the story started in 2009, when taylor stein, daughter of a legendary new york city rock promoter and a boldfaced name on the social scene, decided she wanted a sibling for her daughter. she looked into foster care and private adoption, but neither worked out. >> i was heartbroken because it was something that i always wanted to do and i was on a mission. >> reporter: but then, she met a lawyer named hilary neiman who had something incredible to offer. >> it was unique, all right. she had a set of intended parents and the intended parents had hired a surrogate to carry third party embryo. mid-pregnancy, i think it was in the fifth month, they had walked away from the deal. >> reporter: neiman was offering to let taildataylor take over. it seemed like the perfect solution. she impressed you? >> she impressed me. >> reporter: at that point, you say, all right, i'm going to go with it. you seem like you would be hard to sucker. this woman, let's be honest, she suckered you. how much money? >> initially, i believe it was 180. >> reporter: you sent her $180,000? >> i did. she was giving me