<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                               RETENTION AGREEMENT


         This Retention Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into as of April
4, 2000, by and between William Seippel ("Employee") and Digital Commerce
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Employer").


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


         WHEREAS, Employer wishes to employ Employee and Employee wishes to
accept such employment; and

         WHEREAS, the parties each desire to establish and set forth the terms
and conditions of Employee's employment with Employer.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. EMPLOYMENT. Employer agrees to employ Employee and Employee agrees
to be employed by Employer, for the term described on Annex A attached hereto
and incorporated herein by reference.

         2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Upon execution of this Agreement,
Employee shall diligently render his or her services to Employer in accordance
with the directives of Employer's Board of Directors and/or superior officers,
and shall use his or her best efforts and good faith in accomplishing such
directives. Employee agrees to devote his or her best efforts and substantially
all of his or her business time, abilities and attention to the business of
Employer. In addition, Employee shall perform the duties described on Annex B
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

         3. COMPENSATION. During the Employment Period (as defined in Annex A),
Employer will pay to Employee compensation in the amounts and form specified in
Annex C attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, payable in
semi-weekly installments or otherwise as is the policy of Employer from time to
time with respect to its employees on a general basis. In addition to such
compensation, Employee will be entitled to the benefits, if any, described in
Annex C during the Employment Period.

         4. REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. Employer shall reimburse Employee, in
accordance with Employer's normal reimbursement policy, for all reasonable
expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of Employee's duties pursuant
to this Agreement, but only after Employee submits a written, itemized and
signed list of such expenses on a form supplied by Employer for such purpose.



<PAGE>   2

         5. TERMINATION.

         (a)      Employer may terminate Employee's employment if he or she is
                  unable to perform the essential functions of his or her
                  position with a reasonable accommodation for ninety (90)
                  consecutive days or for a total of one hundred twenty (120)
                  days during any twelve (12) month period.

         (b)      Employer may terminate Employee's employment under this
                  Agreement at any time and without prior written notice to
                  Employee for Cause (defined below) by delivery of written
                  notice of termination to Employee. "Cause" is defined to
                  include:

                  (1)      fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement involving
                           Employer;

                  (2)      felony conviction or conviction of a crime involving
                           moral turpitude or which, in the opinion of the Board
                           of Directors (in their sole discretion), brings
                           Employee or Employer into disrepute or causes
                           material harm to Employer's business, customer or
                           supplier relations or financial condition or
                           prospects;

                  (3)      Employee's failure to obey or carry out (A)
                           reasonable directives from Employer senior management
                           or (B) Employer's company policies;

                  (4)      inability or material failure by Employee to
                           substantially perform his or her duties hereunder;

                  (5)      any material breach of this Agreement by Employee; or

                  (6)      any material breach or threatened material breach of
                           (i) the Confidentiality Agreement and/or (ii) the
                           Noncompetition Agreement entered into by and between
                           Employer and Employee as of the date hereof pursuant
                           to the provisions of Paragraphs 6 and 7 of this
                           Agreement;

                  provided, however, in the case of subparagraphs (3), (4) and
                  (5) of this Section 5(b), the Employee shall have been
                  informed in writing of the act, or failure to act,
                  constituting Cause for termination, and shall have failed to
                  cure such act or failure to act within thirty (30) days
                  following receipt of written notice thereof.

         (c)      Employer may terminate Employee's employment under this
                  Agreement at any time and without prior written notice to
                  Employee without Cause upon payment of the severance benefit
                  set forth in Annex D attached hereto.

         (d)      Employee's employment under this Agreement shall automatically
                  terminate upon Employee's death.



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<PAGE>   3

         (e)      Employee may terminate his or her employment hereunder upon
                  giving at least ninety (90) days' prior written notice. In the
                  event that Employee gives notice of termination of this
                  Agreement pursuant to this subsection, Employer shall have the
                  right to terminate Employee prior to the end of such ninety
                  (90) day period upon payment of Employee's compensation for
                  such ninety (90) day period.

         6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Employee and Employer shall enter into a
Confidentiality/Intellectual Property Agreement in the form of Annex E attached
hereto, the terms of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

         7. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. Employee and Employer shall enter into a
Noncompetition Agreement in the form of Annex F attached hereto, the terms of
which are incorporated herein by this reference.

         8. INDEPENDENT COVENANTS. It is understood by and between the parties
hereto that the restrictive covenants set forth in the Confidentiality Agreement
and the Noncompetition Agreement are essential elements of this Agreement, and
that, but for the agreement of the Employee to comply with such covenants, the
Employer would not have agreed to enter into this Agreement. Such covenants by
the Employee shall be construed as agreements independent of any other provision
in this Agreement. The existence of any claim or cause of action of the Employee
against the Employer, whether predicated on this Agreement, or otherwise, shall
not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Employer of such covenants.

         9. RIGHT TO ENTER AGREEMENT. Employee represents and covenants to
Employer that he or she has full power and authority to enter into this
Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and the Non-Competition Agreement
(hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Agreements") and that the
execution, delivery and/or performance of the Agreements will not breach or
constitute a default of any other agreement or contract to which he or she is a
party or by which he or she is bound.

         10. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement and the rights and/or obligations of
Employee under this Agreement may not be assigned or delegated. Employer may
assign and/or delegate its rights and/or obligations hereunder to a subsidiary
or affiliate of Employer or to a successor corporation in the event of merger,
consolidation or transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
Employer or of Employer's business.

