Document:

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

           THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 2nd day of April,
2001, by and between VALESC INC., a New Jersey corporation ("Company"), and
GARRETT MILLER, an individual residing in the State of Pennsylvania
("Employee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                               - - - - - - - - - -

           WHEREAS, Company is in the business of marketing and selling health
care supplies, materials, devices and equipment (the "Business"); and

           WHEREAS, Company has begun to employ Employee and Employee has
entered into the employ of Company on the terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement.

           NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound,
hereby agree as follows:

           1. EMPLOYMENT. Company hereby employs Employee and Employee hereby
accepts employment with Company for the period and upon the terms and conditions
contained in this Agreement.

           2. OFFICE AND DUTIES.

               (a) Employee shall serve Company as its Vice President and shall
have all of the rights and duties of a vice president of a New Jersey
corporation, and such other authority and responsibilities as the Board of
Directors of Company may determine or direct from time to time.

               (b) Throughout the term of this Agreement, Employee shall devote
his working time, energy, skill and best efforts to the performance of his
duties hereunder in a manner which will faithfully and diligently further the
business and interests of Company.

           3. TERM. This Agreement shall be for an initial term commencing on
January 1, 2001 and ending on December 31, 2004 (the "Initial Term"), and shall
be automatically extended for successive periods of one year each (each, a
"Renewal Term") upon the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement
unless this Agreement is terminated by either party by giving the other party
notice of termination at least three (3) months before the expiration of the
then current term. (The Initial Term and all Renewal Terms (if any) shall be
collectively referred to herein as the "term".) For purposes of this Agreement,
the first "year" of the term of this Agreement will begin on January 1, 2001 and
end on December 31st, 2001 (the "First Year"), and each subsequent "year" will
begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

<PAGE>

           4.  COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.

               (a) BASE SALARY.

                         (i) For all of the services rendered by Employee to
Company, during each year of the Initial Term of his employment, Employee shall
receive: (i) during the First Year of the Initial Term, an annual base salary
equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 or (b) 2.5% of the Company's total revenue
for such year, up to a maximum of $150,000; (ii) during the Second Year of the
Initial Term, an annual base salary equal to the greater of (a) $55,000 or (b)
2.5% of the Company's total revenue for such year, up to a maximum of $165,000;
and (iii) during the Third Year of the Initial Term, an annual base salary equal
to the greater of (a) $60,500 or (b) 2.5% of the Company's total revenue for
such year, up to a maximum of $181,500. Each increase in annual base salary
during the Initial Term shall represent a 10% increase over the annual base
salary for the preceding year. Employee's salary shall be payable in bi-monthly
installments adjusted quarterly, as applicable, to reflect quarterly revenue
figures and otherwise in accordance with Company's regular payroll practices and
shall be subject to retention for all required deductions and withholdings
therefrom. The Board of Directors of Company may, by action of its Board of
Directors (with Employee abstaining from the vote on any such action), consider
one or more increases in the salary payable to Employee under this Agreement
with respect to any Renewal Term.

                         (ii) In the event that Company is not in a position,
due to its then- current financial situation, to make any salary payment(s) to
Employee, the unpaid salary shall accrue without interest. All accrued and
unpaid salary shall be immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of any
"change of control" of Company, as defined in Section 10(c)(ii) hereof.

               (b) BONUS. Employee shall be eligible to participate in bonuses
awarded to senior management to the extent that such bonuses are awarded or
authorized by the Board of Directors of Company from time to time during the
term of this Agreement.

           5.  BENEFITS; EXPENSES.

               (a) Throughout the term of this Agreement and as long as they are
kept in force by Company, Employee shall be entitled to participate in and
receive the benefits of any profit sharing or retirement plans and any health,
life, accident or disability insurance plans or programs made available to other
similarly situated employees of Company, subject to all of the terms and
conditions of such plans and programs.

               (b) Company will reimburse Employee for all reasonable expenses
incurred by Employee in connection with the performance of Employee's duties
hereunder upon receipt of receipts therefor and in accordance with Company's
regular reimbursement procedures and practices in effect from time to time.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

           6. STOCK OPTIONS. Employee will be granted the option to purchase a
total of 300,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Company (the "Shares").
Employee's options to purchase the Shares shall vest in equal installments of
100,000 Shares at the end of each year during the Initial Term of his
employment, so that, at the end of the three-year Initial Term, all of the
options to purchase the Shares shall have vested. The options shall be
exercisable for a period of three years following the date of vesting. The
exercise price for the Shares subject to the options shall be as follows: (i)
$.25 per Share for the 100,000 Shares that vest after the First Year; (ii) $.50
per Share for the 100,000 Shares that vest after the Second Year; and (iii) $.75
per Share for the 100,000 shares that vest after the Third Year. In the event
that Employee is terminated "without cause" by Company (as defined in Section
10(b) hereof) or that Employee terminates his employment "for good reason" (as
defined in Section 10(c) hereof), immediately upon such termination, any options
then outstanding that have neither vested nor been terminated as of such date,
shall vest and become subject to purchase by Employee.

           7.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

               (a) Employee acknowledges that Company has developed certain
proprietary and confidential information, whether written or oral, tangible or
intangible, whether machine readable or otherwise, which Company holds
confidential and which have not yet been disclosed to and are not generally
known by the public (collectively, the "Confidential Information").

               (b) Employee acknowledges that, while he is employed by Company,
he shall have access to such Confidential Information and agrees that all
Confidential Information which he shall obtain, acquire or have access to, both
during and after any expiration, termination or non-renewal of his employment,
and for all purposes, shall be regarded and maintained by him in the strictest
confidence, and shall not be disclosed, communicated or divulged, directly or
indirectly, to any unauthorized person without the prior written consent of
Company, except as may otherwise be required by law.

