Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

The meeting with Mister Morgan and Mister Russel concluded with another score for the two young industrialist duo. They had successfully licensed their invention, a functioning and working direct current electric motor to Mister Russel. Giving him the rights to produce, manufacture, and distribute the electric motor in exchange for royalties.

This is just a step forward to their plans of possibly becoming the greatest industrialist in this nineteenth-century parallel world. As they have promised themselves they will build a huge memento, glorifying their climb to the summit using the knowledge they had gained from their original world.

It may take years or decades but they'll eventually get there, they know it. Their minds are overflowing with ideas that can revolutionize the world and take it by storm. The electric motor and the air brake are just a start.

There's only one thing they have to do in New York, and that is to attend the lighting ceremony of the New York Stock Exchange, the very first building in New York to be lit by an electric bulb. There's no way the young industrialist duo is going to miss it.

However, before that, there was an addition to the schedule. The beautiful lady that they met in the Pennsylvania Station happened to be the secretary of the richest woman in the world, Caroline Dupont. A woman who brought personal care products to men and women.

She must be a prodigy, to be able to concoct such products at a young age.

They are scheduled to meet them in Bethesda fountain, and the young industrialist duo is heading there now in their horse-drawn buggy. It is an open-type carriage, meaning it has no roof, allowing the two to take in the sight of the nineteenth-century parallel New York. It was awe-inspiring, making them appreciate the arts and crafts of the people who had lived in the past.  However, the gloomy dark sky is seemingly going to ruin the sight.

It has been raining frequently in New York, and the young industrialist duo had forgotten to bring their umbrellas with them. But with their meteorological knowledge, they can predict when it's going to rain through humidity, which is the moisture in the air, and the wind speed, whose direction changes due to the pressure in the air.

"The humidity is at seventy-nine percent," Poul said, rubbing his thumb and middle finger together while scanning the surroundings, specifically the plumes from the chimneys. "The smoke is spiraling back down, which means the air pressure is low, an indication of bad weather coming. If this continues, the rain is going to drop in one hour and two minutes."

"I'm really impressed at your calculating speed and observation, Poul. Well, there's nothing to worry about. We can buy an umbrella in the shop if needed. Besides, there are still thirty minutes left before the clock strikes five o'clock." Jonathan said as he checked his timepiece. "Hmm, let me retract what I said, we won't be needing it."

"Sometimes, I want to shut off my brain and not think for a minute," Poul grumbled. "I can't blame myself for it. I have been thirsty for knowledge since I was a kid."

"Arriving at the seventy-ninth street," the driver of the buggy informed the industrialist duo.

"Oh yeah, we are buying the ladies some flowers huh?" Poul said as he jumped out of the buggy.

"Yeah. I want our meeting with Miss Caroline and Amelia to be formal."

"And bringing flowers is one way of making it formal," Poul said as he placed a finger on his chin. "Or perhaps, you are making a move to Caroline."

"Gulp," Jonathan froze in place. He then looked over his shoulder.

Poul chuckled in a teasing manner. "Well, you said so yourself. That it was your first time getting charmed by a woman. Caroline Dupont, not only is she beautifully perfect but a genius chemist and businesswoman. I just assumed that she is a chemist due to the nature of her business. Nonetheless, an impressive and amazing woman. Not to mention, she's way out of your league."

"There's no such thing as 'out of your league'," Jonathan said with a determined look on his face. "As long as you invest a lot of effort, you'll get anything that you want, be it an object or the girl you like."

After hearing such enlightenment words from Jonathan, Poul chortled. "I can't believe that I'm hearing it from you. Normally, you'd said that you don't have time to have a girlfriend back in college and now you are here, love-stricken. It's amusing, to say the least."

"Shut up and get off me," Jonathan said as he started browsing the bouquet of flowers displayed on the storefront. "What's the best flower to give to a woman?"

"How should I know that information?" Poul shrugged his shoulders. "Just pick those that look eye-catching."

"Even though you are the one who suggested this," Jonathan grumbled and picked one that looked beautiful. "Uhm, how much for those pink tulips?" he inquired with the florist."