         11. NOTICES. All notices, demands, requests or other communications
that may be or are required to be given, served or sent by either party to the
other party pursuant to this Agreement will be in writing and will be mailed by
first-class, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram or facsimile transmission
addressed as follows:



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

         (a) If to Employer:                Digital Commerce Corporation
                                            575 Herndon Parkway, 2nd Floor
                                            Herndon, Virginia 20170
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                            (703) 391-9589

                                            Attn: Tony Bansal, President

             with a copy (which will
             not constitute notice) to:     Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.
                                            5400 Renaissance Tower
                                            1201 Elm Street
                                            Dallas, Texas  75270
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                            (214) 745-5390

                                            Attn: Robert E. Crawford, Jr., Esq.

         (b) If to Employee:                William Seippel
                                            11388 Seneca Knoll Drive
                                            Great Falls, Virginia  22066
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                                                       ---------

             with a copy (which will
             not constitute notice) to:
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            ------------------------------------

                                            ------------------------------------

                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                                                       ---------
                                            Attn:
                                                 -------------------------------

Either party may designate by written notice a new address to which any notice,
demand, request or communication may thereafter be given, served or sent. Each
notice, demand, request or communication that is mailed, delivered or
transmitted in the manner described above will be deemed sufficiently given,
served, sent and received for all purposes at such time as it is delivered to
the addressee with the return receipt, the delivery receipt, the affidavit of
messenger or (with respect to a facsimile transmission) the answer back being
deemed conclusive evidence of such delivery or at such time as delivery is
refused by the addressee upon presentation.

         12. GENDER. Words of any gender used in this Agreement will be held and
construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number will be
held to include the plural, unless the context otherwise requires.

         13. WAIVER. No failure or delay in exercising any right hereunder will
operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise thereof
preclude any other or further exercise or the exercise of any other right.



                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

         14. SEVERABILITY. If any of the provisions of this Agreement are
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability
will not invalidate or render unenforceable the remainder of this Agreement, but
rather the entire Agreement will be construed as if not containing the
particular invalid or unenforceable provision or provisions, and the rights and
obligations of the parties will be construed and enforced accordingly. The
parties acknowledge that if any provision of this Agreement is determined to be
invalid or unenforceable, it is their desire and intention that such provision
be reformed and construed in such manner that it will, to the maximum extent
practicable, be deemed to be valid and enforceable.

         15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except for that certain Employment Agreement,
dated as of October 8, 1999, between Employer and Employee, that certain
Indemnification Agreement dated March 13, 2000 and prior options, bonuses or
similar awards made prior to the date hereof (the "Prior Agreements"), the terms
and provisions contained in the Agreements shall constitute the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to Employee's employment by Employer during the
Employment Period. Except for the Prior Agreements, the Agreements replace and
supersede any and all existing agreements entered into between Employee and
Employer relating generally to the same subject matter, if any, and shall be
binding upon Employee's heirs, executors, administrators or other legal
representatives or assigns. In no event will this Agreement be deemed to modify
or alter any benefits provided to Employee pursuant to the Prior Agreements.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in the event of any
conflict between any provision of this Agreement (and the agreements annexed
thereto) and any provision of any Prior Agreement, as such may be amended from
time to time, all such agreements shall be interpreted so that the provisions
providing the more favorable treatment to the Employee shall govern. In no event
will Employer be obligated to duplicate benefits provided under any such
agreements.

         16. MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement may not be changed or
modified or released or discharged or abandoned or otherwise terminated in whole
or in part, except by an instrument in writing signed by Employee and an officer
or other authorized representative of Employer.

         17. UNDERSTANDING OF AGREEMENT. Employee represents and warrants that
he or she has read and understands each and every provision of this Agreement,
and Employee understands that he or she is free to obtain advice from legal
counsel of choice, if necessary and desired, in order to interpret any and all
provisions of this Agreement, and that Employee has freely and voluntarily
entered into this Agreement.

         18. SURVIVAL. The terms of this Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect during the continuation of Employee's employment. The Confidentiality
Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement and paragraphs 10 through 21 of this
Agreement will survive the termination of Employee's employment for any reason.

         19. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS AND
DOCUMENTS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF



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<PAGE>   6

VIRGINIA (EXCLUSIVE OF CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES) AND WILL, TO THE MAXIMUM
EXTENT PRACTICABLE, BE DEEMED TO CALL FOR PERFORMANCE IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.
COURTS WITHIN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WILL HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY AND ALL
DISPUTES BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. THE PARTIES CONSENT TO AND AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS. VENUE IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE, WHETHER IN FEDERAL OR
STATE COURT, WILL BE LAID IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY
WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY CLAIM THAT (i) SUCH PARTY IS NOT PERSONALLY
SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, (ii) SUCH PARTY AND SUCH PARTY'S
PROPERTY IS IMMUNE FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS ISSUED BY SUCH COURTS OR (iii) ANY
LITIGATION COMMENCED IN SUCH COURTS IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

         20. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which
will be deemed to be a single agreement. This Agreement will be considered fully
executed when all parties have executed an identical counterpart,
notwithstanding that all signatures may not appear on the same counterpart.

         21. THIRD PARTIES. Except as expressly set forth or referred to in this
Agreement, nothing in this Agreement is intended or will be construed to confer
upon or give to any party other than the parties to this Agreement and their
successors and permitted assigns, if any, any rights or remedies under or by
reason of this Agreement.

