Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

Poul was adjusting to the stares of the patrons in the dining hall. They are giving him a repulsive look to the point some of them couldn't hide their disgust. He could only click his tongue in annoyance. Those high-ranking elites are getting on his nerves. Like what's so wrong about having silver hair? Does it make them less human? Ah, the issues of the parallel nineteenth century where discrimination and racism are ubiquitous.

Not to mention, those elites probably have less money than him as they depended on the inheritance of their ancestors. With that, they'll never have to work a day in their life.

"Jonathan is taking long," Poul muttered as he tapped his feet on the floor impatiently. He wanted to get out of the dining hall as soon as possible as he couldn't bear the stares he was receiving, making him uncomfortable.

He glanced over his shoulder to look over at the reception hall. And there he saw Jonathan, with two ladies trailing behind him.

When Jonathan neared Poul, Poul spoke.

"What took you so long?" Poul asked.

"I had an encounter with two ladies behind me who were looking for us," Jonathan explained as he stepped aside, allowing Poul to see the ladies he was referring to.

Poul took a look. The first thing he noticed was Amelia, whose long and pristine navy-blue hair are tied in a Classic Chignon Bun style, and as for the girl standing beside her was a beautiful lady with shoulder-length hair wearing a white double-breasted coat, high heels, and black leggings.

He stood up and tilted the tip of his hat, and extended his hand offering a handshake.

"Good day to you, I'm a close friend of Jonathan. Poul Nielsen," he smiled after introducing himself.

However, his brows creased when the lady didn't grab onto his hand. "What's the matter?"

"It was explained minutes ago that in order to introduce yourself to a lady, you are to grab her hand and place a gentle kiss upon the fingers," Jonathan explained.

"Is that so? Sorry, I wasn't aware of the etiquette of this setting," Poul explained bashfully.

Amelia giggled, amused. "You sounded like Mr. Axelsen from earlier, Mr. Nielsen."

Caroline offered him her hand and spoke. "Good day to you sir. I'm Caroline Dupont, I'm sure you have heard of me from Amelia's stories."

"Wait, you are the founder of Loreal?" Poul scanned her appearance for the last time before speaking again. "You look young."

"I'll take that as a compliment. I could say the same thing to you as well. You are the founder of the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company, right?"

Poul grabbed her hand and leaned forward to give her hand a kiss. And then he nodded in confirmation.

After doing the formal gesture to Caroline, Poul walked over to Amelia and performed the same thing.

"Let us take a seat," Jonathan offered as he pulled the chair for Caroline to sit. Poul did the same thing to Amelia's chair. Once the ladies were seated, the young industrialist duo returned to their seats.

"It's nice to see you again, Amelia. You really made an effort to see us today," Poul began.

"I told you, I'm going to repay the money you loaned me for the train and ferry tickets," Amelia said.

"You don't have to really, but just as yesterday, I'm sure you are going to insist. So we are going to accept it," Poul said before looking at Caroline. "Though I didn't expect Miss Caroline to come with you. I'm sure we could have arranged a better reception for the both of you."

"You won't have to, Sir Nielsen. We won't take long anyway. I just want to see the gentleman who helped my precious secretary out of trouble," Caroline politely replied while waving her hands in an attempt to wave away the topic.

Caroline continued. "In fact, I would have invited both of you for breakfast but seeing that you are already in the place where the best breakfast is served, it had saved us both our time. For I am sure, you two have a schedule for today."

"That's correct," Jonathan chimed in. "We are here on a business trip and going to meet someone special."

"I see. May I ask with whom?" Caroline asked curiously.

Poul and Jonathan glanced at one another as if doing a vote on whether they should tell or not. They agreed on a former. Nothing would be lost if they told them.

"I'm sure you have heard of Mister John Morgan and James Russel?"

"Ah, the financier and the popular inventor," Caroline recognized the name Jonathan mentioned. "I heard that tomorrow evening he will illuminate the New York Stock Exchange with his bulbs and direct current."

"That's quite correct. How did you know that?" Poul leaned forward as he asked.

