“You see, the draw of Perfect10 is its exclusivity,” Braden says confidently. “We were available only at Warren for our first three weeks. A week ago we launched to ten more schools after reviewing applications from some of the most exclusive institutions in the country.”

He sits a little taller. “We are in the process of picking our next ten, but since we’ve already chosen Oxford and St. Andrews, we’re about to be international, while maintaining our selectivity. We could go wider, of course, but we are strategically building a brand, and I think you know that and you were asking me a trick question.

“What you really want to know,” Braden says, “is how Perfect10 is doing in the places it’s available. You need stats, to which I will say, at the schools where we offer the app, 63 percent of single students are on it. What’s more, 75 percent of our users check the app every day, and 25 percent of our users check it more than 5 times a day on average. That is almost unheard-of levels of engagement, as I’m sure you know.”

Bell nods and writes something on his notepad.

“And what’s more, we’ve been able to isolate exactly when user engagement skyrockets.” He gestures to me and Sara when he says “we,” but I didn’t know we did that. “We were unsurprised to find that users check their scores far more often when they are nearing a transition point between statuses. We were surprised to find, however, that this effect is much more poignant when users are at risk of falling down a level. It turns out that insecurity, not vanity, fuels our engagement. People become addicted to checking their score when they are afraid they will fall down a level.”

I shift my weight. It feels like the room is getting warmer. I wonder if it is too late to ask for water. Probably. But I suddenly feel like my throat is swelling closed.

“We can easily monetize this insecurity,” Braden continues. “Perhaps by using a surge pricing model, so the cost of checking your score goes up the more times you check it per day, or by adding video ads before you can see your score if you’re within .5 of a change.”

“And the ads could be for gym memberships or makeup,” Bell says.

A smile spreads across Braden’s face. “I like the way you think, sir.”