Mending Heart |18+|

Chapter 5

Coming Undone

"Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction." - Rumi

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"I think that's all for today then." I smiled as Jenny, one of our new hires, finished her presentation. "Have the final report on my desk by 5 PM on Monday – I'm flying out to Orlando on Tuesday morning."

Everyone nodded in agreement and began packing up their things. We had just finished a meeting about a hotel client in Orlando. The rest of the team had been there the past week observing their internal control system, and I would be flying out next week with the full report to pitch management new recommendations to better improve their operations.

I mentally groaned, knowing I would waste another day just traveling. Don't get me wrong, it used to be a lot of fun at first – traveling to different cities and countries. But when you've been doing it for the past six years, and you've been to just about every place in the country, it gets exhausting and boring quickly.

However, I wasn't going to dwell on that right now. That was a problem for next week.

Kate and I were cleaning up the conference room when Sam poked her head in. "Hey, some of us are going out for drinks after work. You wanna come?"

"Hell yes!" Kate exclaimed. Chuckling, I nodded. "Count me in as well."

"Cool!" Sam chirped. "It's that Margarita Bar in Lincoln park – La Vaca."

"I love that place!" Kate replied, stacking all the folders. "Their tacos are amazing"

"I'll see you both there." Sam shook her head as she left, no doubt to continue spreading the word.

Drinks after work sounded really good right about now. And the best part was, today is Friday and I didn't have to wake up early tomorrow.

"Oh Kenzie, I almost forgot." Kate turned to me as she and I walked out of the conference room. "Are you still up to date on the current tax laws?"

At the mention of tax laws, my face scrunched up in disgust. Those damn laws change every year, and they are a literal pain in my ass. This is why I chose a career in consulting over tax. I was afraid I would bore myself to death if I was filing people's taxes –  year after year. "Kind of. Why?"

"My parents are thinking of retiring next year and they were wondering how their retirement pension would be taxed if they have permanent residence in another country," Kate said as her lips curled upwards in a smile. "Tax was never my strong suit in college."

Now that is a good question. Racking my brain, I finally said, "Well from what I remember, they would still file taxes in the U.S and they'll owe taxes on the worldwide income – which would include any traditional IRAs, 401(k)'s, other taxable pensions, and any other taxable income from investments. As long as their sole income comes from the United States, they won't have to pay any taxes on it abroad. I can look into it more and find out for sure."

"Yes please." She gave me a sheepish grin. "You're the best!"

Glancing down at her watch, Kate cursed under her breath. "Crap – I have to send a quick email before the end of the day. Just let me know when you're ready to head out, and we can Uber there together."

After I agreed, Kate scurried back to her office while I made my way up the stairs and towards my own office on the third floor. I was almost within the safe confines of my office when a deep voice stopped me dead in my tracks. "Ms. Anderson."