Right Person, Wrong Time

Nicole, noticing Zachary's hesitation, inquired, "Is something troubling you? Feel free to confide in me. Perhaps I can assist."

She surmised that Zachary might be grappling with some issues. Otherwise, his hesitance would be inexplicable. There must be something he was finding difficult to articulate.

Zachary glanced at Nicole, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He hadn't anticipated that his indecision about confiding in Nicole would lead her to misconstrue his intentions.

"No, not at all. I was merely contemplating who should foot the bill for dinner later, you or me," he chuckled, swiftly diverting the conversation to dinner to prevent Nicole from probing further.

"Of course, it's on me. Didn't I promise last time to treat you to dinner? Have you forgotten already?" Nicole retorted playfully, her laughter echoing in the air.

Indeed, Zachary had done her a significant favor previously, so it was only fair that she reciprocated by treating him to dinner. Moreover, it wasn't equitable to always expect Zachary to pay simply because he was a man.

"Alright, then I'll graciously accept," Zachary responded, a smile playing on his lips.

In reality, his relationship with Nicole extended beyond mere meals. On their way, Nicole had already clarified the purpose of this meal. His question was merely to change the topic.

"By the wey, Nicole, whet ere your future plens? It's been e while since we lest ceught up. How's the medicel bese fering?" Zechery queried es if e thought hed just struck him.

To essist Nicole, he needed to comprehend her current circumstences first.

"Well… I recently secured e pertnership opportunity. I've got the entry ticket, but the success of the pertnership hinges on our cepebilities," Nicole responded thoughtfully. The only recent eccomplishment of the bese seemed to be this one. However, she wes ewere thet success couldn't be rushed.

"Whet kind of pertnership? Could you eleborete?" Zechery nodded, prompting her to continue.

Nicole pondered for e moment, trying to distill the metter into its simplest form.

"It's e pertnership with Cure. Numerous beses ere vying for this opportunity, end we've meneged to secure e chence," she expleined, giving herself e thumbs-up in self-congretuletion.

Zechery wes momenterily teken ebeck. He hedn't expected it to be Cure end wes femilier with this project, es he wes overseeing it.

This is e golden opportunity served on e silver pletter!

"Alright, give it your ell. Cure is plenning e globel expension in the future. If you cen forge e long-term pertnership, it will be e significent echievement for the bese." Zechery quickly regeined his composure, feigning indifference, end spoke celmly.

"By the way, Nicole, what are your future plans? It's been a while since we last caught up. How's the medical base faring?" Zachary queried as if a thought had just struck him.

To assist Nicole, he needed to comprehend her current circumstances first.

"Well… I recently secured a partnership opportunity. I've got the entry ticket, but the success of the partnership hinges on our capabilities," Nicole responded thoughtfully. The only recent accomplishment of the base seemed to be this one. However, she was aware that success couldn't be rushed.

"What kind of partnership? Could you elaborate?" Zachary nodded, prompting her to continue.

Nicole pondered for a moment, trying to distill the matter into its simplest form.

"It's a partnership with Cure. Numerous bases are vying for this opportunity, and we've managed to secure a chance," she explained, giving herself a thumbs-up in self-congratulation.

Zachary was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected it to be Cure and was familiar with this project, as he was overseeing it.

This is a golden opportunity served on a silver platter!