Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

Five hours had passed since the triumphant demonstration of the Axelsen & Nielsen electric locomotive, and now the industrialist duo was hosting a grand banquet in its honor. The event was attended by a prestigious group of high-ranking officials, including members of the New York Board of Transportation Council, as well as distinguished individuals such as Morgan, Dupont, and Wanderbilt.

The banquet was held in a magnificent ballroom located within the impressive office building that Axelsen & Nielsen had constructed. The space was grand in scale, with towering ceilings and ornate moldings that spoke to the duo's commitment to luxury and grandeur. The walls were adorned with elaborate tapestries depicting scenes of historic importance, and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft and ethereal glow over the room.

The ballroom was filled with elegant furnishings, including plush velvet chairs and tables adorned with fragrant floral arrangements. The guests were greeted with glasses of champagne and hors d'oeuvres passed on silver platters by wait staff dressed in impeccable uniforms. The air was alive with a sense of excitement and achievement as the guests mingled and shared in the success of the demonstration that had taken place just hours earlier.

As the guests mingled and enjoyed their champagne, the sound of lively music suddenly filled the grand ballroom. The musicians, dressed in smart suits and bow ties, had taken their places on a raised platform at the far end of the room. A violinist struck up a merry tune, and the other musicians fell in behind him, their instruments filling the air with lively melodies.

The mood of the room shifted from one of polite conversation to one of gaiety and revelry as the guests took to the dance floor, twirling and spinning in time to the music. The couples moved gracefully around the room, their laughter and chatter echoing off the towering walls.

Axelsen & Nielsen watched from the edge of the dance floor, their faces alight with pride and satisfaction.

"Damn, we should do this often, Poul," Jonathan commented as he sipped his wine. "I wonder why we didn't do this when we struck a contract with the New York Board of Transportation a year ago?"

"You know the answer to that, Jonathan," Poul replied, sipping his glass of champagne. "We may have struck a contract but we don't have a working prototype of electric locomotive and the construction equipment required to build a tunnel for the metros. But now that we have those in place, we can celebrate."

Jonathan nodded, his eyes scanning the room as he took in the scene of jubilation and merriment.

As they watched the scene unfolding before them, their executive secretary approached them from behind, wearing an elegant lavender gown that complemented her navy blue hair.

"Mr. Axelsen, Mr. Nielsen, congratulations on the successful demonstration you had earlier," Amelia said gracefully.

"Thank you, Amelia," Poul replied with a warm smile. "It's been a long time coming, but we're thrilled with how it all turned out."

Amelia nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "The guests are thoroughly enjoying themselves, and I have already received numerous inquiries about when we will be releasing the electric locomotive to the market. I think we have a hit on our hands."

Jonathan chuckled. "It certainly seems that way. But we still have a lot of work to do before we can mass-produce these machines."

"I understand, Mr. Axelsen," Amelia said. "But I have a feeling that with your ingenuity and determination, we'll get there sooner than later."

Suddenly, a man called from a distance.

"Ms. Weiss! I have been looking for you," the man rushed towards their location. Poul and Jonathan looked at the man who was called Amelia. It was Timothy Anderson.

"Timothy?" Poul tilted his head to the side curiously. "Why do you want to see Amelia so urgently?"

"Well, Mr. Nielsen, I actually asked Ms. Weiss if I can be her partner for this occasion and she accepted."

"Really?" Poul flickered his gaze to Amelia. "Well, you two have a lovely time then."

Amelia smiled at Poul and Jonathan before turning to Timothy. "Shall we?" she said, extending her arm towards him. Timothy beamed and took her arm, leading her to the dance floor.

As they disappeared into the crowd of dancers, Jonathan leaned to Poul. "Do you think there's something between Amelia and Timothy?" he asked quietly.

Poul shrugged. "I don't know, I couldn't care less about their relationship."

"Why are you sounding bitter?" Jonathan teased.

Poul gave Jonathan a sidelong glance before turning his attention back to the dancers. "I'm not bitter, Jonathan. All I'm saying is that I shouldn't interfere with their personal life. That is all."

"Really? Then why did you act so overprotective of her when she first arrived in Pittsburgh? Also, you had a crush on her right? Why are you not acting like it?"

"That's way past us, Jonathan. I had a crush on her, yes, but that was years ago. We've all moved on since then. Even made our relationship clear so there won't be a misunderstanding. Whoever Amelia ends up with, I will simply wish for her happiness."

"Heh?" Jonathan mused.

Poul rolled his eyes at Jonathan's teasing. "I'm serious, Jonathan."

Jonathan nodded, understanding Poul's point. "You're right. I apologize for bringing it up. Let's just enjoy the rest of the evening. Speaking of which, where is your girl?"

Upon asking him that, the girl he was referring to entered the ballroom and walked down on the red carpet.

Sara glided into the ballroom, her brown hair elegantly styled in a half-up, half-down hairdo that framed her delicate features. Her porcelain skin, as pale as snow, contrasted perfectly with her white dress, which hugged her curves in all the right places. The dress flowed down to her ankles in a gentle wave, adorned with intricate lace and delicate beading that shimmered in the light.

Poul was captivated by her beauty, unable to take his eyes off of her. It was as if the world around her was fading as his vision focused solely on her.

As Sara approached them, Poul felt a sudden rush of nerves. He had known Sara for years, but he still felt like he was seeing her for the first time. She was stunning, and even though her appearance is not the same as the one she had in her previous life, the resemblance is close.

"Hey," Sara said, smiling at Poul and Jonathan.

"Hey," Poul replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jonathan smirked at Poul's reaction. "Well, you look absolutely beautiful tonight, Sara," he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

Sara giggled at Jonathan's flirtatiousness. "Thank you, Jonathan. You don't look too bad yourself."

Jonathan grinned, but his attention was soon drawn to a group of people he knew across the room. "Excuse me, I'll be right back," he said before disappearing into the crowd.

Poul and Sara were left alone, standing in the middle of the ballroom.

"You look amazing, Sara," Poul said.

Sara smiled at him. "Thank you, Poul. You look pretty good yourself."

They stood there for a moment, not sure what to say next. The music was still playing, and the two of them wanted Poul clear his throat, trying to break the awkward silence. "Would you like to dance, Sara?" he asked, extending his hand towards her.

Sara's eyes widened with excitement, and she took his hand. "I'd love to," she replied, and they made their way towards the dance floor.

Meanwhile, Jonathan arrived at the group of men.

"Mr. Axelsen, a pleasure to see you again," one of the councilors of the New York Board of Transportation extended his hand, offering a handshake. "You have a magnificent skyscraper here."

"Thank you, what can I do for you?"

"Well, Mr. Axelsen, we have heard about your ac system and the power plant that you are constructing in Ohio. I must say, the prospect of an alternating current system is high and it would be my honor to refer you to a friend of mine in Washington, who is looking interested. In fact, I have brought him here."

Jonathan shook his hand and chuckled. "I see, where is he?"

"Here."