I wasn't surprised that Kyle immediately said Mike, Dillon and Jordan and I wanted this meeting but ultimately as I am the CEO this is my meeting. Mike, the three of us have been working closely together and a lot has happened in the past 10 days some of those are business development and some are personal issues. Mike, there hasn't been a day in 2 weeks where the three of us have left here before 6:30. Let me be clear, that is not a complaint. It's just a bunch of things came to a head all at once. Mike, one of the business issues we will discuss later, which is very beneficial, was the result of something you did. What Dillon, Jordan and want to do this evening is to bring you up to speed on a number of decision we would like to implement. We would like your support before there is a public announcement. Mike, there was no agenda provided as it was a work in progress until a few hours ago.
Mike none of this is uncomplicated but let's start with Personal. First, Dillon and I met with your dad and he has said that he understands our position and while he is around and will on occasion make a suggestion he has no intention of getting in our way. Should we need something all we need to do is ask. The next issue is Jack and Riley, they have both asked that their leave be extended 6 months. Mike, that involved a meeting with Maggie. I laughed and said, thanks for sparing me that pleasure. Mike, we would like to deny both requests. Maggie feels that we can't keep dealing with them as it is unlikely Jack will be back. They will both receive a copy of their employment contracts and we would ask Tim to accompany that with a reminder of the con-compete. Jack needs to understand the issues with the drone technology. Mike, we will eventually fill the vacant COO position and I have asked Dr. Paul De to be director of robotics and drones. We have applied for 5 patents for our drone technology and Tim has Bill from his office heading that. Tim looked at me and nodded. Mike that finishes the Personal portion, do you have any questions or issues? Kyle, I'm good with all that.
Mike, a location for the drones and robotics is an issue. If we gut our old location and spray paint the inside, that would take two months and be cheap. I just shook my head and asked what are the other options? Dillon said Mike the old place in Harmerville or a temporary building in the vacant land. Well Dillon, I don't know what you decided or have in mind but I don't want to go back and I would like something here. Something simple and disposable. Besides we will be doing that building first but let's think about it for a day or two. Mike the next thing is that we closed 8 grade book deals, none of them local and we have asked Standard Properties to reconfigure a portion on the the second floor so that we have a team of 7 to work on modifications. It's like our inventory program, tell us what you want and we will design it. Mike there are now 20 proposals pending. That is the reason in the spike in expenses that I'm sure you have noticed. We have the people to run that.
Mike the last thing has to do with something you did in Orlando. You and Mr. Palmer filmed a commercial and each of you filmed an individual on. When you finished you thought yours was all bull shit and wouldn't sell anything. They had you film one without a script, just you talking. Well two days later they showed the commercials to a focus group and your commercial with you just sitting on the stairs to the jet and talking was a hit. Two days later they ran a bunch of commercials and while they haven't closed a deal yet they have had a substantial increase in calls and interest. Mike, they are a major international company and they like dealing with us and we are in the process of finalizing a deal for a software program that will manage inventory at a number of their operations to help manage their supply chain. They want to diminish their their inventory and have stuff delivered as it is needed. It will result in a lot of fussiness over a very long time as as we are discussing a 5 year deal with 2 options for 5 more years each. Mike, that's all we have thanks for the support.
I looked at Tim and asked, so who owns the old place? Tim smiled and said Mike, your dad owns it an the company paid him rent. I laughed out loud and said well that was Adam's work and I would bet dad will be surprised he owns it. So let's negotiate an 18 month lease agreement and have Mike Sr. get it useable for our needs. There is no need to build something that we will throw away and Harmerville is too far. Guys I appreciate all the work you did on these things. It was a great job and took a lot of shit off my plate. Extra points as I didn't have to meet with Maggie. Kyle shook his head and asked, so Mike you didn't know your dad owned the building and that the company didn't. Kyle, dad had Adam, an attorney and college friend, deal with all the legal stuff and he eventually took over and there were a lot of things dad was unaware of. As for me I was busy dealing with Adam and the Trust. Eventually I proved to dad that Adam was running his company and wasn't consulting with him at all. It was complicated and ugly. Then there was Brian, who was my attorney at first and he handed me off to Tim as he became the company's attorney. Again complicated and now I rely on Tim to keep me and the company legal. I should have known that but it was something I paid no attention to.
While we are all hear, I have a few things I need to discuss with the three of you. I am in the process of collecting information and need to know what the company is worth, if I decide I need out. Then I am exploring what is required to take the company public. As of now, I have no intention on acting on any of that. However, I'm sure those possibilities will have you upset. You are, as you just demonstrated, running this place and are capable of making well thought out decisions. I want to protect you and at the very least give you options. Each of you have an identical employment contract. Those contracts limit your ability to compete with MJS Technologies for a period of time. What I am proposing is that if there is ever a substantial change in ownership and you decide you need to leave that the non-compete portion of your contract be voided. Should you decide to go elsewhere you will be provided with 2 years salary and would be free to go anywhere you choose. That option would be available to you for 90 days from the ownership change. What I am doing is protecting you from having no options. Should you stay the new ownership will talk with each of you. I am asking you to trust me that there is nothing planned and that I am very pleased with how things are going. Oh, I will personally pay for this collection of information. I assure you that is all it is and have backed it up with financial security in the event things change. Any questions?
