Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

As the days passed since Poul and Jonathan's return to their office in Washington, the atmosphere had become increasingly stagnant. Mundane tasks had taken precedence over their usual lively discussions, leaving the two executives feeling uncharacteristically unmotivated. It didn't take long for Amelia, their executive secretary of almost two years, to notice the change in their demeanor.

Amelia decided to check on them during their break. "Mr. Axelsen and Mr. Nielsen, may I ask what happened in your meeting with the Crown Prince of the British Empire and the President of the United States in the White House, Washington?"

Poul and Jonathan looked up from their paperwork, surprised by the sudden interruption. They shared a quick glance before Poul spoke up. "Ah, it was nothing much, just business dealings."

Amelia furrowed her brows. She knew that Poul was not telling the whole truth, but she didn't want to pry. She respected their privacy and decided to change the topic by asking about business-related matters.

"So what happened in the meeting? Did the Crown Prince of the British Empire decide to purchase rifles from us?"

"Yeah, we are expecting to meet him soon to finalize the deal," Poul said, shifting his attention back to the paper he was working on.

Amelia watched as Poul scribbled down some notes, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Poul's usual enthusiasm for work was missing, and it worried her.

"Is everything okay, Mr. Nielsen?" she asked, her voice soft and concerned.

Poul looked up at her, and she could see the exhaustion etched on his face. He seemed lost in thought for a moment before finally replying. "I'm fine, thank you for asking, Amelia."

But Amelia wasn't convinced. She had known Poul and Jonathan for almost two years, and she could tell when something was bothering them. She decided to press on, even though it will contradict the decision she made earlier for not prying up as this case could affect the company's performance if not settled quickly.

"Are you sure, Mr. Axelsen? You and Mr. Nielsen have been acting strangely since your return from the meeting."

Jonathan shot Poul a meaningful glance, silently asking him to be honest. Poul sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"It's nothing, Amelia. We just had some unexpected things happen during the meeting, and it's been weighing on our minds."

Amelia could sense that Poul wasn't going to divulge more information, so she decided to drop the subject. "If you say so, Mr. Nielsen. Just know that I'm here to help if you need anything."

Poul managed a small smile in gratitude before turning his attention back to his work. But the weight of the secret he was keeping was becoming heavier by the day, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could bear it.

After a moment, there was a heavy silence in the office and the only sound that they could hear inside was the pen scratching on paper, and the rustling of the documents they were working on.

Suddenly, the telephone on Poul's desk rang, startling all three of them. Poul quickly picked up the phone and answered, "This is Nielsen speaking."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Nielsen. This is the British embassy calling. We would like to schedule a meeting with you and Mr. Nielsen regarding the business dealings with the Crown Prince."

Poul's heart skipped a beat. He had been expecting this call, knowing that the meeting with the Crown Prince was going to happen soon.

"Of course, when would be a suitable time?"

"The Crown Prince is available tomorrow at 2 pm. The Crown Prince himself is going to visit your headquarters. Can you confirm that this time would work for you and Mr. Axelsen?"

Poul looked at Jonathan, who nodded in agreement. "Yes, that works for us. We will prepare a warm reception for the Crown Prince."

"Excellent, I'll inform the Crown Prince of this appointment."

Poul hung up the phone and let out a heavy sigh. He looked up at Amelia and spoke.

"Ms. Weiss, I want to ensure that we make a lasting impression on our important client who is visiting tomorrow. I urge you to take charge and make sure our headquarters is presented in the most professional and formal manner possible. I need you to communicate this with the heads of every department and ensure that all workers are aware of the significance of this visit. Let's show our client why we are the best in the business."

Amelia listened intently to Poul's instructions and nodded in understanding. "Consider it done, Mr. Nielsen," she replied confidently. "I will coordinate with the heads of departments and ensure that our headquarters is prepared to receive the Crown Prince in the best possible way."

Poul smiled, relieved to have such a competent executive secretary. "Thank you, Ms. Weiss. Jonathan and I have complete faith in your abilities."

***

And tomorrow arrives. Redcoats of the British Empire lined up the streets of the Axelsen & Nielsen Company town. The spectators, which are primarily composed of workers, watched from the side of the streets as they watched the royal carriage slowly make its way toward the company's headquarters. Poul and Jonathan stood at the entrance, waiting to greet their important guest.

As the carriage pulled up, the Crown Prince stepped out and then turned to offer a hand to Penelope, to which Penelope took it, and made her way down to the ground.

When Poul saw that gesture, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. To see that there is another man who is doing that to his girlfriend from the original world makes him feel insecure. He knew it was irrational, but he couldn't help but feel a bit threatened by the Crown Prince's presence.

But he quickly shook off those feelings as he and Jonathan greeted their important guest.

"Your Highness, Lady Ascart, welcome to the headquarters of the Axelsen & Nielsen Arms Manufacturing Company. Which also serves as the headquarters to our other enterprises," Jonathan welcomed.

Prince Alexander and Penelope looked up to see their headquarters. A frown expression etched their faces.

Jonathan smiled. "I know, we get that all the time. Why does our main office look like an ordinary house that you would see on the streets? Well, we are already building one and it's going to be finished in a year. Let's get inside…"

As Jonathan and Alexander were talking, Poul and Penelope were looking at one another, as if they were trying to read each other's thoughts. They only snapped when Prince Alexander made his way inside the main office and they followed.

Inside the office, each party took their respective seats. Amelia prepared the documents beforehand that needed a signature from both parties, and handed them to them.

And then, the meeting began.

"The British Empire has already expressed its interest in acquiring the AN-M1 rifles and we are granting the Axelsen & Nielsen Arms Manufacturing Company a contract to supply our troops with AN-M1 rifles. In total, we will be purchasing two hundred thousand and five million bullets," Prince Alexander announced, looking directly at Poul and Jonathan.

Poul and Jonathan exchanged a quick glance before Poul spoke up. "Your Highness, we are honored to have been chosen as your supplier of weapons. We are confident that our products meet your expectations and will serve your troops well."

Penelope watched as Poul spoke, and she could see the tension in his eyes. She knew that something was bothering him, but she couldn't figure out what it was. She made a mental note to talk to him after the meeting.

The meeting continued, and Poul and Jonathan answered all the questions Prince Alexander had regarding the rifles, bullets, and the process of acquisition. After everything had been discussed, the two parties shook hands and agreed to the terms of the contract.