Hi Readers: I want to let you know that I may only be posting another two chapters tonight (hopefully). But right now, I am not going to concentrate. But rather, I am going to ask you this question…what did you guys think of the last chapter? Do you like that I now have Jay in the story? How about the name of his new wife? But on another note, I am just starting to realize that I have been writing this story for a month; and that's a big deal for me, as I haven't been able to write a story for this long in a while. Prior to me starting my previous story (Matt & Gabby's Second Chance), I had a bit of writer's block. But now, I am doing much better (as you can tell); and I am so proud of the fact that I am now here at the Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Two. Speaking of Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Two, what do you say we get to it? Enjoy readers.
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Two
Confidentiality and Salary Agreements
They were finally all gathered together, all of the employees and board members of Casey. And today was a monumental day, as today was the start of something new; something fresh, and something that was going to be exciting. However, it was also the start something that they were going to have to deal with. And that was why people were all seated together in the dining room of his home, rather than in the living room of his home before they started working. There was something that they all needed to sign, including his own brother-in-law. And what might that be? Well, that would be an employment contract and a confidentiality agreement. Yes, that was what they were going to be signing today. And he just hopes that everybody understands why they need to sign these contracts, which put their relationships in a murky situation. As much as he wants to be their friend at times, Matt is something else at the end of the day: Matt is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Casey. That means that he's their boss, and that's what this contract signifies.
It's the official start of their employment here at Casey. And that was why they were all here today, so that they can work on the company. Just taking a breath, Matt walked into the dinning room of his home (which was going to double as their boardroom for now). Smiling at everybody, Matt looked at them all. "Well, if this isn't a nice sight?" Smiling as she looked at her husband, Gabby was happy and proud of what was happening today. Today was the start of something new. At the same time, Antonio looked at his brother-in-law. "Okay, so what are we doing here? I thought we'd be in your office working today?" Kelly agreed with the Latino, turning to look at his best friend. "We are. However, there's something else that we need to do first. And unfortunately, right now…you are not going to like me." Kelly looked at me as I said that. "What are you doing? Putting us in line." Matt took a breath as he walked over to the table, ready to do this. "Gabby, you already know about this remember?" Gabby nodded. "Yeah, I know; and I'll sign one too." Matt agreed and smiled.
Walking over to her first, Matt smiled as he set his envelope down in front of her. "Here you go." Gabby agreed with Matt, watching as he went ahead and gave the same manila envelope to each of the people who were currently gathered at the table in front of him. Smiling, he then proceeded to make his way back around the table so that he can sit next to his wife, Deputy Chairwoman Gabriela Casey. "Before we begin, I want to just say this right now. Right now, we are doing business. Right now, I am your boss; and you are my employees. While we are working, that is the relationship that you are all expected to adhere to. Kelly, I am the Chief Executive Officer. I am your boss, and the person who pays your salary. Is that understood?" Kelly agreed with his best friend when he said that, well aware of why he was saying that; this is going to be one of those hard conversations that they have with each other with regards the company, and it will not be personal. "Therefore, I can say that this conversation will not be personal; it is strictly business." Everybody agreed with me.
Sitting down next to Gabby, Matt took a breath as he looked at everybody. "Okay, so how about you guys all open the envelopes? Then, we can talk about them if you have any objections." Everybody agreed with the new CEO, proceeding to open the envelopes that were in front of everybody here this morning. Going to look at it, they all went ahead and read the name of the document. [Name of Individual] Confidentiality and Salary Agreement. Looking up, Antonio looked up at Matt. "You want us to sign confidentiality agreements?" Matt took a breath when Antonio asked him that. "Do you not trust us…" Matt then looked at his brother-in-law. "God, of course I trust you Antonio. You know I do. But this is just something that I need to do. Like I said, this isn't personal; this is something that creates an employment relationship in between all of us. Now, I get that you don't like the idea of a confidentiality agreement; however, I think that it would be something that we need to have for the sake of our company. Let me say that once again. This is just what happens when you join a company."
Matt then turned to look at Kelly. "With the exception of you Mr. Severide. I know that when you're mad, you can easily go ahead and start talking in a bar." Kelly laughed when the CEO said that, agreeing with him as he knew that was the truth. "Oh, I can definitely see that being the truth." Matt then looked at Stella. "Now, I drew up these contracts before I knew that you were married, so that's why the contract says Stella Kidd." Stella smiled. "Oh, I am going to keep my last name anyways." Kelly turned to look at his wife when she said that. "Excuse me?" Stella then turned her head, looking at Kelly. "Do you want to try for a kid this year?" Kelly gulped when he heard Stella ask him that. "Yeah, so shut up!" Matt couldn't help but smile when Stella said that, just shaking her head. "Stella, Alex; leave husbands with me for a bit, and I will tell them ALL of the rules that comes with how to be a good husband. And Antonio, you don't get to say a word." Antonio agreed with his boss when he said that. "So listen, before we sign these…I want to explain parts of it."
