Chapter 6 - DW AdvisoryMaya brought a forensic accountant into Claire’s office.
Naomi Park.
Forty-three.
Quiet.
Precise.
Unimpressed by drama.
She reviewed Daniel’s $187,400 in payments to DW Advisory.
“Was there a contract?”
Claire shook her head.
“Any written agreement that your household would pay your husband for project management?”
“No.”
“Could he argue he performed services?”
“Yes.”
“That complicates whether the payments themselves are improper.”
Claire sighed.
Naomi raised one finger.
“But.”
She turned the laptop.
“The problem is what he did afterward.”
Daniel’s ledger credited the entire gross renovation cost as his personal contribution.
Not merely his alleged management fees.
For a $430,000 kitchen project funded by Claire’s separate account, Daniel wrote:
Daniel contribution — $430,000
For the pool:
Daniel contribution — $210,000
Naomi looked at Claire.
“That’s not accounting.”
“No.”
“It’s storytelling.”
Exactly.
Then Naomi found something else.
DW Advisory invoices had been generated after projects were completed.
Some were backdated.
One invoice dated April 2024 had metadata showing it was created January 2026.
Claire felt her stomach turn.
“He made them recently.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Naomi opened all metadata.
Most within the last nine months.
The affair with Sophia began seven months ago.
Daniel’s preparation slightly predated Sophia.
That mattered.
Sophia was not the cause of his plan.
She became part of a plan already underway.
Maya said:
“He may have been preparing for divorce before he met her.”
Claire stared at the screen.
That hurt differently.
Maybe Daniel did not fall in love and decide to leave.
Maybe he decided to leave and then found Sophia.
Naomi continued.
“Your joint account funded his LLC. That money then moved into a personal brokerage account.”
“How much remains?”
“About one hundred twelve thousand.”
“And the rest?”
“Spending. Taxes. Transfers.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Can I freeze it?”
“Not unilaterally without considering marital property rules,” Maya said. “But we can seek appropriate relief once we file.”
“Not yet.”
Maya looked at her.
“You still want Thursday.”
“Yes.”
Claire needed to know how far Daniel would go.
Naomi found another document.
A private appraisal request.
Daniel had contacted an appraiser three months earlier.
Subject:
Future Joint Ownership Valuation
He asked:
Please provide current value and estimated value after completion of planned title equalization.
Claire whispered:
“Title equalization.”
Maya read further.
Daniel had told the appraiser:
My spouse and I intend to formalize my equitable interest this quarter.
No.
Daniel intended to trick Claire into recognizing one.
Then Claire’s assistant knocked.
“Daniel is here.”
Claire froze.
Maya closed the laptop.
Naomi gathered papers.
“Why?”
Claire asked.
“He brought lunch.”
Of course.
Daniel entered smiling with two paper bags.
Then saw Maya.
His smile changed.
“Maya.”
“Daniel.”
“What’s the occasion?”
Claire leaned back.
“Contract review.”
“What contract?”
“Hotel project.”
Daniel looked at the closed laptop.
Then at Claire.
Suspicion.
“Thought we were having lunch.”
“We can.”
Maya stood.
“See you Thursday, Claire.”
Daniel’s eyes sharpened.
“Thursday?”
Maya smiled.
“Another matter.”
Then left.
Daniel waited until the door closed.
“You’re meeting Maya Thursday?”
Claire shrugged.
“I meet Maya constantly.”
“For the refinance?”
Claire looked at him.
“Why?”
Daniel smiled.
“No reason.”
He sat.
They ate.
Claire watched him perform normal marriage.
Asked about her day.
Complained about traffic.
Discussed dinner.
Then:
“You still okay signing Thursday?”
There.
Claire took a bite.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
Daniel visibly relaxed.
“No reason.”
“You keep saying that.”
“What?”
“No reason.”
Daniel laughed.
“Maybe you’re making me nervous.”
Claire smiled.
“You?”
“Sometimes.”
He reached across and touched her hand.
Claire let him.
Then his phone lit.
Sophia.
Preview:
We need to talk.
Daniel immediately flipped the phone over.
Claire pretended not to notice.
Later, after he left, Sophia texted Claire.
He wants to meet tonight.
Claire stared.
Then:
He says Thursday is still happening.
A final message:
He also asked whether I still have the recordings.
May you like
Daniel had noticed Sophia pulling away.
The clock was accelerating.
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