         22. HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.


                 [BALANCE OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]



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<PAGE>   7

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

EMPLOYEE:                              EMPLOYER:

                                       DIGITAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

                                       By:    /s/ John Poindexter
                                             -----------------------------------
Name:  /s/ William Seippel             Name:  John Poindexter
       ----------------------------          -----------------------------------
       William Seippel                 Title: Director
                                             -----------------------------------
Dated: April 4, 2000                   Dated: April 4, 2000
       ----------------------------          -----------------------------------



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<PAGE>   8

                                     ANNEX A

                               TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

         Employer agrees to employ Employee and Employee agrees to be employed
by Employer, for a term of twelve (12) months commencing on the date hereof and
ending on April 4, 2001 (the "Employment Period"), unless earlier terminated as
provided herein. Unless Employee or Employer gives written notice of intention
not to renew this Agreement no later than sixty (60) days prior to its
expiration, this Agreement shall automatically continue in effect for, and the
Employment Period will automatically be extended by, successive additional
twelve (12) month terms subject to all other terms and conditions contained
herein.



<PAGE>   9

                                     ANNEX B

                               DUTIES OF EMPLOYEE


         The duties of Employee will be as described in that certain Employment
Agreement between Employer and Employee dated as of October 8, 1999.



<PAGE>   10

                                     ANNEX C

                            COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS


         Employee shall be entitled to such compensation and benefits as are
described in that certain Employment Agreement between Employer and Employee
dated as of October 8, 1999.


                                     ANNEX D

                                SEVERANCE BENEFIT

         I. If the Company terminates the Employee's employment for reasons
other than for Cause (as defined in the Retention Agreement of which this is an
Annex) or because of disability (as defined in Section 5(a) of the Retention
Agreement):

         (1)      The Company shall pay to the Employee: (a) his or her salary,
                  as in effect on the date of termination, through the effective
                  date of the termination of his or her employment (the
                  "Termination Date"), (b) all unpaid and pro rata amounts to
                  which the Employee is entitled as of the Termination Date
                  under any compensation plan or program of the company,
                  including, without limitation, accrued but unused vacation
                  time, and (c) all unpaid and pro rata amounts to which the
                  Employee is entitled under any incentive performance bonus as
                  of the end of the Company's fiscal quarter in which the
                  Termination Date occurs. The Company will make the payments
                  set forth in subparagraphs (b) and (c) at times mutually
                  agreed upon with the Employee.

         (2)      The Company shall pay to the Employee fifty percent (50%) of
                  the Employee's salary for the lesser of (a) the remaining
                  duration of the Employment Period subsequent to the
                  Termination Date, or (b) one year from the Termination Date.

         (3)      Employee may continue to participate in, and accrue benefits
                  under, all insurance, retirement, pension, 401(k) plans,
                  thrift and other deferred compensation plans of the Company
                  for the lesser of (a) the remaining term of the Employment
                  Period following the Termination Date or (b) six (6) months
                  following the Termination Date, except to the extent such
                  continued participation and/or accrual is prohibited by law,
                  or to the extent that such plan constitutes a "qualified plan"
                  under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
                  amended (the "Code"), or by the terms of the plan, in which
                  case the Company shall provide the Employee a substantially
                  equivalent, unfunded, nonqualified benefit.

         II. If the Company terminates the Employee's employment for Cause, or
if the Employee terminates his or her Employment for any reason, the Employee
will only be entitled to receive the amounts set forth in subparagraphs I.1(a)
and I.1(b) above.



<PAGE>   11

                                     ANNEX E

                 CONFIDENTIALITY/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT



         This Confidentiality Agreement (this "Agreement"), is entered into as
of April 4, 2000, by and between William Seippel ("Employee") and Digital
Commerce Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, Employee is employed by the Company;

         WHEREAS, in the course of Employee's employment with the Company,
         Employee may have access to or have disclosed to him or her
         Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined); and

         WHEREAS, the parties each desire to establish and set forth Employee's
obligations with respect to Confidential Information and certain other matters.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual
representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following words
shall have the following meanings:

                  (a) "Affiliated Entity" means any entity which controls, is
         controlled by or is under common control with the Company.

                  (b) "Copyright Registrations" means any domestic or foreign
         copyright registrations and applications for such registrations,
         including all or any portion of a Copyright Work or other subject
         matter identified by any such registration or application.

                  (c) "Copyright Works" means materials for which copyright
         protection may be obtained including, but not limited to: literary
         works (including all written material), computer programs, artistic and
         graphic works (including designs, graphs, drawings, blueprints and
         other works), recordings, models, photographs, slides, motion pictures
         and audio-visual works, regardless of the form or manner in which
         documented or recorded;



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<PAGE>   12

                  (d) "Inventions" means inventions (whether patentable or not),
         discoveries, improvements, designs and ideas (whether or not shown or
         described in writing or reduced to practice) and may include
         Confidential Information or Copyright Works;

                  (e) "Patent Applications" means any application to obtain a
         Patent, including any Inventions or other subject matter described or
         protected by such application.

                  (f) "Patents" means any domestic or foreign patents, including
         any Inventions or other subject matter described or protected by such
         patents.

         2. Confidential Information.

                  (a) Employee acknowledges that during his or her employment
         with the Company, he or she will be provided with and become acquainted
         with various trade secrets and other proprietary/confidential
         information which are owned by the Company or any Affiliated Entity
         and/or their respective customers and vendors and which are used in the
         operation of the business of the Company or an Affiliated Entity,
         including, without limitation, one or more of the following types of
         information: customer lists; the nature and type of services rendered
         to customers; fees paid by customers; methodologies; computer code and
         programs; formulas; processes; compilations of information; drawings;
         results of research proposals; job notes; reports; records; trade
         secrets; and specifications. Employee agrees that he or she will not
         disclose any trade secrets or other proprietary/confidential
         information owned by the Company or any Affiliated Entity and/or their
         respective customers and vendors whether or not listed by way of
         example above (collectively, the "Confidential Information"), directly
         or indirectly, or use such Confidential Information in any way, either
         during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, except as
         may be required in the course of his or her employment with the Company
         or by law.

