Upon closing the deal with John Morgan over his shares, Poul promptly contacted Caroline the following day, informing her of Morgan's acceptance. As a result, Caroline scheduled a visit to the headquarters of the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 16th, 882.
Like any other day, it was a typical day for the workers of the company, working in perfect harmony to manufacture air brakes and locomotive draft gears for steam locomotives. However, for the founders of the company, it was a momentous day, as they were to receive an investment worth fifteen million dollars from Caroline.
To ensure that their main office, which also doubled as their residence, was as welcoming and presentable as possible, the founders took great care in preparing the interior for Caroline's visit. Despite its hasty construction and plain interior, the decorations served to conceal any imperfections.
Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived. Poul and Jonathan waited patiently on the porch, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Caroline in a horse-drawn carriage. As the carriage drew closer, they knew that this was the moment they had been working towards. The deal was about to be cemented.
The carriage came to a graceful stop in front of the grandiose main office, its wheels crunching over the pristine gravel pathway with a genteel sound. The footman, clad in a black suit, alighted from the carriage and hastened to open the door for the eagerly anticipated guest. The door creaked as it swung open, revealing Caroline's angelic face, framed by light-blonde short hair that reached her shoulders. Her brown eyes shone like warm honey, and her cheeks were adorned with a subtle pink hue, like the delicate blush of a rose.Caroline stepped out of the carriage, her every movement graceful and fluid, like that of a swan gliding across a tranquil pond. She was dressed in a stunning lavender gown, the fabric of which swayed gently in the wind, reflecting the radiance of the sun. Her slim figure was accentuated by the corset, and her gloved hands held a small purse, dainty and delicate.
As she approached Poul and Jonathan, her delicate hand lifted her skirt to avoid tripping over the fabric, her eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation. Poul greeted her with a warm smile, his eyes gleaming with admiration. Meanwhile, Jonathan was stunned, awed by her beauty. In his eyes, she was just as beautiful as the day he met her, with a charm and elegance that could leave anyone spellbound.
Seeing Jonathan's petrified state, Poul stepped forward and greeted her.
Caroline lifted her delicate hand, adorned with a white glove, and offered it to Poul, who had stepped forward to greet her. He took her hand in his, admiring its softness and the fine lacework of the glove covering it.
Poul leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on the back of Caroline's hand. "Good afternoon, Miss Caroline. It's a pleasure to see you again."
Caroline blushed at the chivalrous gesture and smiled in return. "The pleasure is all mine, Sir Nielsen. Thank you for inviting me to your office."
Poul released her hand and stepped back, allowing Caroline to greet Jonathan, who had recovered from his initial shock."Are you going to greet her or not?" Poul said teasingly.
"I am...! Wait," Jonathan stuttered. He cleared his throat and approached Caroline.
"Good afternoon, Lady Dupont," Jonathan said with a courteous tone as he clasped her hand. He kissed it gallantly, discreetly inhaling the sweet scent emanating from her hand. It was a delightful fragrance, akin to the one he recalled when he first kissed her hand in New York.
"Good afternoon, Sir Axelsen. It's a pleasure to see you again," Caroline said, her voice velvety and refined. She withdrew her hand and adjusted the folds of her dress, regaining her composure.
"Allow me to escort you inside our modest office," Jonathan said, extending his arm to Caroline in a gallant manner.
"Very well, Sir Axelsen," Caroline replied, accepting his offer and interlocking her arm with his. Together, they walked towards the building, their steps in sync.
Caroline gazed around the modest office, her brow furrowing in puzzlement.
"I must say, it is quite plain here. Why are you being so frugal with yourselves? With your funds, you could easily commission an office building," she remarked.
Jonathan smiled. "Indeed, we already have plans for an eight-story building with a modern look. Once we find a construction firm, we can start the construction process."
Caroline mused as her interest in their office building was piqued. "An eight-story building huh? You are a civil engineer, right? Perhaps you can build me a building that has 102 floors."
Jonathan's head tilted to the side, his mind racing to comprehend her request. Moments later, he realized what she meant. She was asking him to build a skyscraper similar to the ones from their original world, such as the Empire State Building because it has 102 floors. The mere thought of Caroline's desire to see such a creation in her lifetime only made him desire her more.
Without hesitation, Jonathan replied, "I can do that, but it will be an expensive undertaking."
