Document:

<PAGE>   1
         FIRST AMENDMENT, dated as of February 25, 2000 (this "First
Amendment"), to the CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 5, 1998 (the "Credit
Agreement"), among RENT-A-CENTER, INC. (formerly known as Renters Choice, Inc.)
(the "Borrower"), the Lenders parties to the Credit Agreement, the Documentation
Agent and Syndication Agent named therein and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent"). Terms
defined in the Credit Agreement shall be used in this First Amendment with their
defined meanings unless otherwise defined herein.

                             W I T N E S S E T H :

         WHEREAS, the Borrower wishes to amend the Credit Agreement in the
manner set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS, each of the parties hereto is willing to enter into this First
Amendment on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     SECTION I. AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT.

         1. Section 2.17(b). Section 2.17(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended by adding the following sentences to the end thereof:

     "Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may designate a $14,000,000
     prepayment of the Term Loans to be applied to prepay in their entirety the
     Term Loan installments due on September 30, 2000. Any such prepayment shall
     not be subject to the procedures described in Section 2.17(c) and,
     accordingly, the full amount of the installments of the Tranche B Term
     Loans and the Tranche C Term Loans due on September 30, 2000 shall be
     prepaid in connection therewith."

         2. Section 7.6. Section 7.6 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
by adding the following new paragraph (c) to the end thereof:

         "(c) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
     be continuing, the Borrower may expend up to $25,000,000 to repurchase its
     common stock."

     SECTION II. MISCELLANEOUS.

         1. No Change. Except as expressly provided herein, no term or provision
of the Credit Agreement shall be amended, modified or supplemented, and each
term and provision of the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.

         2. Effectiveness. This First Amendment shall become effective as of the
date hereof upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of (a) counterparts hereof
duly executed by the Borrower and (b) consent letters authorizing the
Administrative Agent to enter into this First Amendment from the Required
Lenders.
<PAGE>   2
                  3. Counterparts. This First Amendment may be executed by the
parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, and all of said
counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument.

                  4. Governing Law. THIS FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS FIRST AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First
Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above
written.

                                             RENT-A-CENTER, INC.

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

                                             THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                              as Administrative Agent

                                             By:
                                                ------------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                    EMPLOYMENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

         This Employment and Confidentiality Agreement (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of August 30, 1999 (the "Effective Date") by and between
Charles Mayer ("Employee") and Tejas Securities Group, Inc. (the "Company").

         WHEREAS the Company and Employee have decided to reflect the terms of
Employee's employment with the Company in a written document and which shall
govern the material terms of Employee's employment by the Company. In addition
to the terms of this Agreement, Employee shall be subject to certain policies
and procedures published by the Company, or made known to Employee from time to
time. Such policies and procedures are incorporated within this Agreement as if
fully set forth herein.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements
hereafter set forth, and upon the terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement, Employee and the Company hereby agree as follows:

1. Conditions of Employment.

     1.1. Compliance with Company Policies.

               Employee shall be subject to the policies and procedures enacted
          by the Company from time to time and made known to Employee either
          through publication or by direct discussion with Employee.

     1.2. Compliance with Applicable Rules and Regulations.

               Employee shall be subject to all of the Rules and Regulations of
          the Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of
          Securities

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          Dealers and the Company reserves the right to terminate Employee
          should he/she not remain compliant with these Rules and Regulations.

     1.3. Other Business Interests.

               Employee shall not be employed by or receive any other employment
          compensation from any other person or entity except as may be agreed
          to by the Company in writing. All revenues generated from Employee's
          efforts shall at all times belong to the Company unless otherwise
          agreed to pursuant to written agreement between Company and Employee.

     1.4. Term and Termination.

               Employee's employment with the Company shall be "at will" and may
          be terminated by either Employee or Company at any time and for any or
          no particular reason or cause with or without advance notice to the
          other.

2. Duties, Compensation and Benefits.

     2.1. Title.

               Chief Operating Officer.

     2.2. Capacity.

               Employee shall serve as an employee of the Company and shall
          perform such customary, appropriate and reasonable duties as are
          performed by an employee as may be delegated to Employee by the Board
          of Directors of the Company (the "Board").

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     2.3. Schedule.

               Employee shall be employed on a full time basis and shall devote
          all of his/her working time, intentions and energies to the Company.
          Employee shall at all times perform his/her duties and obligations
          faithfully, diligently and to the best of their abilities.

     2.4. Salary.

               During employment with the Company, Employee shall be paid
          $16,666 per month for each month of employment in accordance with the
          Company's standard payroll practice. Salary shall be subject to annual
          review and adjustment at the discretion of the Board or any committee
          or individual appointed by the Board to perform such function.

     2.5. Bonus.

               Employee shall receive a signing bonus of $25,000. In addition,
          Employee shall receive a minimum annual bonus of $200,000 for the
          years-ended 1999 and 2000. For the years-ended 2001, 2002 and 2003,
          Employee shall receive a minimum bonus of $50,000. The minimum bonus
          for 2001, 2002 and 2003 will be paid to the Employee even if the
          Employee is terminated or

                                                                          Page 3

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          terminates his/her employment. However the minimum bonus upon
          termination is contingent upon the execution of a consulting
          arrangement between the Employee and Company, whereby the Company
          guarantees a fee of at least $1,000 per day for each day of
          consultation. If Employee is terminated or terminates his/her
          employment prior to the December 31, 2000, he/she shall not be
          entitled to any bonus. If Employee is terminated or terminates his/her
          employment after December 31, 2000 and does not negotiate a consulting
          arrangement with the Company with a minimum fee of $1,000 per day,
          Employee shall not be entitled to any bonus.

