Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

It took the four fifteen minutes to finish their breakfast. After that, they wiped the corners of their lips with a handkerchief, removing stains and greases from it. Then they stood up and the young industrialist duo escorted them outside.

"This is where we part, Miss Caroline and Miss Amelia," Poul said. "We are going to take our leave here."

"Thank you for the breakfast," Caroline said, bowing at them politely.

"Uhm, do you want us to hail you a cab?" Jonathan offered, looking at Caroline.

"That would be very kind of you, Sir Jonathan. If you don't mind."

Jonathan raised an arm forward in a wave. In the distance, a cab noticed the signal and came to stop before them. Poul opened the doors.

"We will see you in the Bethesda fountain at five o'clock. If we are not there after thirty minutes, that could only mean there was an emergency or something urgent that we had to deal with. You may leave."

"That would be very unbefitting for the both of you. A gentleman would never let a lady wait," Caroline replied, smiling sweetly.

When Poul was about to offer his hand to help her board the carriage, Jonathan pushed him away lightly.

"Jonathan?" Poul spread his arm in confusion, looking between the two of them.

"Let me be the one to help her," Jonathan said simply, offering his hand to Caroline to which the latter accepted. She placed her hand over his and climbed up the carriage. When it was Amelia's turn, Poul pulled Jonathan away and offered Amelia his hand.

When Jonathan was about to demand an explanation for his sudden action, Poul spoke.

"You had your chance, Jonathan. I can't let you take all the spotlight."

He flickered his gaze to the ladies inside and smiled. "Is everything settled?"

"Yes, thank you once again for helping my Amelia. I will meet both of you later," Caroline said.

"Thank you, Sir Nielsen," Amelia said.

"No problem," Poul said as he tipped his hat, and closed the door. The carriage began to move into the street and the two young industrialist duo watched as the carriage disappeared into the distance.

"So we are going to meet them again later huh?" Poul said.

"Yeah, I think that's the case," Jonathan replied as he walked next to Poul. "You sure made your move to Miss Amelia huh?"

"Well, just like how you didn't let me hold Caroline's hand, I didn't let you grab Amelia."

"So you like Amelia huh?" Jonathan said teasingly as he nudged Poul's arm with an elbow. "Well Amelia is pretty so I can't really blame you for wanting to make a move on her. You know, if you were ever interested."

Poul turned crimson and cleared his throat.

"I–I suppose," Poul shrugged. "I am not certain yet but I would love to discover it for myself. I could say the same thing to you, the way you have been staring at Caroline when we were having our breakfast, do you think I wouldn't notice?"

"Well, you read me. It's the first time I got charmed by a woman. You know me, Poul. I never had a girlfriend in the past and was alone for about thirty-six years. Maybe this would be different."

"Be careful though. Caroline is a noblewoman from another country. She is rich, smart, and beautiful. She's a top-tier lady. The same goes for her secretary. I don't think it will be easy."

"You won't know if you don't try, right?" Jonathan smiled, his voice taking on a mischievous tone.

"That's a golden rule. Well, since we are going to meet them later. Might as well bring them some flowers. You ask the locals for the nearest flower shop as you know."

"Why me?"

"Do you really want me to answer that question?" Poul said, looking him in the eye.

Jonathan realized. "Ah, the silver hair. How could I have forgotten? Don't worry about the color of your hair, in the next one hundred years, people will look at it differently."

"I hope they will. Let's prepare ourselves. We have a meeting to attend."

***

Inside the hansom cab-type horse-drawn carriage. Amelia and Caroline were silently staring out the window. Caroline broke the ice and spoke.

"So those two are the ones you were talking about when you told me the story."

"Yes, it is them."

"I sense something odd going on between those two," Caroline observed. "Like, they don't belong here."

"What do you mean by that, Miss Caroline?" Amelia curiously asked. "Are you saying that those outsiders don't belong in New York?"

"No, not that one, it's hard to explain," Caroline said and then went into pondering mode. When she asked her about where they graduated, the two were silent. That was an easy question and yet they froze.

They claim themselves to be an engineer in a specific field but couldn't provide evidence to back it up. But they have the skills, enough to invent the air brakes that made locomotive transportation safe.

Could it be that they are in the same case as her? A person that died in their original world and was reborn in this world? If that were the case, then she would love them to work under her. But before that, she must know them. Like what did they do before they got here? Where are they from, and how did they get into this world? Good thing that she had asked them to meet her in Bethesda fountain. There, she'll find her answer.

Of course, Caroline isn't sure if they are reborn souls. She is just assuming. After all, they are doing the same thing she was doing when she got reborn in this world. Profit from the knowledge they obtained from their past life. Only this time in the field of mechanical and civil engineering. And if they turned out to be transmigrators, then she would do everything it takes to get them under her.

"Miss Caroline," Amelia tugged her sleeves gently. "Miss Caroline,"

Caroline snapped out of her reverie. "What is it, Amelia?"

"You seemed to be in deep thought. Are you okay?" Amelia asked concernedly.

"I'm fine, Amelia," Caroline held her hand reassuringly. "I was just thinking about the two gentlemen who helped you. They wanted you to become their secretary."

"Ah…is that the cause of your worry? I told you, Miss Caroline, I would never work for them. I'm satisfied working with you."

"It's good to hear that, Amelia," Caroline smiled. "But what if I told you that you can work for them?"

"You don't need me anymore, Miss Caroline?" Amelia's face turned pale as a sheet. She lowered her head and folded her hands together tightly in her lap.

"Oh no, Amelia dear, I'm just asking. What if I ordered you to be their secretary? Would you agree?"

"Well, if it's an order, then I would do it," Amelia said.

"Thank you for letting me know, Amelia," Caroline said, stroking her cheek affectionately.