               (c) Employee agrees that all written material and documents
constituting Confidential Information are and shall remain the sole property of
Company. Upon any expiration, termination or non-renewal of his employment with
Company for any reason whatsoever, Employee shall immediately return all such
materials and all copies thereof in his possession or under his control to
Company.

               (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties acknowledge that
the term "Confidential Information" shall not apply to any information which:
(i) is or becomes a part of the public domain through no wrongful act of
Employee; or (ii) is rightfully obtained by Employee from a third party without
restriction and without breach of this Agreement or any similar agreement; or
(iii) is independently developed by Employee without access to Company's
information; or (iv) is known to Employee on or prior to the date of disclosure
to Employee; or (v) is required to be used or disclosed by applicable law, as
evidenced by a written opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to Company. In
any such event, Employee shall not have any obligation with respect to any such
information.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

           8.        OWNERSHIP.

               (a) Any and all writings, inventions, improvements, processes,
procedures and/or techniques which Employee may make, conceive, discover or
develop, either solely or jointly with any other person or persons, at any time
during the term of this Agreement, which relate to or are useful in connection
with the Business, shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company. Employee
shall make full disclosure to Company of all such writings, inventions,
improvements, processes, procedures and techniques, and shall do everything
necessary or desirable to vest absolute title thereto in Company. Employee shall
not be entitled to any additional or special compensation or reimbursement
regarding any and all such writings, inventions, improvements, processes,
procedures and techniques.

               (b) Employee acknowledges and agrees that all copyrightable
material generated or developed in connection with the services he provides to
Company, if any, will be considered works made for hire and that such material
will, upon its creation, be owned exclusively by Company. To the extent that
Employee may be entitled to claim any ownership interest in any of the writings,
inventions, improvements, processes, procedures and/or techniques described in
Section 8(a), whether copyrightable, patentable or otherwise, Employee hereby
assigns and transfers to Company all of his right, title and interest in and to
such materials, under patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark other
applicable laws, in perpetuity or for the longest period otherwise permitted by
law.

           9.        CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.

               (a) Employee agrees that:

                         (i) BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. During the term of this
Agreement, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, own an interest in,
operate, join, control or participate in, or be connected as an officer,
employee, agent, independent contractor, partner, shareholder or principal of
any corporation, partnership, proprietorship, firm, association, person or other
entity providing services and/or products or a combination thereof which
directly or indirectly compete with the Company's Business, and Employee will
not undertake planning for or organization of any business activity competitive
with the Company's Business or combine or conspire with other employees or
representatives of the Company's Business for the purpose of organizing any such
competitive business activity.

                         (ii) SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, ETC.
Employee will not, either during the period of employment, or during the period
of six (6) months after termination of employment, directly or indirectly,
either for itself or for any other person, firm, or corporation, compete for,
solicit, divert, or take away, or attempt to divert or take away, any of the
customers, suppliers, or advertisers of the Company whom Employee called upon,
had contact with, or whom Employee solicited or serviced or with whom Employee
became acquainted while engaged as an employee in the Company's business.

                         (iii) SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES, ETC. Employee will not
at any time, directly or indirectly, either for itself or for any other person,
firm, or corporation, induce or influence (or seek to induce or influence) any
person who is engaged (as an employee, agent, independent contractor or
otherwise) by the Company to terminate his or her employment or engagement.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

               (b) COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE.

                         (i) OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYEE. Employee acknowledges
that, as a key employee, Employee will be involved, on a high level, in the
development, implementation and management of the business strategies and plans
of the Company. By virtue of Employee's unique and sensitive position and
special background, employment of Employee by a competitor of the Company
represents a serious competitive danger to the Company and the Business, and the
use of Employee's talent and knowledge and information about the Company or the
Business can and would constitute a valuable competitive advantage over the
Company and the Business. In view of the foregoing, Employee covenants and
agrees as follows. For a period of six (6) months after the date of termination
of this Agreement, under any circumstances, or the end of the term of this
Agreement, Employee will not engage or be engaged, in any capacity, directly or
indirectly, including but not limited to as an employee, agent, consultant,
Employee, executive, owner or stockholder (except as a passive investor holding
less than a 1% equity interest in any enterprise the securities of which are
publicly traded) in any business entity doing business within 25 miles of the
Company which is engaged in competition with any business conducted by the
Company on the date of termination. This Covenant Not to Compete shall survive
the termination or expiration of the other provisions of this Agreement.

                         (ii) CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS. Employee agrees that, for
six (6) months following termination of employment with the Company, or the end
of the term of this Agreement, Employee shall keep the Company informed of the
identification of Employee's employer and the nature of such employment or of
Employee's self-employment. The Company agrees that, within fifteen (15) days
after receiving notice pursuant to this section of the identification of the
prospective employer, the nature of the employment or self-employment or any
change therein, the Company will advise Employee as to whether such employment
constitutes a violation of this Agreement. Employee further agrees that, for a
period of six (6) months following termination of employment with the Company,
or the end of the term of this Agreement, Employee shall notify each of his
subsequent employers of the existence of this Agreement, and the restrictive
covenants contained herein, by delivery of a copy of this Agreement to each such
employer.

                         (iii) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. Employee acknowledges that the
violation of the covenants contained in this Section would be detrimental and
cause irreparable injury to the Company and its affiliates which could not be
compensated by money damages. Employee agrees that an injunction from the
Supreme Court of the State of New York, or other court of competent
jurisdiction, is the appropriate remedy for these provisions, and consents to
the entry of an appropriate judgment enjoining Employee from violating these
provisions in the event there is a find of their breach.

