting from your connections!”

It was a while before Vivien responded—long enough for me to get home.

Her reply was short and fiery: Scumbags like him deserve to be taken down by everyone!

I smiled, then ...