"I was invited, I'm also one of his contributors, a financier to Russel's endeavor. Electricity would surely change and revolutionize the world, don't you agree?" Caroline said.

Poul and Jonathan nodded in agreement.

"May I ask why are you meeting him?" Caroline added a question.

"I'm afraid it's a type of subject that we will have to omit," Poul said. Jonathan was slightly surprised at his words but immediately realized the reason why Poul did so. "Anyways, can we get you something to eat? Anything you want. We will pay, of course."

"No, I should be the one paying," Caroline interjected. "We have taken your valuable time and we have to compensate."

"Miss Caroline, please let us look cool around our fellow patrons here," Poul said.

Caroline glanced around and saw the patrons staring in their direction. Their gazes were piercing. She wondered why. She shifted her gaze to Poul and there she found her answer. Poul was an Albian. She didn't notice that at first as she was focused on formulating words on how to approach and thank the two gentlemen. No. In fact, Poul's hair color wouldn't have mattered at all.

"Well, if you insist," Caroline conceded. "A light breakfast for both of us would do," she said.

Jonathan flicked his hand, calling the attention of the waiter who had been standing by the wall, watching over the guests. The waiter approached and Jonathan ordered. It took him a minute to order. After that, they returned to their conversation.

"I heard from Amelia that you two are engineers right? Mechanical and civil?"

"That's correct," Poul confirmed without much thought.

"At what university did you two graduate?" Caroline asked again, this time the two were silent.

They don't know how to respond to her question as the two really didn't graduate from any university in this world. Their credentials were in their original world, which in this case, doesn't exist here.

Caroline narrowed her eyes, looking at the two with a piercing gaze. Seeing their troubled look made her take back her question.

"An advice for you two, when you are introducing yourself. Don't tell me that you are an engineer. Because if you do, you'll be questioned. And if you can't provide them with what they need to know, they can use it to ruin the reputation of your company. Do you understand what I'm saying here?"

"Yes ma'am," the two intoned formally.

"Good. Just be careful. Your Air Brake Company is receiving traction here in the United States. Almost major railroad companies implement it, including Wanderbilt, after the disaster in one of his express trains in New York Central. You wouldn't want it to be ruined by a fake credential, do you?"

Poul and Jonathan were slightly offended by her words. If only she knew about their credentials from their original world, she would be surprised. Though she got a point.

"What was it that they said to you again, Amelia?" Caroline asked, looking at Amelia.

"Uhm…they are looking for a secretary," Amelia said.

"Is that true?" Caroline glanced at the two.

"That's quite correct, miss. We are in need of secretaries to reduce our workload, especially on papers," Poul said.

"And you offered my secretary to work with you, is that right?"

"Wait…why is this sounding like an interrogation?" Jonathan observed. "To answer your question. Yes, we offered her but she flatly refused."

"I see," Caroline's gaze flickered to Amelia. "Do you want to work with them?"

"Eh?" Amelia was startled at the sudden question. "Uhm…no, I would only work for you, Miss Caroline."

"I guess that's a no for us?" Poul noted.

"I'd say it is. Oh before I forgot, here is what I believe we owed you," Caroline said as she pulled out a small envelope from her purse, and handed it to Poul.

Poul opened the envelope and peeked inside. "This is ten dollars. Miss Amelia only owed us three dollars."

"And I tripled it," Caroline said. "You don't want it?"

"It's too much but we will accept it. After all, you are going to insist, right?"

Caroline chuckled. "You are starting to know me."

The waiter arrived with their food, placing it on their table carefully.

"Are you two free later?" Caroline asked. "I would like to know both of you more."

"Uhm…I don't know how long our meeting with Morgan and Russel is going to take…" Jonathan said.

"I'm sure it wouldn't take hours right? How about five o'clock in the Bethesda fountain?"

"We can arrange that," Poul accepted her invitation.

"Uhm…Miss Caroline, I think this would be a bother for them. They are in New York for a business trip. I'm sure they are busy, I hope you can reconsider," Amelia said.

"They said they can go, Amelia. Aren't you curious about them as well?" Caroline asked back.

"I wouldn't say that."

"Then it's settled. Five o'clock, in Bethesda fountain."