All of the friends agreed with Matt when he said that. "If you want to sign the confidentiality agreement, that's it. But I need to explain something when it comes to the salary agreement." Everybody agreed with Matt as he said that, proceeding to sign the confidentiality agreement that will swear them to secrecy when it comes to whatever they talk about while they're planning the company. At the same time, Matt proceeded to grab Gabby's hand and intertwined their fingers. Looking at her, Matt got close to her and then proceeded to whisper in Gabby's ear. "I'm doing the right thing, right?" Turning to look at her husband, Gabby put her hand on the side of his face. "Hey, of course you are baby. I promise that this is the right thing to do. Don't second guess yourself." Matt agreed with Gabby as she told him that. He then put his hand on her arm and smiled as she leaned in and kissed the woman he loves more than anything in the whole wide world. "I love you." Gabby agreed with Matt as he told her that he loves her, smiling at the man she adores. "I love you too baby."
Pulling away from his wife, Matt smiled as he turned to look at his friends once again. "Okay, now that we have the confidentiality agreement signed; we can go on to the other part of the agreement, which I am going to explain to you guys." Everybody agreed with Matt when he said that, well aware that they need to understand the next part.
Matt's POV:
With the confidentiality agreement now signed, I smiled as I went to look at my current set of executives as I prepared to explain to them the rest of the contract that they have to sign. More specifically, the part of the agreement that was going to explain how they get paid. Taking a breath, I really hoped that they can understand how I am going to pay them all. And right now, I definitely need to tell them. Taking one last breath, I looked at Gabby before starting. "Okay. So here we go. I am going to tell you guys just what's going on." Everybody agreed with me when I said that. "Okay, so as part of the employment agreement; there is a part in there that speaks to salary." Everybody nodded. "So listen, I know that right now…the company doesn't have any income, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to pay you. And yes, I could pay you with my money; but I would rather keep that money, so that I can invest it into the company and any future expansion." Kelly laughed. "I guess that works." I then turned to look at him. "Kelly, I am not sure you're the best to say a word."
Kelly gulped when I said that. "Because your wife is going to see a paycheck before you ever do, because your paycheck is going to be back in my pocket for a while. You think I'm paying to fix my Tesla? The Tesla that you took on a joyride and crashed? No buddy. So, you make sure to budget wisely. Now, I do need to point something out. Stella, for now…you will receive a separate paycheck, and it will need to stay separate until Kelly has paid me back." Stella agreed with me when I said that. "Or you just give me a separate paycheck, that I can use for my enjoyment." I agreed with Stella when she said that. I then turned to look at Jay and Antonio. "Now, I want to let you know; that I am not starting Casey Police yet. So for now, I want you both to help with Casey Fire. Are you okay with that?" Jay and Antonio agreed with me as I said that. "Sounds good." I then smiled at Alex. "And Alex, I will leave it up to you as to where you want to work more."
Alex was confused as I told her that, unsure as to just what I mean. "What do you mean by that Matt?" I smiled at her. "I am leaving it up to you, as to whether you work in the future for Casey Police…or if you stay at ELLA Creations…" I then turned to look at Stella. "And Stella, if you ever have ideas for Casey Fire…then I will gladly take them, and I will listen to you about them even though your employment is not with Casey Fire but with ELLA Apparel." Stella agreed with me as I said that, smiling at me. "I'm glad that's the case, because I do have experience in fire after all." I smiled at her. "Also, I think I will be coming to you at times when we start creating fire schools." Kelly looked at me when I said that. "I can only assume that's why you want both me and Stella here?" I looked at him when he said that, shaking my head. "No, it's because I want my best friend here to help me. And last time I checked, this was for your benefit too." Kelly agreed with me, smiling.
"Okay, now I want you guys to all grab the information sheets that I have in there." Everybody agreed with me, proceeding to grab the information sheets that I have already put in there. I then looked at them too since I need to talk to them about what it was, everybody not understanding just what they were to tell you the truth. "Okay, what the hell is this?" I laughed when I heard Kelly ask me that. "This is some of the future goals I have for the company. At least, for the fire part. Jay and Antonio, you can comment if you want; but I would like this to just take it easy. I want to maybe think about how we can do all of this." Kelly looked at me when I said that, seeing something about fire training. "You want to create your very own fire academies?" I smirked when Kelly asked me that, nodding. "Yes, yes I do." Kelly agreed with me when I said that. "And that's why you're the COO of Casey Fire. You can help me with that part." Kelly agreed with me, smiling as I said that.
"Well, that sounds great." But there was not something that was great, and that was what was about to come out of Gabby's mouth. "And are you going to do…." But in the middle of what Gabby was saying, she did something unexpected. She threw up all over me this morning.