Kyle immediately asked Mike, where does this money come from? Kyle it will be negotiated in the sale, no games and we will put it in writing if you wish. Then Dillon said Mike I have a request. I just waited and he finally asked I would like it included that if the company ever goes on the market that the three of us, or any of us, be given first opportunity to buy the company. I looked at Tim and he nodded and I said done. What else but I would suggest that you take the time to think about it and consult with an attorney. Talk amongst yourselves but I will be starting the process of collecting that information within two weeks. Jordan remained quiet and the others had nothing more at this time. Tim said, I have changes to make and you will have the revised contracts tomorrow before noon. Then Kyle said Mike, I need 5 minutes just the two of us. There was no reaction from the other two and I said sure. I have as much time as you need. I took at Tim and said thanks, I'm good.
Once we were alone Kyle said Mike, this has nothing at all to do with either of the meetings but I have to say that I would have taken you at your word about you looking at options down the road. However I do appreciate the gesture. I got a strange email today from a guy, whom I assume is you high school principal. Apparently you gave him the COO job description and my card. I have to admit that I thought it was strange, especially since you didn't mention it. Kyle that happened this morning and I had no idea he would react so fast. I'm not vested in this. If you think he fits fine and if not that's fine as well. He runs a large high school, deals with budgets and the renovated the place just before I got there. He has advanced degrees and is personable. Then there is the grade book thing and he might be good at that. If I were you I would have Tim check him out and see what happens. All I would want is you to get back to him even if it is to tell fuck off, well nicely. I want nothing further do do with this and I apologize for the lack of a heads up. Mike, how does Tim check out people. I laughed and said I asked and he told me I didn't need to know that and I left it at that. Kyle he has checked out a lot of people for me and there has never been any blowback. Trust Tim but always verify and always read anything he asked you to sign. That's how I work with him and it works. With all that done we both went to our offices. I shut down my laptop and collected a few papers and apparently Kyle didn't have much more to do as we met at the elevator. It was a quiet ride down and we were quickly through security. Once we were outside and by design our parking space were next to each other Kyle said Mike, I bet you lunch that you dad knows that he personally owns that building. I laughed and said Kyle that's a bet as I'm sure he is clueless. I got in the car and was glad that Kyle set the terms of the bet.
I pulled into the driveway a few minutes before 8:00. I was tired, I was hungry, I had a shit load of work to do for school and yet I had to talk with dad. I went inside said hello to Megan and went to dad's office. He was on the phone but waved me in. He was quickly off the phone and asked, what's up? Dad I just have a question, who owns the old building? Dad was quiet and he finally said Mike, I have no idea it was bought a long time ago and it was our first major purchase, why does it matter, it has to be paid off. Dad, we need it for the new drone program and it is either you or the company. Mike back in a day there was no difference between me and the company. Dad when the company was incorporated you and the company were legally two different people. Mike then the building was purchased after the company was incorporated as that happened very early. So dad, Adam took over the purchase, is that correct? Dad you have to know. Mike, calm down. Dad, who is paying the taxes and the other shit? Mike based on that the company owns the building. Dad, breaking news, Tim maintains that you own the building and the company pays rent. Dad shrugged and said I'll call Adam in the morning and see what he has to say. I just shook my head and said goodnight. As I was about to open the door and I turned and said dad, you really need to keep Alan out of you finances. He might be a friend but he is a second rate attorney who only looks out for himself and you are footing the bill. Before he could reply I simple left and closed the door. I said a quick good night to Megan and went to my place.
I immediately started on my "homework" and the history was easy and it was actually a bunch of reading and I was sure it was AP test prep and it took me a pit over an hour. I reached for my phone to call Winnie but decided to call JJ. We made plans for the morning run and the afternoon workout that I needed to do as it helped me relax and also I was feeling a bit more than flabby. I was about to call Winnie when there was a knock on the door and dad walked in. I just shook my head and said dad, this better be important as I still have English to do. Dad sat down and said Mike, I just talked with Adam and you are correct I own the building and the company pays rent. The only thing is that when things moved to the new building the rent went to $100 a month and it gets deposited in one of my accounts. So if you want to rent it for robotics the rent goes back to a very reasonable $2,000 a month plus utilities. I just shook my head and said well you need to talk with Tim and Kyle and that conversation better not include Adam. Besides you should have sold it by now. Mike, Adam is still my personal attorney so he is involved. I just shook my head and said well that complicates things as I refuse to be in the same room with him. Dad laughed and said well trust me if something happens to me you won't have a choice. I laughed out loud and said, well like you say there is always a choice. The only problem is that I have already chosen. Dad laughed and said Mike, thankfully I won't be around for that. Then he said I'll have Adam call Tim first thing in the morning and he turned and went back to the house.
