Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World Chapter 40 Impressions With One Another

It took the four fifteen minutes to finish their breakfast. After that, they wiped the corners of their lips with a handkerchief, removing stains and greases from it. Then they stood up and the young industrialist duo escorted them outside.

"This is where we part, Miss Caroline and Miss Alia," Poul said. "We are going to take our leave here."

"Thank you for the breakfast," Caroline said, bowing at them politely.

"Uhm, do you want us to hail you a cab?" Jonathan offered, looking at Caroline.

"That would be very kind of you, Sir Jonathan. If you don't mind."

Jonathan raised an arm forward in a wave. In the distance, a cab noticed the signal and ca to stop before them. Poul opened the doors.

"We will see you in the Bethesda fountain at five o'clock. If we are not there after thirty minutes, that could only an there was an ergency or sothing urgent that we had to deal with. You may leave."

"That would be very unbefitting for the both of you. A gentleman would never let a lady wait," Caroline replied, smiling sweetly.

When Poul was about to offer his hand to help her board the carriage, Jonathan pushed him away lightly.

"Jonathan?" Poul spread his arm in confusion, looking between the two of them.

"Let be the one to help her," Jonathan said simply, offering his hand to Caroline to which the latter accepted. She placed her hand over his and climbed up the carriage. When it was Alia's turn, Poul pulled Jonathan away and offered Alia his hand.

When Jonathan was about to demand an explanation for his sudden action, Poul spoke.

"You had your chance, Jonathan. I can't let you take all the spotlight."

He flickered his gaze to the ladies inside and smiled. "Is everything settled?"

"Yes, thank you once again for helping my Alia. I will et both of you later," Caroline said.

"Thank you, Sir Nielsen," Alia said.

"No problem," Poul said as he tipped his hat, and closed the door. The carriage began to move into the street and the two young industrialist duo watched as the carriage disappeared into the distance.

"So we are going to et them again later huh?" Poul said.

"Yeah, I think that's the case," Jonathan replied as he walked next to Poul. "You sure made your move to Miss Alia huh?"

"Well, just like how you didn't let hold Caroline's hand, I didn't let you grab Alia."

"So you like Alia huh?" Jonathan said teasingly as he nudged Poul's arm with an elbow. "Well Alia is pretty so I can't really bla you for wanting to make a move on her. You know, if you were ever interested."

Poul turned crimson and cleared his throat.

"I–I suppose," Poul shrugged. "I am not certain yet but I would love to discover it for myself. I could say the sa thing to you, the way you have been staring at Caroline when we were having our breakfast, do you think I wouldn't notice?"

"Well, you read . It's the first ti I got chard by a woman. You know , Poul. I never had a girlfriend in the past and was alone for about thirty-six years. Maybe this would be different."

"Be careful though. Caroline is a noblewoman from another country. She is rich, smart, and beautiful. She's a top-tier lady. The sa goes for her secretary. I don't think it will be easy."

"You won't know if you don't try, right?" Jonathan smiled, his voice taking on a mischievous tone.

"That's a golden rule. Well, since we are going to et them later. Might as well bring them so flowers. You ask the locals for the nearest flower shop as you know."

"Why ?"

"Do you really want to answer that question?" Poul said, looking him in the eye.

Jonathan realized. "Ah, the silver hair. How could I have forgotten? Don't worry about the color of your hair, in the next one hundred years, people will look at it differently."

"I hope they will. Let's prepare ourselves. We have a eting to attend."

***

Inside the hansom cab-type horse-drawn carriage. Alia and Caroline were silently staring out the window. Caroline broke the ice and spoke.

"So those two are the ones you were talking about when you told the story."

"Yes, it is them."

"I sense sothing odd going on between those two," Caroline observed. "Like, they don't belong here."

"What do you an by that, Miss Caroline?" Alia curiously asked. "Are you saying that those outsiders don't belong in New York?"

"No, not that one, it's hard to explain," Caroline said and then went into pondering mode. When she asked her about where they graduated, the two were silent. That was an easy question and yet they froze.

They claim themselves to be an engineer in a specific field but couldn't provide evidence to back it up. But they have the skills, enough to invent the air brakes that made locomotive transportation safe.

Could it be that they are in the sa case as her? A person that died in their original world and was reborn in this world? If that were the case, then she would love them to work under her. But before that, she must know them. Like what did they do before they got here? Where are they from, and how did they get into this world? Good thing that she had asked them to et her in Bethesda fountain. There, she'll find her answer.

Of course, Caroline isn't sure if they are reborn souls. She is just assuming. After all, they are doing the sa thing she was doing when she got reborn in this world. Profit from the knowledge they obtained from their past life. Only this ti in the field of chanical and civil engineering. And if they turned out to be transmigrators, then she would do everything it takes to get them under her.

"Miss Caroline," Alia tugged her sleeves gently. "Miss Caroline,"

Caroline snapped out of her reverie. "What is it, Alia?"

"You seed to be in deep thought. Are you okay?" Alia asked concernedly.

"I'm fine, Alia," Caroline held her hand reassuringly. "I was just thinking about the two gentlen who helped you. They wanted you to beco their secretary."

"Ah…is that the cause of your worry? I told you, Miss Caroline, I would never work for them. I'm satisfied working with you."

"It's good to hear that, Alia," Caroline smiled. "But what if I told you that you can work for them?"

"You don't need anymore, Miss Caroline?" Alia's face turned pale as a sheet. She lowered her head and folded her hands together tightly in her lap.

"Oh no, Alia dear, I'm just asking. What if I ordered you to be their secretary? Would you agree?"

"Well, if it's an order, then I would do it," Alia said.

"Thank you for letting know, Alia," Caroline said, stroking her cheek affectionately.