                         (iv) SEVERABILITY. Employee agrees, in the event that
any provision of this Section or any word, phrase, clause, sentence or other
portion thereof shall be held to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason,
such provision or portion thereof shall be modified or deleted in such a manner
so as to make this Section, as modified, legal and enforceable to the fullest
extent permitted under applicable laws. The validity and enforceability of the
remaining provisions or portions thereof shall not be affected thereby and shall
remain valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under applicable
laws. A waiver of any breach of the provisions of this Section shall not be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other
provision.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

           10. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; SEVERANCE. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement:

               (a) TERMINATION "FOR CAUSE" BY COMPANY. During the term of this
Agreement, Company may, by action of its Board of Directors (with Employee
abstaining from the vote on any such action), terminate Employee's employment
with Company "for cause" (as defined in this Section 10(a)), by sending written
notice to Employee specifying with reasonable particularity the basis for such
termination. Upon any such termination, Employee's right to any further
compensation hereunder shall cease and terminate, except that Employee shall be
entitled to receive, on the terms and at the times specified in this Agreement:
(i) any salary earned through the date of termination of employment; (ii) the
reimbursement of any expenses incurred prior to the date of termination; and
(iii) a severance payment equal to one month's salary. For purposes of this
Section 10(a), termination by Company "for cause" shall mean and include
Employee's: (i) material breach, as determined by the Company, of any
proprietary information or confidentiality agreement entered into with Company,
including without limitation, the theft or other misappropriation of Company's
Confidential Information; (ii) indictment or conviction (including any plea of
nolo contendre) of any felony or any crime involving fraud or dishonesty
(whether or not related to his employment); (iii) participation in any fraud
against Company; or (iv) material breach, as determined by the Company, of his
duties to Company, which breach Employee shall have failed to correct within
thirty (30) days of receipt of written notification of the same by Company.

               (b) TERMINATION "WITHOUT CAUSE" BY COMPANY. During the term of
this Agreement, Company may, by action of its Board of Directors (with Employee
abstaining from the vote on any such action), terminate Employee's employment
with Company "without cause" (as defined in this Section 10(b)), by sending
written notice to Employee specifying with reasonable particularity the basis
for such termination. Upon any such termination, Employee's right to any further
compensation hereunder shall cease and terminate, except that Employee shall be
entitled to receive, on the terms and at the times specified in this Agreement:
(i) any salary earned through the date of termination of employment; (ii) the
reimbursement of any expenses incurred by Employee prior to the date of
termination; and (iii) a severance package, in which Employee shall receive an
amount equal to (x) Employee's monthly compensation at the time of termination,
multiplied by (y) the number of months remaining in the Initial Term or any
Renewal Term, as applicable. For purposes of this Section 10(b), an event or
occurrence constituting termination "without cause" shall be any termination by
Company that is not termination "for cause" as described in Section 10(a)
hereof, including without limitation the failure of Company to renew Employee's
employment at the end of the Initial Term.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

               (c) TERMINATION "FOR GOOD REASON" BY EMPLOYEE.

                         (i) During the term of this Agreement, Employee may
terminate his employment with Company "for good reason" (as defined in this
Section 10(c)(i)), by sending written notice to Company specifying with
reasonable particularity the basis for such termination. Upon any such
termination, Employee's right to any further compensation hereunder shall cease
and terminate, except that Employee shall be entitled to receive, on the terms
and at the times specified in this Agreement: (i) any salary earned through the
date of termination of employment; (ii) the reimbursement of any expenses
incurred by Employee prior to the date of termination; and (iii) a severance
package, in which Employee shall receive an amount equal to (x) Employee's
monthly compensation at the time of termination, multiplied by (y) the number of
months remaining in the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as applicable. For
purposes of this Section 10(c), termination "for good reason" by Employee shall
mean and include: (i) a significant negative change in the nature or scope of
Employee's position, authorities, duties or status from those described herein;
(ii) a forced relocation of Employee, (iii) a reduction in total compensation
from that provided herein; or (iv) a "change of control" of Company, as defined
in Section 10(c)(ii); or (v) a material breach of this Agreement by Company,
which breach Company shall have failed to correct within thirty (30) days of
receipt of written notification of the same by Employee.

                         (ii) As used in this Section 10(c), "change of control"
of Company shall occur either: (A) upon the sale of a controlling interest in
the capital stock of Company in a single transaction or in a group of related
transactions to one or more buyers acting in concert; (B) upon the sale of all
or substantially all of Company's assets; or (C) upon any corporate merger or
consolidation resulting in one or more parties, who did not previously hold a
controlling interest in the capital stock of Company, owning a controlling
interest in the capital stock of Company or its successor entity.

               (d) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE. If Employee desires to
voluntarily terminate his employment with Company for any reason other than "for
good reason" (as defined in Section 10(c) above), then Employee must give
Company at least one (1) month's prior written notice of his intention to do so.
Upon any such termination, Employee's right to any further compensation
hereunder shall cease and terminate, except that Employee shall be entitled to
receive, on the terms and at the times specified in this Agreement: (i) any
salary earned through the date of termination; (ii) the reimbursement of any
expenses incurred by Employee prior to the date of termination; and (iii) a
severance payment equal to one month's salary. For purposes of this Section
10(d), an event or occurrence constituting voluntary termination shall be any
termination by Employee that is not termination "for good reason" as described
in Section 10(c) hereof.

