Page 45 of Derivation

“I’m not looking for a job. I have one,” she said. “I was thinking I could mock something up for you based on what you need, and we could go from there.”

“It’s a hobby for her, apparently,” Sarai explained.

“Says the woman whose hobby is literally work,” Gabi joked.

“Shut up.” Sarai laughed. “So, what do you think?”

“It’s not that simple,” Violet replied. “I’d love the help, I would, but you’re talking about having a non-employee design something for us, which is really tricky.”

“I was thinking we could have the attorney work up an agreement where, since Gabi says that she doesn’t need to be paid – at least, not now – we don’t pay her for the work itself, but we do if the device gets made and sells,” Sarai said.

“Gabi?” Violet asked.

Gabi dumped the mix into a measuring cup that she’d found after opening her third cabinet and said, “That’s fine with me. I get that it’s complicated, but I’m cool with that. If nothing comes of whatever I do, I get nothing. If it does, I can get a percentage of the sales up to a certain amount or something. Whatever works.”

“You really want that? That could mean you might not make a dime for five to ten years. It wouldn’t just have to sell; it would have to make money.”

“I know,” she replied to Violet. “Like Sarai said, I just like doing it, and I know the hardware component could help you out. All I’d ask is that if you use any part of my design, I get credit for that part so that I can put it on my resume, so to speak.”

“Yeah, of course,” Violet confirmed. “You’d have full credit for anything you designed for us. I’ll need to talk to the lawyer and the board.”

“I know,” Sarai said before Gabi could.

“And they might say no due to legality and ownership concerns. We’d have to be sure that we own the device outright.”

“Make her a contractor and pay her a dollar a week or something,” Sarai suggested.

“Not a bad idea,” Violet replied. “I’ll run it by them and see what our options are. In the meantime, don’t start working on anything just yet, please. We don’t want any timing concerns if you start working on it before anything is signed.”

“I have been so busy moving and getting started at my new job that I haven’t had the time anyway,” Gabi replied.

“I’ll talk to them tomorrow to see what their thoughts are, but speaking of that job… Is there anything in your handbook or anything else you might have signed that would prevent this?”

“No. I re-read all that stuff to double-check after I mentioned the idea to Sarai, but I don’t make hardware for them, only working on the software since they don’t have hardware anyway. I’m even allowed to freelance on the side as long as it doesn’t interfere with my job. I didn’t sign a non-compete, and I’m pretty sure those are illegal now, too, even if I did, but I’d have to look into it.”

“Can you get me those docs just in case?” Violet requested. “I’d like the lawyer to review them.”

“I can send them over today. I have the PDFs I signed on my computer.”

“Okay. Great. I’ll talk to the board and the lawyer tomorrow. I’m going to go check on Arlowe. Where did Enya go?”

Gabi turned around and shook her head.

“The garage,” Sarai said.

“You’re coming to our housewarming party tonight, yeah?” Violet asked.

Gabi waited for Sarai’s answer, but when she didn’t hear it, she turned to see both of them looking at her expectantly.

“Oh. Me?”

“Yeah, you. Sarai’s attendance is obligatory,” Violet said.

“I didn’t get you a gift,” Sarai replied.

“Um… Yeah, I’ll be there. Should I have gotten you a gift? I didn’t even know there was a housewarming party until Sarai told me last night.”

“We don’t need gifts,” Violet replied, standing up. “Just come as you are. Well, maybe put on jeans or something.”