#nick squires

[wannabecatwriter]

When Nick asked Josie for an estimate of her income for tax purposes, he expected the usual - he had a few clients in the entertainment business and knew their pay could be irregular.

This, however...

“I had a few gigs where they paid me in money orders and a couple where they did direct transfers to my account. And a couple of them paid me in stock, which I’m going to sell in a little bit, so I don’t really worry about it yet.”

“Don’t worry about it yet because it’s already accounted for by your employer, yeah?” Nick nodded along.

“No, why would they worry about it?” Josie asked. “Who cares about these stocks before they’re sold?”

“A lot of places,” Nick chuckled. “And those money orders and transfers. They’re all like miscellaneous income, which you’re taxed on as an independent contractor, correct?”

“Yup! It works perfectly, I haven’t had to pay a cent in taxes in years,” Josie smiled smugly.

“Uh...because you’ve had a lot of work-related expenses to offset your income, right?”

“Sure...” Josie smiled sweetly. “Whatever shows me to be in the negative. I mean, I don’t even report most of the direct transfers and money orders. So, it all works out.”

[deletia6]

[wannabecatwriter]

Upon hearing about Josie’s payment schedules, Nick started to break out in a sweat.

“Look, Josie, I don’t know who advised you on how to report taxes in the past, but what you’re describing doesn’t sound completely legal. And if I become your tax preparer, I legally could not condone it,” he warned her.

“You don’t have to condone it, you just have to sign off on it, man,” Josie laughed. “It’s not difficult, is it?”

“Not difficult?” Nick started to wonder if this was some sort of a test by Chandra to figure out how much he was willing to bend the rules. Come to think of it, it seemed the aunt and niece had quite a lot in common in that aspect. “I mean, I’ve studied for years to become a CPA. I’m not signing off on a tax return I know to be fraudulent.”

“How do you know it’s fraudulent?” Josie huffed.

“Because you have literally just told me,” he explained slowly, deciding he was going to need a stiff drink in a few moments.

“So? Just pretend I didn’t. What about that client-accountant confidentiality?”

“Client-attorney confidentiality, you mean?” he asked. “Because accountants don’t get the same privilege - and also, I’m not your accountant yet!”

And he won’t be! Josie may have been hot, but there was no way he was losing his license for that harebrained scheme of hers. And to think that she was just talking about it so calmly in a room full of others!

“Whatever, bozo. I’ll just find someone else to do it.”

And suddenly, Nick remembered why Josie seemed familiar to him - a friend of his loved to watch trashy reality TV - and Josie was on one of the episodes. Having a full on fight with another busty blonde.

Nope, he was not getting involved with this.

“Sorry, I gotta go now.” And with that, Nick headed to the bar for that stiff drink that certainly had his name on it by now.

[wannabecatwriter]

While the high society love drama went on, Chandra zeroed in on someone she’s been waiting for - Nick Squires, her accountant, who just showed up at the club.

He wasn’t someone she would normally have invited for an event like this, but he was here to serve an important function. While his higher than normal ethics told her she’ll be looking for a new accountant quite soon, Nick was young, fairly good-looking, and, most importantly, single.

In other words, a perfect decoy for Josie’s attentions!

“Nick, dear, there you are. I’m glad to see you. Did you make it here smoothly?”

“Yes, I think so. Thanks for the invitation. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about that item...”

“Yes, yes, but during work hours, Nick. Not tonight. Tonight, we’re here to relax and celebrate.”

“Oh, right!”

“But tell me Nick, you are single, right?”

“Uh...”

“You’ve met my niece, right?” she continued.

“Oh, yes, I did!” Nick did meet Josie. Very briefly, and he definitely thought she was pretty. A fact that did not go unnoticed by Chandra.

[wannabecatwriter]

“Yeah, I guess I got lucky. One book got published and it really flew of the shelves, so now all the publishers actually all want to work with me,” Kareem chuckled. “I’m sticking with my OG publisher, though. He’s the one who actually stuck by me since the start.”

“It’s pretty hard to make it in that industry, isn’t it?” Anna understood.