               (e) TERMINATION ON DISABILITY. If, during the term of this
Agreement, Employee has become "disabled" (as defined in this Section 10(e)),
then Company may, by action of its Board of Directors (with Employee abstaining
from the vote on any such action), terminate Employee's employment with Company,
upon written notice to Employee. Upon any such termination, Employee's right to
any further compensation hereunder shall cease and terminate, except that
Employee shall be entitled to receive, on the terms and at the times specified
in this Agreement: (i) any salary earned through the date of termination; (ii)
the reimbursement of any expenses incurred by Employee prior to the date of
termination; and (iii) a severance package, in which Employee shall receive an
amount equal to (x) Employee's monthly compensation at the time of termination,
multiplied by (y) the number of months remaining in the Initial Term or any
Renewal Term, as applicable. For purposes of this Section 10(e), Employee shall
be deemed to be "disabled" if, in the opinion of a medical doctor selected by
Company, he has been unable to perform, due to physical or mental disability,
substantially all of his duties of employment for a period of sixty (60) days
within any twelve (12) consecutive calendar months. In the event of a dispute as
to whether or not Employee shall be considered to be disabled, such facts shall
be determined by a medical doctor selected jointly by each of the medical
doctors engaged by Employee and Company.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

               (f) TERMINATION ON DEATH. In the event of Employee's death during
the term of this Agreement, then this Agreement shall automatically terminate
upon the date of death. Upon any such termination, Employee's right to any
further compensation hereunder shall cease and terminate, except that Employee's
estate (or a beneficiary otherwise designated in writing by Employee) shall be
entitled to receive, on the terms and at the times specified in this Agreement:
(i) any salary earned through the last day of the month of Employee's death;
(ii) the reimbursement of any expenses incurred by Employee prior to the date of
death; and (iii) a severance package, in which Employee's estate (or designated
beneficiary) shall receive an amount equal to (x) Employee's monthly
compensation at the time of termination, multiplied by (y) the number of months
remaining in the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as applicable.

               (g) RESIGNATION ON TERMINATION. Upon the termination of this
Agreement, whether by reason of its expiration or non-renewal, Employee shall
promptly submit to Company a written resignation from all positions held in
Company, if any, including without limitation any position as an officer or
director of Company.

               (h) TIMING OF PAYMENTS. Any payments required to be made under
this Section 10 to Employee shall be due and payable within sixty (60) days
after the date of termination.

               11. SURVIVAL. Except as specifically provided herein, the
provisions of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 hereof shall survive any
expiration, termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

           12. PRIOR AGREEMENTS. Employee represents to Company: (a) that there
are no restrictions, agreements or understandings whatsoever to which Employee
is a party which would prevent or make unlawful his execution of this Agreement
or his employment hereunder; and (b) that his execution of this Agreement and
his employment hereunder shall not constitute a breach of any contract,
agreement or understanding, oral or written, to which he is a party or by which
he is bound. Employee agrees that this Agreement shall supersede and replace in
its entirety the Employment Agreement dated April 1, 2001 between Employee and
the Company and that such previous agreement shall be of no further force or
effect.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

           13. MISCELLANEOUS.

                         (i) NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications required or permitted to be made hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be given by personal delivery, by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, first class postage prepaid, or by nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, in each case addressed to the party entitled to
receive the same at the address specified below:

(i)        If to Employee, then to:             (ii)   If to Company, then to:
                Mr. Garrett Miller
                                                             Valesc Inc.
                                                     2300 Coit Road, Suite 300B
                                                          Plano, TX 75075

Any party may alter the address to which communications are to be sent by giving
notice of such change of address in conformity with the provisions of this
Section providing for the giving of notice. Notice shall be deemed to be
effective, if personally delivered, when delivered; if mailed, at midnight on
the third business day after being sent by registered or certified mail; and if
sent by nationally recognized overnight delivery service, on the next business
day following delivery to such delivery service.

               (j) AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION. This Agreement may be amended,
modified and supplemented only by written agreement duly executed and delivered
by each of the parties hereto.

               (k) WAIVERS. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement
shall be valid or effective unless in writing and signed by the parties against
whom such waiver is sought to be enforced, and no waiver of any breach or
condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver or a
waiver of any other breach or condition.

               (l) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the legal relations among
the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New Jersey.

               (m) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously
in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

               (n) HEADINGS. The headings of the sections of this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not constitute a part hereof or affect in
any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

               (o) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire
agreement and understanding between and among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings,
inducements and conditions, whether express or implied, oral or written, except
as herein contained. The express terms hereof shall control and supersede any
course of performance and/or usage of trade inconsistent with any of the terms
hereof.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

               (p) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Neither party shall have the right or
power to assign or transfer any of its rights or delegate any of its duties
hereunder without the express prior written consent of all other parties hereto,
except that Company may assign this Agreement to any successor-in-interest to
all or substantially all of its business. Subject to the foregoing restriction,
this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns.

               (q) SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement are
independent of and separable from each other, and no provision shall be affected
or rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact that for any reason
any other or others of them may be found to be invalid or unenforceable in whole
or in part under applicable law.

               (j) ARBITRATION. Except as otherwise provided in Section
9(b)(iii), any dispute arising under or in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated herein shall be subject to arbitration before the
American Arbitration Association at the facility nearest the Company's principal
place of business.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by
their duly authorized agents on the day and year first above written.

                                            VALESC INC.

