Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World-Novel

Poul's heart pounded as Amelia's hands pressed against the door, trapping him in the room with her. He looked into her eyes, searching for an explanation for her unusual behavior.

"I want you to stay with me for a while," Amelia repeated, her gaze intense and unwavering.

Poul tried to push past her, but she grabbed his arm with unexpected strength, pulling him deeper into the room. Before he could react, she pushed him onto the bed, her hands moving to the zipper of her dress.

Poul's mind raced as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He had always been drawn to Amelia's confidence and independence, but this sudden turn of events left him feeling uneasy.

"Amelia, please," he managed to say, his voice shaking. "What's going on?"

Amelia hesitated for a moment, her hands still on her dress. For the first time, Poul saw a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. "I just...needed someone to be here with me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Poul's mind was still reeling from Amelia's sudden shift in behavior. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to her request than just a simple desire for company. As he looked at her, he realized that there was a certain desperation in her eyes that he had never seen before.

"Amelia," he said gently, taking her hands in his. "I don't understand where you are going with this, what do you mean by you needing someone to be with you?"

"It's just that, I have been noticing you are distancing yourself away from me," Amelia finally let out what she wanted to say to him.

Poul's heart sank as he heard Amelia's words. He had been trying to keep his distance, thinking it was for the best, but he never thought it would have such an impact on her.

Amelia's voice was filled with frustration and confusion as she spoke. "It started at the ball when we were celebrating the successful demonstration of the AN-M1 rifles and the new contracts we had secured. And then the princess arrived from the British Empire. But even before that, Poul, you were kind to me. You never let any man get too close to me, and you always treated me special. But something changed. What happened to you?"

Her words hung heavily in the air, charged with emotion. Poul could feel her eyes on him, searching for an answer. He knew he had to explain himself, but the words caught in his throat. He had been struggling with his feelings for Amelia for some time now, and it had been tearing him apart inside. Ever since the hypothesis of Sara being in this world and it becoming a reality caused confusion of feelings within him.

Taking a deep breath, he finally found his voice. "Amelia, I have to be honest with you. I've been struggling with my feelings for you. I didn't know how to act around you anymore. I didn't want to overstep my boundaries, but at the same time, I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. So I distanced myself, hoping that it would make things easier."

"Easier for what?" Amelia asked as she stopped moving her hands.

Poul hesitated, unsure of how to continue. He knew he had to be careful with his words, but he also didn't want to lead Amelia on. "Easier for both of us," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want to blur the lines between our professional relationship and anything else. I didn't want to risk losing what we have."

Amelia looked at him, her expression unreadable. "And what do we have, Poul?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Poul sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We have a good working relationship," he said carefully. "We work well together, and I value your expertise and your contribution to our company. But beyond that, I don't want to complicate things. I don't want to ruin what we have."

Amelia sighed. "All I'm hearing is excuses, searching for closure. There's only one reason why you are acting like that, Poul. It's because you already found a woman."

Poul's eyes widened.

Amelia took note of his reaction. "So I was right, huh? You have found someone that you care for more than me," she said, her voice barely concealing her disappointment.

Poul finally gave in and spoke the truth. "Yes, Amelia. There is someone else."

"So after all this time, making me so special, leading me onto something that could never be, you finally admit that you have moved on," Amelia said, her voice filled with bitterness.

"I'm sorry if I made you think that, Amelia. I'm to blame here. After all, why did I act in such a way in front of you? I'm such a careless man."

"Can I at least know who that person is?" Amelia asked.

"I'm sorry but I can't tell you that," Poul replied.

"I see," Amelia said as she zipped up her dress. She found no point in continuing the conversation since she had already discovered what she wanted. "You may leave now, Mr. Nielsen. I apologize for my behavior, and I am willing to accept any consequences for it."

Poul tilted his head to the side at the mention of his surname. She just addressed him formally, meaning he really had messed up.

"I will forget that this has ever happened. If this moment between us now cleared things up, then it's for the best," Poul said, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. He knew it was not the best way to handle the situation, but he was relieved that it was over.

Amelia nodded silently, her eyes cast down. She was disappointed and hurt, but she knew she had to move on. She had always suspected that Poul had feelings for her, but now that it was confirmed that he had someone else, she realized that she had been foolish to entertain any hopes.

As Poul walked towards the door, he turned back and said, "Amelia, I truly am sorry. If I could turn back time, I would have acted neutral towards you."

Amelia gave him a small smile, trying to mask the sadness in her eyes. "Thank you for your apology, Poul. I appreciate it," she said softly.

Poul nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. As he walked towards his bedroom. He cursed inwardly.

"Shit!"