Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

Eleven o'clock in the evening, Poul and Jonathan returned to their home. As they were walking towards the office, Poul spoke.

"Jonathan, I have a favor to ask you."

"What is it?"

"I'll tell you inside the office," Poul said as he reached for the doorknob and rotated it. The door slowly opened, revealing a messy plain office with stacks of files everywhere.

The two jumped out, startled as they found another person in the room. Amelia looked at them, dumbstruck.

"Oh…I have almost forgotten that we have a new secretary," Poul let out a chuckle as he rubbed his hair.

"Sir Axelsen, Sir Nielsen. Good evening. Have you two eaten?" Amelia simply asked, before shifting her gaze back to the document she was reading in her hand.

"We haven't really. Jonathan is probably going to boil us some eggs, and take our sleep. Wait, how about you? Have you ever taken a break? Ever since I left you, you still haven't moved from your chair."

"I could say the same thing," Jonathan added.

"I'm fine, I already ate at the cafeteria," Amelia said. "Though there was some confusion earlier about me being there, everything settled when I explained to them that I'm the new secretary that this company hired."

"I see…" Poul mumbled.

"Anyways, Amelia. That's enough. You have done a lot of work today. You may continue tomorrow."

"No, I'm fine, Mister Axelsen. I can still work," Amelia insisted.

Jonathan glanced at Poul, hoping that he can persuade her to take a rest. Poul sighed and spoke.

"Aren't you pushing yourself too hard on your first day?"

"Don't worry, I understand your worries, Mister Nielsen. But there's still a lot of work to be done. The more I complete, the earlier we can overhaul the entire system," Amelia asserted, looking at them with determination.

Faced with that look, Poul and Jonathan conceded. Well, it's her choice. They gave her an opportunity to take a rest but she didn't accept it. However, this is just for today. They can't have her working around the clock as it is detrimental to one's health. Tomorrow, they'll inform her of her new working schedule that she has to strictly abide by.

Their plans of discussing something in the office were thwarted. They excused themselves and headed to the porch.

The industrialist duo took a seat and gazed at the sky, watching the stars twinkle through the clouds.

"So what favor did you want to ask me?" Jonathan began.

"I was wondering if maybe this is the time that we construct a formal office building. Our company is growing fast and is getting popular in the country. Future clients would visit us and I don't think they'll be pleased with us welcoming them in this house, or should I say office."

"You want me to build an office building?" Jonathan turned his face and looked at Poul, whose gaze is still fixed on the sky.

"You know better than I that we can't have this house serve as the main office forever. I was wondering if six to eight-story buildings would do. That way, you can apply the skills you have learned from our original world."

"Ah, I think I know why we are having this conversation," Jonathan said, pursing his lips. "Are you taking pity on me?"

"What makes you say that?"

"The way you phrase your words at the end, it felt to me as if constructing buildings is just for me. And you are right. I have been working with you in this company and ever since its inception, all I did was finish paperwork and construct facilities while you are out there in the drawing room inventing lucrative technologies. I also want to do miracles in this world, I want to build something that would make the people gape, awe, and impress."

"Which is why I'm giving you the opportunity to build one," Poul said. "Last I saw is that the office building concept is not popular yet in this country. Imagine if you build one, people will flock and surround you, offering you a stupendous amount of money begging you to build one for them. And then, you can start your own firm and partner it with our company."

"But we would be separated," Jonathan said, concern etched on his face. "Look, it's not that I don't like working with you, I just want to build miracles. I don't want to be on the sideline anymore, I want to be on the mainstage. If you are going to invent automobiles or aircraft, then I'll build buildings, bridges, and metros."

"No one is stopping you, Jonathan. If you want to do it, do it," Poul said. "Besides I would prefer that we'd do just that. So? Are you going to construct an office building? This company of ours will be your first client."

"I'll be glad to have this company as my first client. I'll come up with a design next week. What would the office building look like?"

"I don't know, something modern and sleek I guess?" Poul shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, constructing a modern-style eight-story building is not going to be an easy feat. I will have you create the technologies needed to make it possible."

"I'd be more than happy to help. In fact, it's making me excited. I can't wait to see what you are going to offer me next week," Poul said, chuckling.

"Prepare yourself as you are going to spend a lot of time helping me construct that building. Good thing that you already hired a secretary."

"Yeah. Amelia wants me to hire a hundred more staff for the departments she is going to create for the company. She said that if we hired the talents we are lacking, it will help the company run smoothly. As expected from the secretary who worked in Loreal."

And then the two went on with their conversation, lasting for about three hours.

One o'clock in the morning, the two industrialist duo decided to call it a day and head back inside their house. They went upstairs and arrived in front of the bedroom door.

Poul opened the door and entered. There are two beds in the room, one is for Jonathan, and the other one is for Poul. And on Jonathan's bed, they saw a person lying on the bed. Amelia. What's more is that she is wearing a white thin fabric of apron dress, revealing her slender arms, legs, and collarbone that is gently rising up and down each time she breathes.

"I did mention that Amelia is going to sleep in our bedroom," Poul whispered.

"All the more reason to build that office building," Jonathan whispered back. "But isn't she feeling cold?"

Poul slowly approached the bed and placed the quilt over the sleeping figure.

"We should also go to sleep," Poul suggested. "We can sleep together in my bed, it can fit two people."

"Well, it's not like I have a choice here," Jonathan muttered, following Poul's path toward his bed.

The two lay on their backs, staring at the ceiling. The two thought it would feel awkward now when someone other than them is sleeping in the same room, especially when it was a girl. But no such thoughts appeared in either mind. The industrialist duo drifted into deep and pleasant sleep without another word shared between them.