                                            By: ___________________________
                                                   Name:
                                                   Title:

                                            -------------------------------
                                            GARRETT MILLER

                                      -11-
<PAGE>Exhibit 10.23

                 EXECUTIVE RETENTION AGREEMENT

     THIS EXECUTIVE RETENTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into effective as of the 11th day of May, 2001 (the
"Effective Date"), by and between DAVID E. BOWE, an individual
("Executive"), and ASCENDANT SOLUTIONS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company").

                            RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Executive is now employed by the Company as its
President and Chief Executive Officer under the terms of an
employment agreement between Executive and the Company dated as
of August 8, 2000 (the "Prior Employment Agreement");

     WHEREAS, the parties have certain disputes arising under the
Prior Employment Agreement, and desire to compromise and settle
any differences, disputes, claims and potential claims between
them, rather than engage in the protracted, expensive and time
consuming efforts of litigation with the concomitant expenses of
attorneys fees, disbursements and loss of time by the parties,
and have mutually agreed to terminate the Prior Employment
Agreement without continuing liability thereunder for either
party;

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company ("Board")
recognizes that the Executive has contributed significantly to
the Company and desires to retain the services of Executive and
motivate him to continue to serve as the Company's President and
Chief Executive Officer until December 31, 2001, and in such
capacity, to inform and advise the Board during the Company's
financial restructuring, without Executive being influenced by
uncertainties of his own situation; and

     WHEREAS,  the Executive is willing to continue serving the
Company on the terms and conditions provided herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and
covenants herein contained, the Company and Executive agree as
follows:

                          AGREEMENT

     1.        Prior Employment Agreement.

          This Agreement shall become effective immediately upon
its execution by both parties, and subject to the terms and
conditions stated in this Agreement, supersedes and terminates
the Prior Employment Agreement in its entirety.  As such, the
parties hereto agree that, upon the execution hereof, the Prior
Employment Agreement shall be deemed cancelled by the parties
thereto, without further force or effect of any kind.

                            Page 1

<PAGE>

     2.   Mutual Release and Settlement.

          For and in consideration of the execution of this
Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged and
confessed, Executive and the Company hereby release, acquit and
forever discharge each other, from any and all claims, actions,
demands, rights, damages, costs, loss of profits, expenses,
compensation, complaints, allegations, or causes of action of any
kind whatsoever, at common law, by statute or otherwise which
they now have or might have, known or unknown, now existing,
directly or indirectly attributable to or arising out of any of
the transactions, dealings, or occurrences between Executive and
the Company, prior to the date of this Agreement, including
without limitation, the Prior Employment Agreement, it being the
intention of both the Executive and of the Company to release all
claims of any kind which he or it may now have against the other,
whether direct claims, indirect claims, or any other claims,
whether known or unknown.

     3.   Duties of Executive.

          (a)      Executive agrees to remain employed by the Company
through December 31, 2001 (the "Term") in his capacity as
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, to perform
customary functions and duties with respect to such position, and
to devote all of his working time and attention to the management
of the business affairs of the Company and take all actions and
do all things necessary or required to effectively implement the
Company's Plan of Asset Preservation as adopted by the Board on
May 10, 2001, as such Plan of Asset Preservation may be amended,
terminated or modified after the date hereof.

          (b)      Executive shall perform his duties under this
Agreement within the Dallas, Texas metropolitan area.  Executive
acknowledges and agrees that the performance of his duties may
entail travel and other promotional activities on behalf of the
Company.

          (c)      Executive acknowledges and agrees that the conduct
of the business of the Company shall, at all times, be within the
exclusive control of the Board.

     4.   Compensation.

          In consideration of the execution hereof, and the
Executive's covenants, promises and performance in and under this
Agreement:

          (a)  The Company shall pay to Executive an initial retention
bonus in the amount of $125,000.00 (the "Initial Retention
Bonus"), upon Executive's execution of this Agreement.

          (b) During the Term hereof, the Company shall pay Executive
an aggregate, monthly base salary (the "Base Salary"), at the
rate of $16,666.00 per month, commencing as of the Effective
Date. Such Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the
Company's customary payroll practices from time to time in effect
but no less frequently than in equal monthly payments.

                              Page 2
<PAGE>

          (c)  In addition to the Initial Retention Bonus and the Base
Salary, the Company shall pay to Executive a monthly retention
bonus in the amount of $20,715.00 per month (the "Monthly
Retention Bonus"), commencing June 1, 2001, and payable on the
first payroll pay date in June 2001, and continuing monthly
thereafter during the Term hereof.

     5.   Termination  of  Agreement.

          (a)  This Agreement shall terminate:

               (i)  effective immediately upon the Executive's
     death ("Death");

               (ii) effective immediately upon the Executive
becoming permanently disabled (a "Disability").  For purposes of
this Agreement, Disability means that the Executive becomes
mentally or physically incapacitated to such extent that he is
unable for a period of more than 180 consecutive days to perform
the essential functions of his job or position with the Company,
even with reasonable accommodation;

               (iii)     effective upon written notice from the
Company to Executive, whether such termination is for Cause (as
hereinafter defined) or otherwise, immediately unless another
date is specified in such written notice;

               (iv) upon written notice from Executive to the
Company only if such termination is for Good Reason (as
hereinafter defined), effective immediately unless another date
is specified in such written notice; or

               (v)  automatically on the expiration of the Term.

          (b)  As used in this Agreement, the term "Termination
Date" means the effective date on which the Executive's
employment is terminated as set forth in Paragraph 5(a) above.