“Yeah, like I said, I pretty much got lucky with someone who took a chance on me,” Kareem admitted. “I’m sure there are many who could write even bigger hits if someone gave them a chance.”

“Maybe you can!” Anna offered. “With your name attached, you could probably help some young authors. Maybe even start your own publishing house?”

“Who knows? Maybe I will eventually,” he nodded. “Do you write?”

“Oh, no. I draw, but creating a story isn’t really my strong point. I leave that to the professionals,” Anna laughed. “Honestly, I have mad respect for anyone creating stories - how do you keep all those details in your head?”

“Hah, I actually feel like that’s easy. Now, art sounds way more complicated to me, so I guess we’re even,” Kareem smiled. “Now, how did all of us artistic-minded folks end up here?”

“Life, man. Life,” Demarcus shook his head. “Bills need to be paid and folks need their drinks.“

“If only we could do it in less unsavory company,” Tammie shot a tired look to where her aunt was chatting with the birthday boy and the others.

“You could say that again,” mumbled Nick, who was about done with his drink and ready to head out. This “high society” was not for him.

[wannabecatwriter]

Antoine was looking at Maria quite a bit tonight.

He didn’t know her officially until tonight. But he did know her.

Unfortunately.

As soon as he spotted her here tonight he instantly recalled an evening out at the bar, when after a few drinks, he ended up enjoying a very hot night with a good-looking young woman.

As it happened, that woman was Maria. And the night happened after he became Amanda’s husband.

From the sardonic smiles she shot him tonight, he knew she quite enjoyed having this information on him.

He needed another drink.

And there was the waitress. And she was quite cute too.

“Well, hello,” he half-slurred, shooting Anna what was likely supposed to pass for a seductive smile.

“What the fuck?” thought Anna. Dude was here with his wife and flirting with her? Yikes, big yikes.

As soon as he took the drink, she made sure not to go around him for the rest of the evening.

[wannabecatwriter]

“Wow, that sounds really busy,” Nick whistled. “I guess you don’t get much time to relax then?”

“It can be quite hectic, true,” Josie nodded. “Those studios are constantly buzzing and, like, half the people working there haven’t got a clue what they’re supposed to be doing. It sucks when, on top of you own job, you have to show others how to do theirs. So tiring!”

“That sucks. But yeah, I feel you. Half the time, our newbies are also really clueless and we have to show them the ropes, but that’s life, you know. If no one shows them the ropes, they’ll never learn, right?”

“Oh yeah, sure. I guess we all have to suffer from inept workers, huh?” Josie nodded along.

“I wouldn’t say inept,” Nick shrugged. “Everyone starts somewhere. Besides, accounting is a tough profession, with all those rules and statutes. It takes a while to really get the hang of things. I don’t judge them.”

“You must be a very helpful person, I take it,” Josie smiled sweetly. “Are you any good with taxes?”

“Am I? That’s kind of my specialization,” Nick nodded.

“How convenient! I actually am looking for someone to do my tax returns!” Josie told him.

“Sure, just let me know how you’re paid, what your expenses are, and so on, and I’ll be able to estimate how much you owe or get back.”

[wannabecatwriter]

“She’s a busy one, your aunt...” Nick shuffled his feel a little awkwardly.

“Yeah, that’s her. She’s always doing something. So, Nick. Tell me a little about yourself,” Josie asked.

“Well, I’m an accountant. I work the firm handling the accounting for your Aunt’s company. That’s how we met. I’m a little surprised she invited me, though,” he admitted. “We don’t always see eye to eye on things.”

“She must think well of you anyways,” Josie shrugged. “Why else would she introduce you to me?”

“Oh, yes, I suppose you’re right,” Nick chuckled. “Well, what about you? What do you do?”

“Me? I’m an actress. And a darned good one at that,” Josie grinned.

“Oh? What have you been in? Maybe I’ve seen you? You do look pretty familiar, now that I think of it,” Nick asked.

“Oh, you know me. I’ve been in a bunch of things. It’s hard to keep track sometimes.”