                  (b) Employee shall not, without the prior written approval of
         the Company, publish or authorize or purport to authorize anyone to
         publish, either during Employee's employment with the Company or
         subsequent thereto, any Confidential Information acquired in the course
         of his or her employment.

                  (c) The prohibitions of this paragraph shall not apply to any
         Confidential Information which (i) becomes generally available to the
         public other than as a result of disclosure by Employee, (ii) was
         available to Employee on a non-confidential basis prior to its
         disclosure to Employee by the Company, or (iii) becomes available to
         Employee on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the
         Company when such source is entitled, to the best of Employee's
         knowledge, to make the disclosure to Employee.



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<PAGE>   13

         3. Inventions, Patents, and Copyright Works.

                  (a) Notification of the Company. Upon conception by Employee
         during the period of his or her employment by the Company, all
         Inventions, Confidential Information, and Copyright Works (1) which
         relate to the actual or anticipated business, research or activities of
         the Company or any Affiliated Entity at the time of conception; or (2)
         which, directly or indirectly, result from or are suggested by any work
         which Employee has done or may do for or on behalf of the Company or
         any Affiliated Entity and/or their respective customers and vendors; or
         (3) which are developed, tested, improved or investigated either in
         part or entirely on time for which Employee was paid by the Company, or
         using any resources of the Company (such Inventions, Confidential
         Information and Copyright Works, together with the Inventions,
         Confidential Information, Copyright Works, Copyright Registrations
         and/or Patents referenced in subsection (j) below, are hereinafter
         collectively referred to as the "Employee Developed Intellectual
         Property") shall become the property of the Company whether or not
         patent or copyright registration applications are filed for such
         subject matter. Employee agrees to communicate to the Company promptly
         and fully all Employee Developed Intellectual Property made, designed,
         created, or conceived by Employee (whether made, designed, created, or
         conceived solely by Employee or jointly with others).

                  (b) Transfer of Rights. Employee agrees, during his or her
         employment by the Company, to assign and transfer to the Company all of
         Employee's right, title and interest in all Employee Developed
         Intellectual Property prepared, made or conceived by or on behalf of
         Employee (whether solely or jointly with others) during the period of
         his or her employment by the Company. Employee also agrees to do all
         things necessary to transfer to the Company all of Employee's right,
         title and interest in and to all such Employee Developed Intellectual
         Property as the Company may request, on such forms as the Company may
         provide, at any time during or after Employee's employment by the
         Company. This subsection shall continue in full force and effect after
         termination of Employee's employment by the Company and after the
         termination of this Agreement. Without limiting Employee's obligations
         under any other provision of this Agreement, Employee will promptly and
         fully assist the Company during and subsequent to his or her employment
         in every lawful way to obtain, protect and enforce Employee's patent,
         copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights with respect to
         Employee Developed Intellectual Property in any and all countries or
         other jurisdictions. The Company will reimburse Employee for reasonable
         expenses incurred by Employee in connection with such post-employment
         assistance. Employee waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
         all "moral rights" of Employee with respect to Employee Developed
         Intellectual Property assigned and/or transferred to the Company.



                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
                  (c) Exclusions. No provision in this Agreement is intended to
         require assignment of any of Employee's rights in an Invention, Patent
         or Copyright Work, for which no equipment, supplies, facilities,
         Confidential Information, Copyright Works, Inventions or Patents of the
         Company was used, and which was (1) developed entirely on Employee's
         own time; (2) does not relate to the business of the Company or any
         Affiliated Entity or to the actual or demonstrably anticipated research
         or development of the Company or any Affiliated Entity; and (3) does
         not result from any work performed by Employee for the Company or
         assigned to Employee by the Company.

                  (d) Rights in Copyrights. Unless otherwise agreed in writing
         by the Company, all Copyright Works prepared wholly or partially by
         Employee (alone or jointly with others) within the scope of his or her
         employment by the Company, shall be deemed a "work made for hire" under
         the copyright laws and shall be owned by the Company. Employee
         understands that any assignment or release of such works can only be
         made by the Company. During the period of his or her employment by the
         Company, Employee shall not assist or work with any third party that is
         not an employee of the Company to create or prepare any Copyright Works
         without the prior written consent of the Company.

                  (e) Assistance in Preparation of Applications. Without
         limiting Employee's obligations under any other provision of this
         Agreement, Employee will promptly and fully assist, if requested by the
         Company, in the preparation and filing of Patent Applications and
         Copyright Registrations in any and all countries or other jurisdictions
         selected by the Company and will assign to the Company all of
         Employee's right, title, and interest in and to such Patent
         Applications and Copyright Registrations, as well as all Inventions or
         Copyright Works to which such Patent Applications and Copyright
         Registrations pertain, to enable any such properties to be prosecuted
         under the direction of the Company and to ensure that any Patent or
         Copyright Registration obtained will validly issue to the Company. This
         subsection shall continue in full force and effect after termination of
         Employee's employment by the Company and after the termination of this
         Agreement.

