Chapter 26 - The Audit Request
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Andrew’s new lawyer was evidently desperate to prove his worth. Naomi called me on a Friday afternoon with a sigh that I could hear perfectly through the receiver.
"They filed a motion for a full forensic audit of your accounts," Naomi explained. "They are alleging that you intentionally undervalued your medical practice and hid offshore assets during the divorce."
I had to laugh. "Offshore assets? Naomi, I barely have time to go to the grocery store, let alone fly to the Cayman Islands to bury gold bars."
"It’s a standard intimidation tactic," Naomi assured me. "They want to make the discovery process so expensive and so miserable that you'll offer a settlement just to make it stop. They are banking on the idea that your financial records are messy."
I looked over at the filing cabinet in my home office. It was a heavy, fireproof monolith that contained my entire financial history, organized by year, month, and category.
"Let them audit me," I said confidently. "Give them everything. Give them my tax returns, my bank statements, the practice's P&L reports. Open the books completely."
"Are you sure?" Naomi asked. "It's invasive."
"I am positive. Andrew thinks I'm going to panic because he always panicked when it came to money. He thinks I have something to hide because he spent his entire life hiding things. Let them spend thousands of dollars paying a forensic accountant to stare at my perfectly balanced spreadsheets. They won't find a single discrepancy."
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"You are a terrifying woman," Naomi said, and I could hear the smile in her voice.
"No," I corrected her gently. "I'm just prepared. The green folder was just the beginning. I've spent the last year making sure my fortress is absolutely impenetrable."
