Life 2.0
Copyright© 2026 by Megumi Kashuahara
Chapter 12: The Discovery
Week 18, Day 130 – Due Diligence
Brent came home from work Friday evening with a file folder and a grim expression.
“What’s wrong?” Ji-Eun asked from the couch, prosthetic already off for the evening.
“I did some background research on Daniel Matthews. The guy who hit you.”
“Why?”
“Because something felt off about Michael pushing so hard for that $500,000 settlement.” Brent sat beside her, opened the folder. “Michael told us Matthews is a hedge fund manager worth about $6.2 million. Right?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s not.” Brent pulled out a printed financial profile. “Daniel Matthews is a senior managing director at Goldman Sachs. Investment banking, not hedge funds. And his net worth isn’t $6.2 million.”
He turned the page to show her a number.
Estimated Net Worth: $125,000,000
Ji-Eun stared. “That’s—that can’t be right.”
“It’s right. I ran him through every database my firm has access to. SEC filings, real estate records, investment disclosures. Matthews has $12 million townhouse on the Upper East Side. Another $6.5 million estate in the Hamptons. Investment portfolio worth at least $90 million. Annual compensation last year was $12 million.” Brent’s voice was hard. “He’s not worth six million. He’s worth a hundred and twenty-five million.”
“Michael said six million.”
“Either Michael is the worst attorney in California, or he lied.” Brent pulled out more documents. “This is public information. Anyone doing basic due diligence would find this in twenty minutes. Which means Michael either didn’t look, or he looked and hid it from you.”
“Why would he hide it?”
“Because a defendant worth $125 million changes everything. Juries award bigger damages. Settlement negotiations start higher. The case becomes worth fighting for.” Brent leaned forward. “But fighting means years of work for Michael. Depositions, expert witnesses, trial prep. Way more effort than taking $500,000 quick and pocketing his $150,000 fee.”
Ji-Eun felt rage building in her chest. “He tried to lowball me.”
“He tried to rob you.” Brent’s jaw was tight. “Matthews is worth a hundred and twenty-five million dollars. He drove drunk and destroyed your life. And Michael wanted you to settle for half a million—which doesn’t even cover what’s already been spent—so he could collect an easy fee and move on.”
“That’s—” Ji-Eun couldn’t finish. The betrayal was too large.
“That’s legal malpractice at minimum. Fraud at worst.” Brent pulled out his phone. “We’re firing him. Tonight. And I’m giving your case to Paul Nakamura.”
“Who?”
“Senior partner at my firm. He runs our civil litigation department. Specializes in catastrophic injury cases against high-net-worth defendants.” Brent smiled—sharp, predatory. “Paul’s a shark. He’ll take one look at a drunk Goldman Sachs director worth $125 million who destroyed a 23-year-old paralegal’s life, and he’ll go for blood.”
“Can he take the case? I can’t afford—”
“Contingency. Same as Michael—thirty percent of whatever we win. But unlike Michael, Paul will actually fight for you. He’ll depose Matthews, drag out every detail of his wealth, present your life care plan to a jury, and make Matthews pay for every single dollar of your lifetime medical costs.”
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