                  (f) Execute Documents. Without limiting Employee's obligations
         under any other provision of this Agreement, Employee will promptly
         sign any and all lawful papers, take all lawful oaths, and do all
         lawful acts, including testifying, at the request of the Company, in
         connection with the procurement, grant, enforcement, maintenance,
         exploitation or defense against assertion of any patent, trademark,
         copyright, trade secret or related rights, including applications for
         protection or registration thereof. Such lawful papers include, but are
         not limited to, any and all powers, assignments, affidavits,
         declarations and other papers deemed by the Company to be necessary or



                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
         advisable. This subsection shall continue in full force and effect
         after termination of Employee's employment by the Company and after
         the termination of this Agreement.

                  (g) Keep Records. Without limiting Employee's obligations
         under any other provision of this Agreement, Employee will keep and
         regularly maintain adequate and current written records of all
         Inventions, Confidential Information, and Copyright Works he or she
         participates in creating, conceiving, developing or manufacturing. Such
         records shall be kept and maintained in the form of notes, sketches,
         drawings, reports or other documents relating thereto, bearing at least
         the date of preparation and the signature or name of each person
         contributing to the subject matter reflected in the record. Such
         records, to the extent they pertain to Employee Developed Intellectual
         Property, shall be and shall remain the exclusive property of the
         Company and shall be made available to the Company at all times. All of
         such records pertaining to work produced pursuant to subsection (c)
         hereof will at all times remain the property of Employee. This
         subsection shall continue in full force and effect after termination of
         Employee's employment by the Company and after the termination of this
         Agreement.

                  (h) Return of Documents, Equipment, Etc. Without limiting
         Employee's obligations under any other provision of this Agreement, all
         writings, records, and other documents and things comprising,
         containing, describing, discussing, explaining or evidencing any
         Employee Developed Intellectual Property and all equipment, components,
         parts, tools and the like in Employee's custody or possession that have
         been obtained or prepared in the course of Employee's employment by the
         Company shall be the exclusive property of the Company, shall not be
         copied and/or removed from the premises of the Company, except in
         pursuit of the business of the Company, and shall be delivered to the
         Company, without Employee retaining any copies, upon notification of
         the termination of Employee's employment by the Company or at any other
         time requested by the Company. The Company shall have the right to
         retain, access, and inspect all property of Employee of any kind in the
         office, work area, and on the premises of the Company upon termination
         of Employee's employment by the Company and at any time during
         employment by the Company, to ensure compliance with the terms of this
         Agreement. This subsection shall continue in full force and effect
         after termination of Employee's employment by the Company and after the
         termination of this Agreement.

                  (i) Other Contracts. Employee represents and warrants that he
         or she is not a party to any existing contract relating to the granting
         or assignment to others of any interest in Inventions, Confidential
         Information, Copyright Works or



                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
         Patents hereafter made by Employee except insofar as copies of such
         contracts, if any, are attached to Annex A of this Agreement.

                  (j) Assignment After Termination. Employee recognizes that
         ideas, Inventions, Confidential Information, Copyright Works, Copyright
         Registrations, Patent Applications or Patents relating to his or her
         activities while working for the Company that are conceived or made by
         Employee, alone or with others, within one (1) year after termination
         of his or her employment may have been conceived in significant part
         while Employee was employed by the Company. Accordingly, Employee
         agrees that such ideas, Inventions, Confidential Information, Copyright
         Works, Copyright Registrations, Patent Applications or Patents shall be
         presumed to have been conceived and made during his or her employment
         with the Company and are to be assigned to the Company pursuant to this
         Agreement unless Employee can prove otherwise. This subsection shall
         continue in full force and effect after termination of Employee's
         employment by the Company and after the termination of this Agreement.

                  (k) Prior Conceptions. Employee has set forth on Annex B
         attached hereto what he or she represents and warrants to be a complete
         list of all Inventions, if any, or Copyright Works, including a brief
         description thereof (without revealing any confidential or proprietary
         information of any other party) which Employee conceived, created,
         developed or made, or participated in the conception, creation,
         development or making of prior to his or her employment by the Company
         and for which Employee claims full or partial ownership or other
         interest, or which are in the physical possession of a former employer
         and which in either case are therefore excluded from the scope of this
         Agreement.

                  (l) Conflicts of Interest. Employee agrees that for the
         duration of this Agreement, he or she will not engage, either directly
         or indirectly, in any activity which might adversely affect the Company
         or any Affiliated Entity (a "Conflict of Interest"), including
         ownership of a material interest in any supplier, contractor,
         distributor, subcontractor, customer or other entity with which the
         Company does business or accepting any payment, service, loan, gift,
         trip, entertainment or other favor from a supplier, contractor,
         distributor, subcontractor, customer or other entity with which the
         Company or any Affiliated Entity does business and that Employee will
         promptly inform an officer of the Company as to each offer received by
         Employee to engage in any such activity. Employee further agrees to
         disclose to the Company any other facts of which Employee becomes aware
         which might involve or give rise to a Conflict of Interest or potential
         Conflict of Interest. The Company agrees that Employee is otherwise
         free on his or her own time and at his or her own expense to engage in
         other activities that do not create an actual or potential Conflict of
         Interest.



                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

         4. Confidential Information of Prior Companies. Employee will not
disclose or use during the period of his or her employment by the Company any
proprietary or confidential information or Copyright Works of a third party in
fulfilling his or her duties under this Agreement.

         5. Right to Enter Agreement. Employee represents and warrants to the
Company that he or she has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not
breach or constitute a default of any other agreement or contract to which he or
she is a party or by which he or she is bound.

