Two days after the filing his attorney contacted him with a question that apparently drained the color from his face. I was not present when the conversation occurred, but the story reached me later through the series of urgent calls Douglas began making that afternoon.
According to the report, his lawyer had reviewed the preliminary financial disclosures and then asked slowly, “Where are your wife’s assets listed in the marital discovery?”
Douglas apparently hesitated before responding, because he had always assumed the answer would be obvious.
Later that evening he called me directly.
“I think there may be a mistake in the financial records,” he said with forced calm.
“There is no mistake,” I answered.
“My attorney cannot locate your accounts,” he continued carefully.
“They should not appear in marital discovery,” I explained.
A long silence followed.
“You moved them,” Douglas finally said.
“I restructured them,” I corrected. “Legally and transparently. The documentation will be delivered to your legal team shortly.”
His voice sharpened with frustration. “You intentionally concealed assets.”