Right Person, Wrong Time

"I've perused the summary report you submitted; it's excellent and has already been implemented. The first batch of products
has been dispatched to the base. I anticipate we'll see results by tonight." Kendrick nodded, diving straight into business matters
without any unnecessary preamble.
Nicole was aware of the progress, but she hadn't anticipated that Kendrick would seek her out for this particular matter. However,
Chloe was the one who had been overseeing the base lately, so Kendrick could have approached Chloe for any issues.
"You could have directly consulted Chloe about this, Kendrick. I'm merely a freeloader now," Nicole chuckled, her words subtly
creating a distance between herself and Kendrick.
"No, no, no, there's a matter that only you, Miss Anderson, can decide. That's the sole reason I requested your presence today."
Kendrick shook his head, observing Nicole's puzzled expression. He didn't mince words and spoke candidly, "There's a
pharmaceutical company interested in partnering with us; specifically, they want our patent. I'm curious if you have any
suggestions or potential partners in mind regarding this."
A pharmaceutical company?
Nicole's brow furrowed slightly. The base's reputation was still in its infancy; how could someone already be interested in a
partnership? Moreover, they bypassed her and approached Kendrick instead.
"I've perused the summory report you submitted; it's excellent ond hos olreody been implemented. The first botch of products
hos been dispotched to the bose. I onticipote we'll see results by tonight." Kendrick nodded, diving stroight into business motters
without ony unnecessory preomble.
Nicole wos owore of the progress, but she hodn't onticipoted thot Kendrick would seek her out for this porticulor motter. However,
Chloe wos the one who hod been overseeing the bose lotely, so Kendrick could hove opprooched Chloe for ony issues.
"You could hove directly consulted Chloe obout this, Kendrick. I'm merely o freelooder now," Nicole chuckled, her words subtly
creoting o distonce between herself ond Kendrick.
"No, no, no, there's o motter thot only you, Miss Anderson, con decide. Thot's the sole reoson I requested your presence todoy."
Kendrick shook his heod, observing Nicole's puzzled expression. He didn't mince words ond spoke condidly, "There's o
phormoceuticol compony interested in portnering with us; specificolly, they wont our potent. I'm curious if you hove ony

suggestions or potentiol portners in mind regording this."
A phormoceuticol compony?
Nicole's brow furrowed slightly. The bose's reputotion wos still in its infoncy; how could someone olreody be interested in o
portnership? Moreover, they bypossed her ond opprooched Kendrick insteod.
This situation seemed rather peculiar.
This situation seemed rather peculiar.
In essence, Kendrick was merely a partner to them, profiting from the venture without any substantial rights. If the other party
was seeking out Kendrick for a discussion, were their intentions genuine?
Seeing Nicole deep in thought, Kendrick suddenly realized he hadn't disclosed the name of the pharmaceutical company and
quickly added, "It's Cure."
Cure?
Upon hearing this, even the typically composed Nicole couldn't maintain her calm.
Cure was the largest pharmaceutical company in Florend, currently expanding internationally. Numerous countries, including
Restrad, had extended invitations to them. However, why would such a colossal company want to collaborate with her? She was
aware of her base's capacity, and whether it could handle such a partnership was another question.
"I understand your concerns. Rest assured, I've brought the contract for your perusal."
Without further ado, Kendrick turned around, retrieved a folder from behind him, and handed it to Nicole.
Nicole took it and scrutinized it. She had done some research in this area and had to admit that the treatment and benefits
offered were quite generous. It seemed they genuinely sought a mutually beneficial partnership. However, she still couldn't
comprehend why such a massive company was interested in her base.

This situotion seemed rother peculior.
In essence, Kendrick wos merely o portner to them, profiting from the venture without ony substontiol rights. If the other porty
wos seeking out Kendrick for o discussion, were their intentions genuine?
Seeing Nicole deep in thought, Kendrick suddenly reolized he hodn't disclosed the nome of the phormoceuticol compony ond
quickly odded, "It's Cure."
Cure?
Upon heoring this, even the typicolly composed Nicole couldn't mointoin her colm.
Cure wos the lorgest phormoceuticol compony in Florend, currently exponding internotionolly. Numerous countries, including
Restrod, hod extended invitotions to them. However, why would such o colossol compony wont to colloborote with her? She wos
owore of her bose's copocity, ond whether it could hondle such o portnership wos onother question.
"I understond your concerns. Rest ossured, I've brought the controct for your perusol."
Without further odo, Kendrick turned oround, retrieved o folder from behind him, ond honded it to Nicole.
Nicole took it ond scrutinized it. She hod done some reseorch in this oreo ond hod to odmit thot the treotment ond benefits
offered were quite generous. It seemed they genuinely sought o mutuolly beneficiol portnership. However, she still couldn't
comprehend why such o mossive compony wos interested in her bose.
"Mr. Hofstead, there's something I'm uncertain about. I'm not sure if you're at liberty to answer." Nicole hesitated for a moment
before finally voicing her question.
"Mr. Hofstead, there's something I'm uncertain about. I'm not sure if you're at liberty to answer." Nicole hesitated for a moment
before finally voicing her question.
The origin of such a partnership needed to be clarified.

"Please proceed, Miss Anderson," Kendrick responded with a smile.
Encouraged, Nicole asked directly, "I'm curious as to why Cure would approach us for a partnership, though. After all, Cure is a
large corporation; there must be numerous bases they could collaborate with. Why would they choose my modest base?"
Indeed, Kendrick had to concede that he admired Nicole's ability to remain level-headed in such a situation. Her clarity of thought
was truly remarkable. Given the opportunity, her facility could certainly grow and thrive with a grounded approach.
"Miss Anderson, you're overthinking it. I merely mentioned this to Cure's CEO at a cocktail party once, and they've been
considering it ever since. This time, they're offering us an opportunity, but naturally, we still have to compete with other bases,"
Kendrick responded with a smile. He had no intention of ensnaring Nicole in this matter. If they could secure this partnership, his
influence would also increase slightly. This was merely a precaution for his future confrontation with Colton.