         6. Injunctive Relief. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any breach
or violation by Employee of this Agreement will result in immediate and
irreparable injury and harm to the Company and will cause damage to the Company
in amounts difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, in the event of a breach or
threatened breach by Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement,
Employee agrees that the Company, in addition to and not in limitation of any
other rights, remedies or damages available to the Company at law or in equity,
shall be entitled to a preliminary and permanent injunction in order to prevent
or restrain any such further breach by Employee or Employee's partners, agents,
representatives, servants, companies, employees and/or any and all persons
directly or indirectly acting for or with Employee. Employee acknowledges and
agrees that the remedies contained in this Paragraph 6 are reasonably related to
the injuries the Company may sustain as a result of Employee's breach of his or
her obligations under this Agreement, and are not a penalty. It is further
understood and agreed that no failure or delay by the Company in exercising any
right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall
any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder.

         7. Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS AND
DOCUMENTS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA (EXCLUSIVE OF CONFLICTS OF LAW
PRINCIPLES) AND WILL, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE, BE DEEMED TO CALL FOR
PERFORMANCE IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. COURTS WITHIN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WILL
HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY AND ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO, WHETHER
IN LAW OR EQUITY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE
AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. THE PARTIES CONSENT
TO AND AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS. VENUE IN ANY SUCH
DISPUTE, WHETHER IN FEDERAL OR STATE



                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18

COURT, WILL BE LAID IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES,
AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUCH DISPUTE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, ANY CLAIM THAT (i) SUCH PARTY IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, (ii) SUCH PARTY AND SUCH PARTY'S PROPERTY IS IMMUNE
FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS ISSUED BY SUCH COURTS OR (iii) ANY LITIGATION COMMENCED
IN SUCH COURTS IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

         8. Notices. All notices, demands, requests or other communications that
may be or are required to be given, served or sent by either party to the other
party pursuant to this Agreement will be in writing and will be mailed by
first-class, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram or facsimile transmission
addressed as follows:

         (a) If to Company:                 Digital Commerce Corporation
                                            575 Herndon Parkway, 2nd Floor
                                            Herndon, Virginia  20170
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                            (703) 391-9589

                                            Attn: Tony Bansal, President

             with a copy (which will
             not constitute notice) to:     Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.
                                            5400 Renaissance Tower
                                            1201 Elm Street
                                            Dallas, Texas  75270
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                            (214) 745-5390

                                            Attn: Robert E. Crawford, Jr., Esq.

         (b) If to Employee:                William Seippel
                                            11388 Seneca Knoll Drive
                                            Great Falls, VA  22066
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                                                       ---------



                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19

             with a copy (which will
             not constitute notice) to:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                                                       ---------

                                            Attn:
                                                 -------------------------------

Either party may designate by written notice a new address to which any notice,
demand, request or communication may thereafter be given, served or sent. Each
notice, demand, request or communication that is mailed, delivered or
transmitted in the manner described above will be deemed sufficiently given,
served, sent and received for all purposes at such time as it is delivered to
the addressee with the return receipt, the delivery receipt, the affidavit of
messenger or (with respect to a facsimile transmission) the answer back being
deemed conclusive evidence of such delivery or at such time as delivery is
refused by the addressee upon presentation.

         9. Gender. Words of any gender used in this Agreement will be held and
construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number will be
held to include the plural, unless the context otherwise requires.

         10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the parties' entire
agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes
and replaces any prior agreement or understanding with respect to that subject
matter. This Agreement may not be amended or supplemented except pursuant to a
written instrument signed by the party against whom such amendment or supplement
is to be enforced.

         11. Understanding of Agreement. Employee represents and warrants that
he or she has read and understands each and every provision of this Agreement,
and Employee understands that he or she is free to obtain advice from legal
counsel of choice, if necessary and desired, in order to interpret any and all
provisions of this Agreement, and that Employee has freely and voluntarily
entered into this Agreement.

         12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which
will be deemed to be a single agreement. This Agreement will be considered fully
executed when all parties have executed an identical counterpart,
notwithstanding that all signatures may not appear on the same counterpart.

         13. Severability. If any of the provisions of this Agreement are
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability
will not invalidate



                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20

or render unenforceable the remainder of this Agreement, but rather the entire
Agreement will be construed as if not containing the particular invalid or
unenforceable provision or provisions, and the rights and obligations of the
parties will be construed and enforced accordingly. The parties acknowledge that
if any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable,
it is their desire and intention that such provision be reformed and construed
in such manner that it will, to the maximum extent practicable, be deemed to be
valid and enforceable.

         14. Third Parties. Except as expressly set forth or referred to in this
Agreement, nothing in this Agreement is intended or will be construed to confer
upon or give to any party other than the parties to this Agreement and their
successors and permitted assigns, if any, any rights or remedies under or by
reason of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence,
Employee acknowledges and agrees that his or her obligations under this
Agreement are intended to benefit each Affiliated Entity and may therefore be
enforced by each such Affiliated Entity.

         15. Assignment. This Agreement and the rights and/or obligations of
Employee under this Agreement may not be assigned or delegated. The Company may
assign or delegate its rights and/or obligations hereunder to a subsidiary or
affiliate of Company or to a successor entity in the event of merger,
consolidation or transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company or of the Company's business.

         16. Waiver. No failure or delay in exercising any right hereunder will
operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise thereof
preclude any other or further exercise or the exercise of any other right.

         17. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         18. Survival. As noted herein, this Agreement shall survive the
termination of Employee's employment with the Company and shall continue to be
of full force and effect.


                [BALANCE OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]



                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement
effective as of the date first above written.