          (c)  As used in this Agreement, the term "Cause" means:

               (i)  gross negligence or willful misconduct or
malfeasance or the commission of an act constituting dishonesty
or other act of material misconduct by Executive that affects the
Company, its business, Executive's employment or Executive's
business reputation;

               (ii) any violation of the covenants set forth in
Paragraphs 6 or 7 of this Agreement, or any covenants of the Non-
Disclosure and Invention Agreement between Executive and the
Company, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A hereto,
provided that the Company acts in a bona fide manner; or

               (iii)     any other intentional and material
breach of this Agreement by Executive (which would include, but
is not limited to, the material failure of Executive to perform
the duties reasonably assigned to him hereunder by the Board),
which is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice
from the Company.

                                Page 3

<PAGE>

          (d)  As used in this Agreement, the term "Good Reason"
means:

               (i)  a Change of Control as defined in paragraph
5(e) hereof;

               (ii) the Company's material breach of this
Agreement, which is not cured within thirty (30) days after
written notice from Executive;

               (iii)     the Company requests that Executive
move, or Executive is required in performing his duties hereunder
to move, his principal place of residence outside of the
metropolitan Dallas, Texas area, or the Company relocates its
principal place of business outside the metropolitan, Dallas,
Texas area.  For purposes hereof, a requirement that an Executive
spend a majority of his business time for a period of three
months or more in a particular metropolitan area other than
outside of the metropolitan Dallas area shall be deemed a request
that Executive move.  The Company agrees that, if it requests the
Executive to make such a move and Executive declines the request,
such declination will not, in and of itself, constitute any basis
for a determination of termination by the Company for Cause; or

               (iv) any demotion or material adverse reduction in
Executive's title, authority or duties.

          (e)  As used in this Agreement, the term "Change of
Control" shall have occurred if (i) a "Change in Control" as
defined in the Company's 1999 Long Term Incentive Plan as amended
through the date hereof, occurs or (ii) to the extent Executive
has not agreed in writing, as a result of a transaction or a
series of related transactions, the Company's shareholders or its
affiliates' shareholders immediately prior to such
transaction(s), own in the aggregate, directly or indirectly,
securities representing less than 30% of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities.

          (f)  If the Executive's employment is terminated in any
of the ways provided in Paragraph 5(a), then:

               (i)    this Agreement and all Executive's and the Company's
rights and obligations under this Agreement will terminate
immediately, except those set forth in Paragraphs 6, 7, 8 and 11
hereof, and Exhibit A hereto, and

               (ii)      if Executive's employment is terminated
by the Company prior to the expiration of the Term without Cause,
or by the Executive for Good Reason, then the Executive or his
estate, as the case may be, will be entitled to the following:

                    (A)  a cash lump sum payable within 15 days
after the Termination Date equal to all then unpaid Base Salary
and Monthly Retention Bonus otherwise due hereunder, through
December 31, 2001; and

                               Page 4

<PAGE>

                    (B)  each of the stock options potentially
exercisable for shares of common stock of the Company
(collectively, "Options") then held by Executive, whether
heretofore or hereafter granted, and whether granted under the
Company's 1999 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") or not,
which have not lapsed shall become immediately and fully vested
and exercisable (if not already vested and exercisable) by
Executive for the remainder of the exercise period established
under the Plan or other operative document(s), as the case may
be, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in
resolutions granting, or agreements governing, the Options; or

               (iii)     if Executive's employment is terminated
(1) because of Death pursuant to Paragraph 5(a)(i), (2) because
of Disability pursuant to Paragraph 5(a)(ii), (3) by the Company
with Cause, (4) by the Executive without Good Reason or (5)
automatically at the expiration of the Term, then Executive or
his estate, as the case may be, will be entitled to the
following, without more:

                    (A)  all Base Salary and Monthly Retention
Bonuses earned or accrued by Executive through the Termination
Date but unpaid (with any accrued portion to be prorated); and

                    (B)  all other rights and benefits Executive
or his estate may have under any of the Company's employee, group
or senior executive plans, including the right to exercise vested
stock options. These rights and benefits will be determined
according to such plan's and program's terms and conditions, with
any outstanding vacation rights to be prorated and compensated to
the date of termination.

          (g)  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5 or
elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to limit the Company's rights or
remedies in the event Executive shall breach this Agreement by
terminating his employment with the Company without Good Reason
prior to the expiration of the Term.

     6.   Nondisclosure and Invention Covenants, and Intellectual
Property.

          Executive acknowledges that he may have access to
certain confidential information of the Company and agrees to the
continuing effect of the Non-Disclosure and Invention Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit A, the terms of which are deemed
incorporated herein.

     7.   Inducement of Clients.

          During the term hereof, and during the Restricted
Period (as defined below) if upon termination of employment,
Executive receives the payments and rights set forth in Paragraph
5(f)(ii) hereof or is otherwise compensated on a comparable
economic basis following such termination, Executive hereby
agrees that he shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or
interfere, for the benefit of any Competing Business (as defined
below) or in any manner materially detrimental to the Company,
with the Clients (as defined below), employees and business
relationships of the Company. Executive agrees that the
restrictions set forth herein with respect to solicitation of
Clients shall apply to entities listed on Exhibit B hereto for a
period of

                           Page 5

<PAGE>

six months after the Termination Date without any requirement
that Executive receive any payments attributable to any post-
termination period under Section 5(f)(ii) if Executive's
termination is by the Company for Cause or by Executive without
Good Reason.  The term "Restricted Period" shall mean the period
beginning on the Termination Date and ending twelve months
thereafter.  The term "Competing Business" shall mean any
business enterprise which is engaged in the Business of the
Company (as defined below) in any area of the world in which the
Company or any of its affiliates are conducting business on the
date of Executive's termination.  The term "Clients" shall mean
any individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation,
association, or other entity that is served by the Company or its
affiliates during the term hereof or during the Executive's
employment with the Company under the Prior Employment Agreement,
or with whom the Company entered or enters into meaningful
discussions with the view to securing business from such
individual or entity during either such time period.  The term
"Business of the Company" shall mean the type of business engaged
in by the Company at the time of Executive's termination,
including, without limitation, the software and systems
development and operations related to the telemarketing or
fulfillment business for the foregoing provisions.  If Executive
engages in any of the following acts he shall be considered to
have violated this covenant:

          (a)  solicits or attempts to induce any Client or
prospective Client to withdraw, curtail, divert, or cancel its
business or any agreements with the Company or its affiliates;

          (b)  solicits or attempts to induce any employee of the
Company or its affiliates to terminate his or her employment
therewith;

          (c)  solicits or attempts to induce any independent
contractor providing services on behalf of the Company or its
affiliates to terminate his or her business relationship
therewith;

          (d)  develops any materials utilizing the confidential
information of the Company or its affiliates, except for the
benefit of the Company or its affiliates, but only if such
information is not a matter of public knowledge; or

          (e)  intentionally or knowingly disrupts the Company's
or its affiliates' existing business relationships.

     8.   Remedies.

          Without limiting any other rights of the Company, in
the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any
provision in Paragraphs 6 or 7 hereof (including Exhibit A), the
Company shall be entitled to (i) relief by temporary restraining
order, temporary injunction, permanent injunction or otherwise,
as issued by a court of law or equity, (ii) recovery of all
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the Company in
obtaining such relief, and (iii) any other legal and equitable
relief to which it may be entitled, including any and all
monetary damages which the Company may incur as a result of said
breach or threatened breach or violation. Subject to applicable
rules prohibiting the splitting of claims, and requiring the
aggregation of known causes of action, (a) the Company may pursue
any remedy available to it, including declaratory relief,
concurrently or consecutively in any order as to any breach,

                           Page 6

<PAGE>

violation, or threatened breach or violation, and the pursuit of
one such remedy at any time will not be deemed an election of
remedies or waiver of the right to pursue any other remedy, and
(b) the Company has the right to pursue partial enforcement
and/or to seek declaratory relief regarding the enforceable scope
of this Agreement without penalty and without waiving the
Company's right to pursue any other available remedy subsequent
to or concurrently with declaratory relief.  The provisions of
this Paragraph 8 shall not in any manner limit the rights and
remedies available to the Company for any breach of the terms of
this Agreement.

     9.   Successors; Binding Agreement.

          (a)  The  Company  shall  require  any  successor
(whether  direct  or indirect,  by  purchase,  merger,
consolidation  or  otherwise)  to all or substantially  all of
the business  and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in form
and substance satisfactory to the Executive, to expressly assume
and agree to perform  this Agreement  in the same manner and to
the same  extent  that  the Company would be required  to
perform  this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.
Failure of the Company to obtain such  agreement  prior to a date
that is on or before the date of the Change of Control shall be a
breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to
compensation  from the Company in the same amount and on the same
terms as he would  receive  hereunder  if he were to terminate
his  employment for Good Reason, except that for purposes of
implementing the foregoing, the date on which such Change of
Control becomes  effective shall  be  deemed  the Termination
Date.  As  used in this  Agreement, "Company"  shall mean the
Company as previously defined and any successor to its  business
and/or  assets as  aforesaid, which successor executes and
delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which
otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and  provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.

          (b)  This Agreement and all rights of the Executive
hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and
legatees.  If the Executive  should die after his  termination
while any  amounts  would  still be  payable  to him  hereunder
if he had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise
provided herein, shall be paid in  accordance  with  the  terms
of this  Agreement  to the Executive's  devisee,  legatee,  or
other  designee  or,  if  there  be no designee, to the
Executive's estate.

     10.  Nonalienation of Benefits.  Except as may be contrary
to applicable law, no  sale,  transfer,  alienation, assignment,
pledge, collateralization or attachment of any benefits under
this Agreement  shall be valid or recognized by the Company.

     11.  Jurisdiction; Arbitration

          (a)       EVERY DISPUTE ARISING BETWEEN THE PARTIES PURSUANT TO
THIS AGREEMENT, THE NON-DISCLOSURE AND INVENTION AGREEMENT OR THE
PRIOR EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (OTHER THAN ONE IN WHICH A PARTY IS
SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF THEREUNDER, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS AND
MATTERS ANCILLARY THERETO, WHICH SHALL BE HEARD BY A COURT OF

