“You should check with your accountant on this– but I’m thinking you can deduct Eric’s $26,000 yearly salary as a business expense. It’s like you’re getting his services free.”
“I’ll call him tomorrow and find out Dano, but so far you haven’t steered me wrong.
I’m putting together a ‘severance package’ for you and I dare you to give me any lip on the matter.
In the nine month’s since we met, you have nearly tripled my gross income at all my fitness centers. We are talking about several hundred thousand dollars per quarter, which is how my accountant likes to keep the books balanced.
All the profits you suggested I put into expansions at three of the four places will leave me owing almost nothing to the IRS for the next five years.
You deserve to share in some of that profit, and I’m going to insist you accept it.
I’ll pay you in cash of course since I know you work between the raindrops tax-wise.
The ‘consulting services’ you have provided should make you a tidy nest-egg for the future. I promised you early on in our relationship that I’d use your talents to increase membership, and you have gone far beyond expectations.”
I finished my OJ and gave Sandra my best poker face as I spoke.
“I’ve had a change of heart about my place upstairs Sandra.
I got a firm commitment from Connie that she will stay here and be my manager of the playroom and living quarters.
She will live there until I decide later what I want to do with it.
Anything that goes on upstairs is Connie’s responsibility–period.
I’ll insist that you get a 10% cut of the net profits to cover out utilities, and there will be plenty left over to spread around as bonuses as you and she see fit.”
“Agreed and accepted … Glad you changed your mind.
I need to get back on the floor and start hinting to this crowd that we are closing down early so the caterers can get in here to set up for later. I called a friend I have in Boone and they’ll arrive around 6-6:45 pm. Please don’t try to help as we have enough girls and now Eric to manage the lot of them.
This is YOUR party and you are guest of honor.Leave it to us.”
( Next Chapter(s) will feature the party and my exit from the area to go see Nikki and my child. )
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