                                       COMPANY:

                                       DIGITAL COMMERCE CORPORATION


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------


                                       EMPLOYEE:

                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       William Seippel



                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22

                                     ANNEX A

                                 OTHER CONTRACTS


                                     ANNEX B

                                PRIOR CONCEPTIONS



<PAGE>   23

                                     ANNEX F

                            NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT



         This Noncompetition Agreement (this "Agreement"), is entered into as of
April 4, 2000, by and between William Seippel ("Employee") and Digital Commerce
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and is entered into in
connection with that certain Retention Agreement, dated as of the date hereof
(the "Retention Agreement") by and between the parties hereto. Employee
recognizes and agrees that a portion of the compensation he or she is to receive
pursuant to the Retention Agreement is provided in consideration for the
agreements contained in this Agreement. Employee further acknowledges and agrees
that while employed pursuant to the Retention Agreement, Employee will be
provided with access to certain confidential information of the Company, will be
provided with specialized training on how to perform his or her duties, and will
be provided with contact with the Company's customers and potential customers.
In consideration of all of the foregoing, Employee agrees as follows:

         1. Noncompetition. During the term of the Retention Agreement and for a
period of one (1) year from the date of termination of his or her employment
with the Company for any reason, Employee shall not directly or indirectly enter
into or attempt to enter into any employment, consulting or other business
relationship, anywhere in the world where the Company does business, with a
Major Competitor (as defined below) of the Company with respect to a Competing
Line of Business (as defined below) operated by such Major Competitor
(collectively, "Compete"). For the purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

                  (a) Definitions. The words "directly or indirectly" as they
         modify the word Compete shall mean: (i) acting as an agent,
         representative, consultant, employee, director, independent contractor
         or employee of Major Competitors (defined in (b) below) in a Competing
         Line of Business (defined in (c) below), or (ii) participating in any
         such competing entity as an owner, partner, limited partner, joint
         venturer, creditor or stockholder (except as a stockholder holding less
         than a five percent (5%) interest in a corporation or a limited partner
         holding no more than a one percent (1%) interest in a limited
         partnership).

                  (b) Major Competitors. The term "Major Competitor" shall
         include the following organizations: Microsoft Corporation, America
         Online and its Netscape subsidiary, Yahoo!, PurchasePro, Ariba,
         Commerce One, VerticalNet, TRADE'ex, Chemdex, National Information
         Consortium, GSA*Advantage, PeopleSoft, Oracle, SAP, American Management
         Systems, CACI, IBM, and EDS and all affiliates and subsidiaries
         thereof. This list of Major Competitors may be amended from time to
         time by the Company upon ninety (90) days written notice to Employee.

                  (c) Competing Line of Business. Competing Line of Business
         shall mean any person or entity engaged in (i) the development,
         operation, maintenance or sales of e-commerce marketplace solutions for
         the "business-to-government,"



<PAGE>   24

         "business-to-business" or "business-to-consumer" segments of the
         e-commerce industry anywhere in the world, or (ii) any other
         significant line of business in which the Company may engage from time
         to time.

         2. Nonsolicitation. For a period of one (1) year from the termination
of his or her employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall not, on
his or her behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, directly or
indirectly, solicit, attempt to solicit, or accept any business from any person
or entity which purchased any products or services from the Company or any
Affiliated Entity (as hereinafter defined) during the one (1) year period
immediately preceding the termination of Employee's employment with the Company.
As used herein, the term "Affiliated Entity" will be deemed to mean any entity
which controls, is controlled by or which is under common control with the
Company.

         3. No Raiding. For a period of one (1) year from the termination of his
or her employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall not directly
or indirectly, on his or her behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity:
(i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any Affiliated
Entity to terminate his or her employment with the Company or any Affiliated
Entity; (ii) induce or attempt to induce any consultant or independent
contractor to the Company or any Affiliated Entity to terminate his or her
consultancy or contractual relationship with the Company or any Affiliated
Entity; and/or (iii) employ or retain, or attempt to employ or retain, any
employee of the Company or any Affiliated Entity.

         4. Conflicts of Interest. Employee agrees that for the duration of the
Retention Agreement, he or she will not engage, either directly or indirectly,
in any activity which might adversely affect the Company or any Affiliated
Entity, (a "Conflict of Interest") including ownership of a material interest in
any supplier, contractor, distributor, subcontractor, customer or other entity
with which the Company does business or accepting any payment, service, loan,
gift, trip, entertainment, or other favor from a supplier, contractor,
distributor, subcontractor, customer or other entity with which the Company or
any Affiliated Entity does business, and that Employee will promptly inform an
officer of the Company as to each offer received by Employee to engage in any
such activity. Employee further agrees to disclose to the Company any other
facts of which Employee becomes aware which might involve or give rise to a
Conflict of Interest or potential Conflict of Interest.

         5. Reaffirm Obligations. Upon termination of his or her employment with
the Company, Employee, if requested by the Company, shall reaffirm in writing
any of Employee's obligations set forth in this Agreement.

         6. Representation. Employee represents and warrants to the Company that
his or her execution and delivery of this Agreement, together with his or her
performance in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, does not conflict
with, or result in any breach by Employee or any violation by Employee of, any
other agreement to which Employee is a party or by which Employee is bound.

