Challen and Addy

Chapter 36 (Challen): Fences To Mend

Copyright © 2024 by GroveltoHEA

Monday morning, I'd made sure Addy had everything she needed at home, where she'd begin working remotely again on a part-time basis, before I headed for my office. 

I'd been in touch with Maine right after Jennifer had left our house with her new friends in uniform, and I'd also sent Maine the ring doorbell footage. She'd sent me a text this morning to go right to HR so we could talk and I could sign some documents that were needed for my new position, which would be announced later in the day.

Jennifer had posted bail, Maine told me, and she would be in early Monday morning for what she probably would think was going to be another stern warning. It wasn't. As I'd told Jennifer, the company executives were in some serious negotiations with me, and they wanted to do whatever they could to retain me.

It was pretty much a write-my-own-ticket situation. I'd told them about my new project relating to firewalls and they wanted it. Since I could prove that I'd worked on it on my own time, using my own computer and no company resources, and since I didn't have an employment agreement stating the company owned all intellectual property created by me, I could take my program and walk. My position was further strengthened because this prototype was not related to the company's business but would be taking them in an entirely new direction. The lawyer I'd consulted who specialized in intellectual property had assured me my position was solid.

The company lawyers realized it, too, because the higher ups were bending over backwards for me, throwing out perk after perk, like profit sharing, stock options, a new title, creating my own team, and quarterly bonuses. All of it spelled out job security and an extremely comfortable future for Addy and me. It would allow me to focus on what I liked doing the most and not have to deal with the administrative side of running a large team.

So I walked into the building and was greeted like a long-lost friend, everyone shouting out welcome back! to me and asking after Addy. Fortunately, no one felt the need to hug me. By the time I made it to Maine's office, I felt as if I'd said hello to everyone who worked in the building.

"Welcome back," Maine said warmly. "I hope Addy's doing well."

"She is, thank you. We're happy to be back home. How's everything here?"

With a grin, she arched her brow. "Ask me in an hour. I'll have two security guards outside my door and the police might or might not be doing slow laps around the building once it starts, just in case they're needed. It's handy when your sister is chief of police."

"I guess it is," I grinned. "My lawyer looked over the contract and said it's good to go since our last few changes were incorporated, so I signed it."

I pulled the document from my messenger bag and handed it over to Maine. 

"OK, we'll countersign it and give you a copy of the signed version for your records." She paused. "Congratulations, Mr. Vice-President of Research and Development. I've never seen them move heaven and earth to keep an employee so happy."

Smiling at the way she addressed me, I couldn't help the pang that struck me even as I contemplated how excited Addy would be. My father would have been proud and wanting to share things with him and not being able to was probably one of the hardest realities to face. Closing my eyes briefly, I could just picture the smile that would have stretched across his face as he took in my news.

"Ya done good, Challen," he would have said in the colloquial way he used when he gave us praise. I always felt ten feet tall when he said that to me, and I know my brothers felt the same way.

Dad, I've arranged it so I don't have to work myself to death like you did to support all of us. 

"Challen, we'll make the announcement right before noon, once other issues have been handled."