"Eighty-six cents," the florist responded.

Jonathan glanced over his shoulder and called Poul. "Aren't you going to buy one for Amelia?"

"Get me a bouquet of roses," Poul said. "I'll pay you later back in the hotel. I'm feeling lazy to pull money out from my pocket."

"You don't have to. I know you are not going to pay," Jonathan said as he paid the florist the money. The florist handed the bouquet of flowers with care to him. Then he walked over to Poul and gave him the bouquet of roses.

"Thank you," Poul grinned as he hopped back to the buggy. "Take us to the Bethesda fountain."

The coachman waited for Jonathan to board the buggy. Once he was seated, the buggy started moving.

***

Bethesda fountain. One of the many attractions in New York City with an astonishing view of the ramble and the lake. The fountain, which is also called the Angel of the Waters, is located at the center of the terrace. Trees sprouted along the thoroughfare, and their sweet scent perfumed the air.

Poul looked at this pocket watch and checked the time. "It's five o'clock now. Where are they?"

Jonathan looked around, looking for Caroline and Amelia. "I don't see them. Something must have happened on their way here."

"It's better that way. If we are the ones who are late, then it will be embarrassing. Either way, we can't wait for them forever. Let's give them a thirty-minute grace period. If they still hadn't arrived before that time, we have no choice but to lea…" Poul wasn't able to finish his words when he saw the two ladies walking into the entrance to the park. "It's them!"

Jonathan hid his flowers behind his back, Poul did the same. As Caroline and Amelia neared their direction, the two industrialist duo pressed their lips into a fine line, excited and nervous at the same time.

"I apologize if we are a minute late, Mister Axelsen, Mister Nielsen. There was traffic," Caroline explained with an apologetic look.

"It's okay, we two just arrived anyway," Jonathan said, smiling. "Anyways, here, I bought this for you. I hope you like it,"

"Wow…" Caroline exclaimed softly the moment Jonathan presented her with the bouquet of tulips. She gratefully accepted them and sniffed the petals with her eyes closed. The wind blew, causing her shoulder-length hair to flutter lightly, revealing her face that is perfect in proportions, her skin so light that it almost seemed white as snow.

Jonathan was once again stunned. She's too bad for his heart. Poul was grinning next to him, amused at the sight of his best friend's face. While Jonathan was in trance, Poul took this chance and gave the bouquet of roses to Amelia.

Amelia startled at the flower before her. "Uhm…you are giving me this?"

Poul nodded. "I bought it for you."

"Uhm…"

Poul frowned. "You don't like it?"

"No, it's not that…It's just that it is my first time receiving flowers from a man," she said bashfully, her cheek reddening.

"Is that so? Then would you let me be the first? Lady Amelia?" Poul said with an inviting smile, hoping that he could persuade the lady with his charming smile and charm.

"Hmm…" Amelia replied in a hum, accepting the flowers, and brought it close to her chest, staring at it fondly.

A fleeting moment of silence passed between them. It was Caroline who broke the silence first.

"Thank you for the flowers, we didn't expect it but we are grateful nonetheless. You were kind enough to buy something for us, even though you don't have to."

Jonathan waved his hand dismissively. "No, it's no bother really. In fact, we liked purchasing flowers for a beautiful lady such as you…"

Caroline giggled, "Are you perhaps hitting on me, Sir Axelsen?"

"What if I told you I am?" Jonathan smoothly said with a wink.

"Then do your hardest. And if you do, I might fall for you," Caroline smiled coyly.

"Very well," Jonathan said, accepting her challenge.

"Well, gentleman, the reason why I wanted to meet you here is that I have something to ask. But I can only speak about it with only one of you," Caroline said.

"Take Jonathan," Poul suggested without much thought.

"Are you sure?" Caroline asked, her gaze remaining fixed on Jonathan.

"Amelia and I are going to walk around the park while you two speak whatever is it that you need to talk about. Would that be okay for you, my lady?"

"Yes," Amelia nodded.

"Then it's settled," Poul said.

With that, the two parted ways temporarily.

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