If we haven't talked in a while and the first time you speak to me is trying to seduce me for money, then yes, I'm going to be pissed at you. This wasn't some friend asking another friend for a favor. This was Nikki and Brent asking Guy ( who they thought was a sucker) for money with no strings attached.
If you haven't talked in a while, which is something that both sides are responsible for, then why is it exactly problematic to you that a friend reaches to you when they're in serious need of help? Should they first make some casual meetings and act as if they don't need help? Because this would be far more manipulative than the alternative.
Nicki needed help because her boyfriend got her and himself in a mess. She went to Guy, her friend, and someone she knew was in position to help her. This
was a friend asking another friend for a favor, in situation where she desperately needed it. Yes, Brent thought that Guy was a sucker who "owed him". But why do you presume that Nicki thought the same way?
Again, how was Nicki supposed to go about it so that it wouldn't piss you off? Pretend everything was fine, that she had no trouble at all, and make strictly social visits, for... how long, before you'd consider it
acceptable for her to make a request? Or never ever ask you, because the two of you haven't talked for a few weeks after you quit the shitty job, hid the fact you got rich and didn't bother to keep in touch with her?