I knocked first and joked, “Housekeeping,” even though I had a key card. In my line of work, people rarely use their real names. Their profiles should be accurate, but they often leave critical information out that others might be able to trace. This particular client was new and was referred by a mutual friend and client. She asked that we skip the formalities and get straight to business. She informed me that she reserved a suite at a fancy hotel and that a key would be waiting for me at the counter. I entered without waiting and heard “back here,” as I said, “Hello.” It didn’t register right away, but as I entered the master bedroom suite, I came face to face with a longtime, close friend. She gave me a thousand-watt smile as if to say surprise before I picked her up and swung her in circles like long-lost friends would, but she wasn’t long-lost. She is in my current friend group, and I often play ball with her husband. I’ve never been a fan of his, and he has always simply bee...