"Money is no issue to me, Mister Axelsen. As much as I would love to talk to you more about it, we have to settle business first," Caroline reminded him.
"You are right, Miss Dupont," Jonathan agreed, his formal tone surfacing.
Caroline quickly interjected, "Don't be so formal, Mister Axelsen. Caroline would do. It would be unfair if I addressed you as Mister Axelsen, so I'm going to call you by your first name."
A hint of a smile appeared on Jonathan's face, "Well, if you insist, Caroline."
"Can I call you by your first name as well?" Poul chimed between their moments. He was standing by the door that leads to the office.
"Of course, Poul. You can address me by my first name as well," Caroline permitted.
"That's good. Now, Caroline, there is someone inside who is eager to see you. I'm sure you know who it is."
"I'm excited to see her as well," Caroline said.
"Okay then," Poul opened the door, and the three of them walked into the room. As soon as Caroline caught sight of the lady standing by the desk, she was ecstatic.
"Amelia?"
"Caroline!" Amelia exclaimed as she rushed towards her, and they embraced each other in a warm hug.
Jonathan and Poul exchanged a glance of approval, observing the evident enjoyment the two women had in each other's company. While they waited for Caroline and Amelia to finish catching up, they took the opportunity to retrieve the files containing the terms and agreements of the contract.
The voices of Amelia and Caroline floated over to the industrialist duo. "Are they treating you well? Did they touch you?" Caroline inquired, her concern palpable.
"No, Lady Caroline. I can honestly say that they have treated me well ever since I joined their company," Amelia replied.
Caroline persisted, "Perhaps they are coercing you to report that everything is fine, even if it's not. If that's the case, you can tell me. You have nothing to fear."
Poul interjected, "Ouch, that hurts. We are good guys, we haven't done anything to her."
Jonathan added, "Yes, we assure you that Amelia has been treated well under our care."
"I'm simply making sure that Amelia is being well taken care of," Caroline responded.
"Geez…Lady Caroline, you are too overprotective of me. I'm telling the truth, they didn't do anything to me."
Caroline let out a sigh, "Well, if you say so."
"Caroline, please take a seat. We will begin shortly," Poul interjected.
Caroline took her seat, and the industrialist duo began.
"So, Caroline, this is the contract. Feel free to look at the terms and agreements before signing them."
Terms and Agreement
This agreement is made and entered into on February 16, 882 by and between Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company, and Caroline Dupont.
WHEREAS, the Investor desires to invest fifteen million dollars in the Company, and the Company is willing to accept such investment, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
Investment. The Investor shall invest fifteen million dollars in the Company in exchange for a twenty-five percent (25%) ownership interest in the Company.
Use of Funds.
The total investment of $15,000,000 will be used for the following purposes:
Research and development of the air brakes and locomotive draft gears to improve the safety and efficiency of the company's products.
Expansion of the business abroad to attract more customers, to increase the company's revenue, and to establish a physical presence in foreign markets.
Hiring additional staff members for the purpose of the above-mentioned research and development and expansion.
Any other business-related expenses and investments necessary to increase the company's value and growth.
It is agreed that the funds will not be used for any illegal or unethical purposes. All expenses and investments made using the funds will be recorded in the company's financial records and will be available for inspection by Caroline Dupont or her representative upon request.
Confidentiality. The Company shall maintain the confidentiality of any and all information provided by the Investor, including but not limited to the formula for smokeless gunpowder, and shall not disclose such information to any third party without the prior written consent of the Investor.
Representations and Warranties. The Company and the Investor each represents and warrants to the other that: (a) it is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; (b) it has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby; and (c) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder do not violate any applicable law or regulation or any agreement to which it is a party.
Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by mutual written agreement of the parties at any time prior to the closing of the transaction contemplated hereby.
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state where the Company is incorporated, without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.
Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, whether written or oral.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company
By: Poul Nielsen, CEO of the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company
By: Jonathan Axelsen, COO of the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company
Caroline Dupont
By: Caroline Dupont, CEO of Loreal
With a look of approval, Caroline's head nodded after reading through the terms of the contract. She reached for her pen from her purse and proceeded to sign her signature over her printed name.
"Let's finalize the agreement," she said to the industrialist duo. Poul and Jonathan followed suit, signing the contract before shaking hands with Caroline.
"I would love to see the weapon in action," Caroline chimed in.
"We'll send you an invitation," Jonathan promised.