         7. Injunctive Relief. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any breach
or violation by Employee of this Agreement will result in immediate and
irreparable injury and



                                      -23-
<PAGE>   25

harm to the Company and will cause damage to the Company in amounts difficult to
ascertain. Accordingly, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by
Employee of any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employee agrees that the
Company, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or
damages available to the Company at law or in equity, shall be entitled to a
preliminary and permanent injunction in order to prevent or restrain any such
further breach by Employee or Employee's partners, agents, representatives,
servants, employers, employees and/or any and all persons directly or indirectly
acting for or with Employee. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the remedies
contained in this Paragraph 7 are reasonably related to the injuries the Company
may sustain as a result of Employee's breach of his or her obligations under
this Agreement, and are not a penalty. It is further understood and agreed that
no failure or delay by the Company in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any right, power or privilege hereunder.

         8. Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS AND
DOCUMENTS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA (EXCLUSIVE OF CONFLICTS OF LAW
PRINCIPLES) AND WILL, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE, BE DEEMED TO CALL FOR
PERFORMANCE IN ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA. COURTS WITHIN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WILL
HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY AND ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO, WHETHER
IN LAW OR EQUITY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE
AGREEMENTS, INSTRUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. THE PARTIES CONSENT
TO AND AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS. VENUE IN ANY SUCH
DISPUTE, WHETHER IN FEDERAL OR STATE COURT, WILL BE LAID IN ALEXANDRIA,
VIRGINIA. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY
SUCH DISPUTE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY CLAIM THAT
(i) SUCH PARTY IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS,
(ii) SUCH PARTY AND SUCH PARTY'S PROPERTY IS IMMUNE FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS
ISSUED BY SUCH COURTS OR (iii) ANY LITIGATION COMMENCED IN SUCH COURTS IS
BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

         9. Notices. All notices, demands, requests or other communications that
may be or are required to be given, served or sent by either party to the other
party pursuant to this Agreement will be in writing and will be mailed by
first-class, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram or facsimile transmission
addressed as follows:

         (a) If to the Company:             Digital Commerce Corporation
                                            575 Herndon Parkway, 2nd Floor
                                            Herndon, Virginia 20170
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                            (703) 391-9589

                                            Attn:  Tony Bansal, President



<PAGE>   26

             with a copy (which will
             not constitute notice) to:     Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C.
                                            5400 Renaissance Tower
                                            1201 Elm Street
                                            Dallas, Texas  75270
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                            (214) 745-5390

                                            Attn: Robert E. Crawford, Jr., Esq.

         (b) If to Employee:                William Seippel
                                            11388 Seneca Knoll Drive
                                            Great Falls, VA  22066
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                                                       ---------

             with a copy (which will
             not constitute notice) to:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Facsimile Transmission No.:
                                                                       ---------

                                            Attn:
                                                 -------------------------------

Either party may designate by written notice a new address to which any notice,
demand, request or communication may thereafter be given, served or sent. Each
notice, demand, request or communication that is mailed, delivered or
transmitted in the manner described above will be deemed sufficiently given,
served, sent and received for all purposes at such time as it is delivered to
the addressee with the return receipt, the delivery receipt, the affidavit of
messenger or (with respect to a facsimile transmission) the answer back being
deemed conclusive evidence of such delivery or at such time as delivery is
refused by the addressee upon presentation.

         10. Gender. Words of any gender used in this Agreement will be held and
construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number will be
held to include the plural, unless the context otherwise requires.

         11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the parties' entire
agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes
and replaces any prior agreement or understanding with respect to that subject
matter. This Agreement may not be amended or supplemented except pursuant to a
written instrument signed by the party against whom such amendment or supplement
is to be enforced.



<PAGE>   27

         12. Understanding of Agreement. Employee represents and warrants that
he or she has read and understands each and every provision of this Agreement,
and Employee understands that he or she is free to obtain advice from legal
counsel of choice, if necessary and desired, in order to interpret any and all
provisions of this Agreement, and that Employee has freely and voluntarily
entered into this Agreement.

         13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original and all of which
will be deemed to be a single agreement. This Agreement will be considered fully
executed when all parties have executed an identical counterpart,
notwithstanding that all signatures may not appear on the same counterpart.

         14. Severability. If any of the provisions of this Agreement are
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability
will not invalidate or render unenforceable the remainder of this Agreement, but
rather the entire Agreement will be construed as if not containing the
particular invalid or unenforceable provision or provisions, and the rights and
obligations of the parties will be construed and enforced accordingly. The
parties acknowledge that if any provision of this Agreement is determined to be
invalid or unenforceable, it is their desire and intention that such provision
be reformed and construed in such manner that it will, to the maximum extent
practicable, be deemed to be valid and enforceable.

         15. Third Parties. Except as expressly set forth or referred to in this
Agreement, nothing in this Agreement is intended or will be construed to confer
upon or give to any party other than the parties to this Agreement and their
successors and permitted assigns, if any, any rights or remedies under or by
reason of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence,
Employee acknowledges and agrees that his or her obligations under this
Agreement are intended to benefit each Affiliated Entity and may therefore be
enforced by such Affiliated Entity.

         16. Assignment. This Agreement and the rights and/or obligations of
Employee under this Agreement may not be assigned or delegated. The Company may
assign and/or delegate its rights hereunder to a subsidiary or affiliate of the
Company or to a successor corporation in the event of merger, consolidation or
transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or of
the Company's business.

         17. Waiver. No failure or delay in exercising any right hereunder will
operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise thereof
preclude any other or further exercise or the exercise of any other right.

         18. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS INTENTIONALLY BEEN LEFT BLANK]



<PAGE>   28

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement
effective as of the date first above written.


                                       COMPANY:

                                       DIGITAL COMMERCE CORPORATION


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                                  ------------------------------
                                             Title:
                                                   -----------------------------


                                       EMPLOYEE:


                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       William Seippel