                           Page 7

<PAGE>

COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN DALLAS, TEXAS) SHALL BE SOLELY AND
FINALLY SETTLED BY ARBITRATION CONDUCTED IN DALLAS, TEXAS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES (THE "RULES") OF
THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION (THE "AAA"). THE PARTY
REQUESTING ARBITRATION (THE "PETITIONER") SHALL SERVE UP THE
OTHER PARTY (THE "RESPONDENT") A WRITTEN DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION
STATING WHAT THE PETITIONER CONTENDS IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CLAIM; THE DEMAND MADE BY THE PETITIONER;
AND THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ARBITRATOR APPOINTED BY IT. THE
RESPONDENT SHALL, WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF SUCH
DEMAND, APPOINT AN ARBITRATOR AND NOTIFY THE PETITIONER OF HIS
APPOINTMENT, AND THE TWO ARBITRATORS SHALL APPOINT A THIRD
ARBITRATOR. IF THE ARBITRATORS APPOINTED BY THE PARTIES FAIL TO
APPOINT A THIRD ARBITRATOR WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE SECOND ARBITRATOR, EITHER ARBITRATOR OR ANY
PARTY, MAY APPLY TO THE AAA FOR APPOINTMENT OF THE THIRD
ARBITRATOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES. SHOULD THE RESPONDENT
FAIL OR REFUSE TO APPOINT AN ARBITRATOR WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS,
THE SINGLE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY TO THE AAA FOR APPOINTMENT OF
TWO ARBITRATORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE RULES.
THE PARTIES SHALL ABIDE BY ALL AWARDS AND DECISIONS MADE BY ANY
TWO OF THE THREE ARBITRATORS AND SAID DECISIONS MAY BE ENFORCED
AND EXECUTED UPON IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE
PARTIES AGAINST WHOM ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH AWARD IS SOUGHT. THE
DECISION OR AWARD AGREED TO BY ANY TWO OF THE THREE ARBITRATORS
SHALL INCLUDE, AS PART OF THEIR AWARD, (I) WHAT AMOUNT OF
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES, ARBITRATORS' FEES, AND RELATED EXPENSES
OF SUCH ARBITRATION EACH OF THE PARTIES SHALL PAY, (II) WHETHER
AND TO WHAT EXTENT ANY PARTY SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LEGAL
FEES INCURRED BY ANOTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN AN ARBITRATION
HEREUNDER AND (III) WHETHER INTEREST OR SIMILAR CHARGES ARE
EQUITABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE
AMOUNT OF ANY DAMAGES AWARDED BY THE ARBITRATORS TO A PARTY
INVOLVED IN THE ARBITRATION.

          (b)       THE ARBITRATOR OR ARBITRATORS SHALL NOT BE EMPOWERED TO
AWARD DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF COMPENSATORY DAMAGES (WHICH
COMPENSATORY DAMAGES INCLUDE REASONABLE ATTORNEYS FEES AND EXPERT
WITNESS FEES), AND EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT
TO RECOVER SUCH DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, PUNITIVE
DAMAGES) IN ANY FORUM.

     12.  Modification.  No modification or amendment of this
Agreement shall be valid  unless in  writing  and  signed  by or
on behalf of the  parties hereto.

     13.  Withholding.  The compensation provided to the
Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to any
withholdings  and deductions required by any applicable income
and employment  federal,  state and local tax laws. In the event
the Company fails to

                             Page 8

<PAGE>

withhold such sums for any reason, it may require the Executive
to promptly remit to the  Company  sufficient  cash to satisfy
applicable income and employment withholding taxes.

     14.  Notices.  Any notice or request herein required or
permitted to be given to either party hereunder shall be given in
writing and shall be personally delivered or sent to such party
by prepaid mail at the address of such party set forth below or
at such other address as such party may designate by written
communication to the other parties to this Agreement:

          If to Executive:    David E. Bowe
                              4016 Cotswold Court
                              Dallas, Texas 75220
                              Telefax: (214) 654-9482

          If to the Company:  Ascendant Solutions, Inc.
                              Galleria North, Tower II
                              13727 Noel Road, Suite 500
                              Dallas, Texas  75240
                              Attention: Chairman
                              Telefax:  (469) -374-6295

     Each notice given in accordance with this paragraph shall be
deemed to have been given, if personally delivered, on the date
personally delivered or, if mailed, on the fifth day following
the day on which it is deposited in the United States mail,
certified mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid.

     15.  Headings.  The headings of the paragraphs of this
Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only
and shall in no way restrict or modify any of the terms of
provisions hereof.

     16.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is
held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or
future laws effective during the term hereof, such provision
shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed
and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable
provision had never comprised a part of this Agreement; and the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid, or
unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement.
Furthermore, in lieu of each such illegal, invalid, or
unenforceable provision, there shall be added automatically as a
part of this Agreement a provision as similar in effect thereto
as may be possible and yet be legal, valid, and enforceable.

     17.  Entire Agreement; Survival.  Except for the Non-
Disclosure and Invention Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A,
the terms of which shall continue in full force and effect, this
Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, if any,
relating to the subject matter hereof.  The covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties contained in or made
pursuant to this Agreement shall survive Executive's termination
of employment and the termination of this Agreement.

                            Page 9

<PAGE>

     18.  Attorneys' Fees.  If any action at law or in equity is
necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, or
to resolve any dispute hereunder, the prevailing party shall be
entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, costs, and necessary
disbursements in addition to any other relief to which he or it
may be entitled.

     19.  Waivers.  One or more waivers of any covenant, term, or
provision of this Agreement by either party hereto shall not be
construed as a waiver of the breach of any other covenant, term,
or provision.  The consent or approval of either party hereto
with respect to the act of the other party hereto shall not be
deemed to waive or render unnecessary consent to or approval of
any subsequent waiver of either party's rights to insist upon
strict compliance with the terms hereof.

     20.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed in all
respects, including validity, interpretation and effect by the
laws of the State of Texas.

     21.  Attorney Consultation; Fees.  The Executive has had an
opportunity to consult independently with an attorney of his
choosing prior to executing this Agreement, and the Company
agrees to pay up to $5,000.00 of the reasonable and necessary
attorneys' fees actually incurred by Executive in connection with
the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement.

                    [Signature page follows]

                           Page 10

<PAGE>

     EXECUTED to be effective as of the date first above written.

                              ASCENDANT SOLUTIONS, INC.

                              By:    /s/ Jonathan Bloch
                                 -----------------------------
                                  Jonathan Bloch, Chairman

                              EXECUTIVE:

                                  /s/   David E. Bowe
                              ----------------------------------
                              David E. Bowe

                            Page 11

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