Inside Kendall’s folder were architectural renderings of a beautiful downtown loft. She and two other influencers wanted to turn it into a production studio, complete with lighting equipment, podcast booths, backdrops, and editing suites. They planned to rent it to other creators by the hour. The space looked impressive, but the business plan had enormous holes. Kendall wanted twenty-five thousand dollars from me for startup costs.

I studied her spreadsheet and asked about signed customers, insurance, and a partnership agreement. She had none. Her answer was that they had followers and would figure everything else out. When I explained why I wouldn’t invest, she accused me of being broke and jealous. Two days later, she posted a video criticizing people who disguised their fear of success as financial responsibility. She never mentioned my name, but our cousin Whitney immediately recognized the target. I ignored it. I had no idea Kendall was about to cross a line that would threaten both our lives.