Chapter 13 - The Law Firm Strategy
|
At nine o'clock the following morning, I sat in the glass-walled conference room of Gomez & Partners, Lucía’s law firm on the Gran Vía.
Spread across the glossy oak table were bank statements, tax returns, and the official police report from the previous night.
"Rafael’s defense attorney called me twenty minutes ago," Lucía said, sliding a hot cup of coffee toward me. "They want to offer an out-of-court settlement. They'll agree to an uncontested divorce if you withdraw the criminal assault complaint."
I took a sip of coffee, feeling completely sharp and awake. "What are they offering financially?"
"They want you to sign a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for fifty thousand euros," Lucía scoffed, throwing a paper onto the table. "They think you're scared of a public court trial."
"They don't understand," I said, leaning forward. "I'm not looking for a hush-money payout. I want a full forensic audit of Rafael’s firm."
Lucía’s eyes lit up with professional delight. "Tell me more."
"For two years, Rafael has been funneling client money through his mother's offshore trust in Andorra," I revealed, opening my laptop. "He thought I never looked at his financial files because he thought I was 'too simple' to understand corporate accounting. But I saved copies of every tax filing he brought home."
May you like
Lucía leaned over my screen, scanning the spreadsheets I had compiled. Her mouth slowly opened in shock.
"Elena..." Lucía whispered. "This isn't just marital misconduct. This is massive tax fraud and corporate embezzlement."