I just sat there and my phone buzzed and it was Winnie. Mick, you were going to call me, what happened. Winnie, it's been a long day and dad just left and I was just going to call you. How you feeling? Mick, somewhat better and I'll be in school tomorrow. Oh, don't forget Friday is Senior skip day, I wouldn't want you to be the only senior there that day. I laughed and said well I would have figured it out but I'm not there enough not matter. She laughed and said that's correct. We talked about our day and finally I said well I still have to get through some English and I'm sure I'll get loaded with science work as Doc. Johnson had me with a school board jerk third period. She laughed and said well you and I are doing something Friday so figure that out. I laughed and said working on it already. Which that I hung up and started on English and it was midnight and I was about three fourth done and I simply went to bed.
The run with JJ was great and we pushed each other and then settled on meeting up at the gym. School was good and there was no more work piled on and I wasn't dragged out of class for anything. Things at the office were different as as soon as I got off the elevator Tim was there and said Mike, you better get some coffee as I'll need you right now and I'll do my best to keep it to an hour. I thought shit and immediately got back on the elevator and found the coffee. I wasn't gone 5 minutes when Kyle stopped me on the way to the office and said Mike, Dillon and I need to talk with you, let us know when you and Tim are finished. I went to my office and Tim was sitting in a club chair and I found it odd that there were no papers. As soon as I sat down me said Mike, I'm sure you know that asshole Adam called me this morning about the rent for the old space. I shrugged nd Tim said well I put Clark, my new guy on it but I will watch over the entire thing and make sure every T is crossed and every I is dotted. I also had a long talk with Jordan and he actually knew the details but wasn't opening that Pandora's box. He really wants us to do something different. I laughed and Tim said I told him that he gets what he gets and next time open his fucking mouth. I laughed at that nd then Tim said Mike, he should not be your financial advisor as he has his hands full as it is in keeping the finances of Technologies and Enterprises separate. He works hard and does a great job and no one wants him to get frustrated and leave. Besides, I need to know what's going on as my job is to keep you from having too many conflicts. I looked at Tim and said dude, I trust you but I'm not signing anything unless I read it and completely understand it. Tim smiled and said, I wouldn't have it any other way. So Tim who do you have in mind? Mike, I'm thinking you and I can meet with him for lunch on Sunday at Oakmont. I laughed and said, so I need to impress him? Tim shook his head and said yup. Then w went over the contracts for the Big Three and Tim laughed when I read the entire contract. Tim said that he gave it to them around 10:00 this morning. Then Tim asked Mike, why is Kyle checking on your high school principal? I shrugged and said possible job offer. Tim, the guy is retiring and I thought Kyle might find a spot for him, that's all. I'm out of it. Mike, how deep should I check on the guy? Tim, I don't need to know just get Kyle what he needs to know. Tim shrugged and said, not a problem. Thanks for the time and not making me wait in line. I laughed and said sure. As he was leaving I asked if he could let Kyle know, I'm available. He simply walked out and I knew it would be done.
It wasn't 5 minutes later when Kyle arrived and Dillon was about a minute behind him. The both set the contracts on the table in front of me. Kyle smiled and said, we would be idiots not to agree to those terms. However, both of us would have trusted you. Then Dillon said but the added opportunity to own this place is a definite plus. Thanks guys, I am serious as there are no plans to change things. There was no mention of Jordan and I didn't expect one. The reality was I could change the CFO but I couldn't lose either of these two. They said thanks and went about their business. I was astonished that things were concluded in such a timely matter. I went to my desk and picked up my office phone and called Heffern Tillinson. When the receptionist answered I said this is Mike Simmons and I would like to talk with Mr. Tillison. Mr.Simmons, what company are you with? I'm with MJS Technologies. Please hold and I'll see if he is available, I said sure and thought, he will be available. All most immediately he was on the line and asked is this personal or business? I laughed and said it's business and I'm not asking for your permission to marry your daughter. He laughed out loud and said, well how can I I help you? Well I need a few things related to my company. Would you be available to discuss that at lunch some time soon? He was quiet for a minute and then he said well since this is business let's star away from the usual places and Thursday would work. I said great how about 12:30 at Oakmont Country Club. There was quiet again and he said well then let's make it 12:45. I said great and we hung up.
With all that done I fired up my computer and started to review things and at 4:15 I picked up my things and headed to meet JJ at the gym.
Thanks for reading and I'm sorry for the delay, again, family wedding out of town and was gone all week.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO SUPPORT NIFTY, THEY CAN ALWAYS USE THE HELP AND IT IS ACTUALLY IMPORTANT