     2.6. Stock Options.

               Employee shall have the right to purchase 620,625 shares of the
          Westech's common stock for $0.40 per share. This option is vested upon
          Employee immediately and expires five (5) years from the date of its
          issuance. In addition, Employee shall have the right to purchase
          250,000 shares of Westech's common stock for $2 per share. This option
          is vested in accordance with Westech's option plan.

     2.7. Business Expenses.

               The Company shall reimburse Employee for reasonable business
          expenses necessarily and appropriately incurred by Employee in
          performing his/her duties hereunder in accordance with such policies
          and procedures regarding employee expenses as the Company may from
          time to time put in effect.

     2.8. Benefits.

               In addition to salary, bonuses and stock options, Employee shall
          be entitled to participate in any Employee benefit program established
          from time to time for employees of the Company as determined by
          eligibility requirements established by the Company or such employee
          benefit programs.

                                                                          Page 4

<PAGE>   5

     2.9. Holiday and Vacation.

               Employee shall be entitled to all holidays provided under the
          Company's regular holiday schedule published from time to time by
          Company. In addition, Employee shall be entitled to vacation time in
          accordance with the policies established by the Company from time to
          time.

3. Confidential Information.

               Employee understands and agrees that in connection with the
          performance of their obligations and duties, Employee has and will
          receive certain proprietary, confidential or other information
          concerning the Company that the Company regards as highly
          confidential. In addition, Employee acknowledges and agrees that
          he/she will receive special and important training in regard to the
          performance of the business activities. The information provided to
          Employee may include, without limitation or designation as such,
          business strategies, terms of contracts and business relationships,
          pricing information and other information that is not generally known
          to the public. Employee acknowledges and agrees that all such
          information, including information obtained through special training
          by the Company, is and will at all times remain the sole and exclusive
          property of the Company. Employee acknowledges and agrees that they
          will, during the term of their employment with the Company and at all
          times thereafter hold such information in confidence and not disclose
          any such information to any third party except as authorized in
          advance in writing by the

                                                                          Page 5

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          Company or directly in connection with the performance of the
          employees obligations hereunder. In the event of the termination of
          Employee's employment with the Company, Employee shall promptly return
          all confidential and propriety information in Employee's possession to
          the Company. Employee agrees that notwithstanding the termination of
          the employee's employment relationship with the Company that his/her
          agreement to keep the Company's confidential and proprietary business
          information confidential will survive the termination of such
          employment relationship.

               In addition, Employee agrees and understands that the damages
          which will be incurred by the Company as a result of the breach of
          this confidentiality provision are incalculable. Employee agrees that
          in addition to any remedy available to the Company provided by law,
          that Company will be entitled to injunctive relief, including but not
          limited to obtaining such temporary orders of the Court as may be
          necessary and appropriate in order to enforce this provision.

4. Miscellaneous.

     4.1. Successors and Assigns.

               This Agreement shall be bind on and inure to the benefit of the
          parties hereto and their heirs, executors, legal representatives and
          successors. This Agreement may not be assigned, in whole or in part,
          without the prior written agreement of both parties hereto, except
          with respect to the confidentiality

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          provisions contained in paragraph 3 hereof. Any attempt to assign the
          provisions of this Agreement (except for paragraph 3) shall be null
          and void.

     4.2. Withholding.

               Employee hereby agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the
          Company for the satisfaction of all federal, state or local income tax
          withholding requirements and other federal, social security, employee
          tax requirements applicable to this Agreement.

     4.3. Governing Law.

               This Agreement is made and entered into and is to be governed by
          and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas
          applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such
          state, without regard of the conflict of law principals for any such
          state. Employee agrees that there are sufficient contacts within the
          State of Texas to enforce this provision.

     4.4. Waiver.

               The failure of either party at any time to require a performance
          by the other party of any provision hereof shall not effect in any way
          the full right to require such performance at any time thereafter nor
          shall a waiver by either party of a breach of any provision hereof be
          taken or held to be a continuing waiver of such provision or a waiver
          of any other breach under any other provision of this Agreement.

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     4.5. Caption.

               The captions of the sections which are referenced above are
          inserted as a matter of convenience only and are in no way to define,
          limit or describe the scope of this Agreement or provisions hereof.

     4.6. Entire Agreement/Interpretation.

               This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding
          between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
          and supercedes all prior contracts, agreements, arrangements,
          communications, discussions, representations and warranties, whether
          oral or written, between the parties with respect to the subject
          matter. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument
          signed by both parties hereto making specific reference to this
          Agreement and express a plan or intention to modify it. The parties
          acknowledge that this Agreement has been drafted through mutual
          efforts of the parties and that it shall not be construed more harshly
          against any party hereto.

     4.7. Counterpart.

               This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts each
          of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together
          shall constitute on and the same agreement.

                                                                          Page 8

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         In witness whereof the parties hereto have executed this Employment
Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                             TEJAS SECURITIES GROUP, INC.

                                             By:   /s/ Jay W. Van Ert
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Jay W. Van Ert, President

                                             EMPLOYEE

                                                   /s/ Charles Mayer
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Charles Mayer

                                                                          Page 9

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