Chapter 320
“Is there something you need, Virgil?” Claire was genuinely confused about why he’d pulled her aside.
“It’s like this. I want to have a word with you, just the two of us p>
He glanced around, clearly wary of eavesdroppers in the hospital corridor.
Claire caught the look in his eyes and guessed what he was after. She nodded and agreed.
The deputy director helped them find a quiet lounge.
“Claire, about that hemostatic powder you used last night… it worked even better than our military supplies,” Virgil said. He was always straightforward, never one to beat around the bush.
“I heard you made it yourself. Would you be willing to sell the formula p>
“The military could really use something like this. As you know, our missions are risky. Your powder stops bleeding fast, and you said it helps wounds heal, too. That could be a game changer for us p>
Claire had already figured out why Virgil wanted to talk. She wasn’t surprised at all. “It really is my formula p>
“If you want it, you can have it p>
She offered it up without hesitation.
Virgil’s face lit up. “Thanks, Claire. You’re so direct. I appreciate that p>
“And don’t worry-there’s no way we’d ever take it for nothing p>
He understood people don’t just give things away for free. And he was already thinking ahead. If Claire ever worked at the military hospital after graduation, that would be a huge asset for them.
“Ever think about where you want to work one day, Claire p>
Claire gave him a look. “Isn’t that a little early to ask, Virgil? I haven’t even taken my college entrance exams yet p>
Virgil stopped short. He almost smacked his forehead. How could he forget? Claire came from a family of doctors, she didn’t learn this at university.
“Well, I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you do in the medical field p>
They wrapped up their conversation quickly. Claire didn’t make any demands, which only made the military more determined not to let her down or take her generosity for granted.
As they left the room, Walden pulled Virgil aside to remind him not to take advantage of Claire.
“Don’t worry. No one could take advantage of her even if they tried p>
“Claire’s smart, and generous, too. She gave us the formula on her own p>
“There’s just one thing, though. The formula will need testing first p>
Virgil trusted Claire, but he knew mass producing the powder meant plenty of experiments to make sure it would work as well as her homemade batches. Sometimes, things made on a bigger scale just
didn’t have the same effect.
Meanwhile, Claire told Dane, in a low voice, about Virgil’s request for the formula.
She didn’t see any reason to keep it a secret.
After hearing it, Dane agreed completely with what she’d done.
Not long after, the food they’d ordered was delivered.
Virgil asked someone to wake up Tandy and Abbott.
As soon as they realized Claire and Dane had gotten them food, both were grateful.
“I was starving,” Abbott said, digging in without a hint of shyness.
Tandy kept thanking them over and over. He remembered how, at first, he’d been put off by Claire’s age. But after they’d worked together the previous night, any prejudice just dissolved, Even his pude, built up over years as a military doctor, had taken a hit. He didn’t really want to admit it, but Claire had completely shown him up.
Times really are changing, he thought. The future belongs to the young.
“Claire, your technique is something else. I’ve never seen anything like it. We should go over it together sometime, if you’re up for itTandy said, chatting with Claire as they ate.