Building a Conglomerate in Another World

Matthew Hesh sat in his office at Hesh Industries, skimming through the latest production reports. The steady hum of the factory could be heard faintly in the background, a reminder of the relentless work being done to fulfill contracts for reconstruction in East Asia. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples, when Robert Anders entered the room.

"Matthew, you’ve got visitors," Robert said.

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Charles and Amber Fitzwilliam," Robert replied. "They’re waiting in the conference room."

Matthew set the report aside and stood up. "Let’s not keep them waiting."

Matthew entered the conference room to find Charles Fitzwilliam already seated, grinning as he flipped through a folder of documents. Amber stood by the window, looking out over the sprawling industrial complex. She turned when Matthew walked in, a faint smile on her face.

"Matthew," Charles said, standing to shake his hand. "Good to see you. I wanted to drop by and personally congratulate you on the profits we’ve made this year."

Matthew shook his hand and nodded at Amber. "Charles. Amber. I wasn’t expecting you."

Charles laughed. "Well, you’ve made me a lot of money. It felt only right to stop by and say thanks in person."

Amber stepped forward, her tone softer. "Hello, Matthew. It’s been a while."

Matthew nodded. "It has. Good to see you both."

Charles wasted no time diving into the numbers. He spread out reports on the table, pointing to key figures. "Look at this, Matthew. Revenue from the war and reconstruction contracts has exceeded all projections. I’ve been in business a long time, but I’ve never seen numbers like these."

Matthew studied the figures, his face calm. "It’s been a busy year."

"Busy? That’s an understatement," Charles said with a chuckle. "You’ve turned conflict into profit in a way most people can only dream of. You should be proud."

Matthew nodded but didn’t say much. He glanced at Amber, who was watching the exchange with a distant expression.

Charles continued, "I know you’re already stretched thin, but I wanted to talk about expanding further. With the money coming in, there are opportunities we can’t afford to miss."

Matthew nodded slowly. "We can discuss it further. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves."

While Charles continued to revel in the financial success, Amber finally spoke up. "Matthew, can we talk for a moment? Alone."

Charles raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. "I’ll head downstairs and check out the factory floor. You two catch up." He left the room, leaving Matthew and Amber alone.

Amber turned to Matthew, her tone shifting. "Matthew, I’ve been worried about you. You’ve been so focused on work that it feels like you’ve disappeared from everything else."

Matthew frowned. "I’ve been busy, Amber. You know how much is at stake."

Amber stepped closer, her voice calm but firm. "I know. But you can’t keep doing this to yourself. You’ve built something incredible, but at what cost? You’ve barely taken a moment for yourself, let alone anyone else."

Matthew sighed, leaning against the table. "You’re right. I’ve let work take over everything."

Amber softened. "I understand why you’re doing it, but I miss the time we used to spend together. You’re always here, buried in reports and contracts. I miss the Matthew who wasn’t consumed by all of this."

Matthew looked at Amber, her words hitting harder than he expected. He realized how much he’d neglected her—and himself. "You’re right, Amber. I’ve been too focused on work, and I’ve let everything else fall away."

Amber’s expression softened further. "I’m not asking for much, Matthew. Just one evening where we can be together. No work, no distractions. Just us."

"But don’t you have a man arranged for you by your father? I don’t think she is going to appreciate you spending time alone with me," Matthew said.

"Oh don’t worry about it. If money and status is the basis for my father, then you already exceed the man that he had arranged for me. Plus, I don’t like the man that he chose for me, rather I like—" Amber paused, her cheeks reddening.

Matthew tilted his head, his gaze fixed on Amber, waiting for her to finish her sentence. The silence hung in the air, her hesitation speaking louder than her words.

"You like what, Amber?" Matthew asked.

Amber avoided his eyes for a moment, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It’s nothing," she said quickly. "I just meant… I’d rather spend time with someone I actually enjoy being around."

Matthew nodded, though her incomplete statement lingered in his mind. "Well, if your father’s approval isn’t an issue, then I’ll make sure we spend that evening together. Just tell me when."

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Amber’s lips curled into a small smile, relief evident in her eyes. "How about this weekend? I’ll leave the planning to you."

"Consider it done," Matthew said, his confidence returning. "We’ll have an evening worth remembering." @@novelbin@@

Amber’s smile widened. "Thank you, Matthew. It means a lot."

Before the moment could stretch further, the door swung open, and Charles Fitzwilliam walked back in, his grin as broad as ever. "The factory floor is impressive as always, Matthew. You’ve got quite the operation running here."

Matthew straightened, his professional demeanor returning. "We aim for efficiency, Charles."

"Well, you’ve nailed it," Charles said, taking his seat again. "Now, back to business. Have you given any thought to diversifying? I’ve been hearing rumblings about opportunities in the south. Infrastructure, transportation, energy—you name it."

"Well I think there is one issue. You know our factories are situated in the eastern side of the country. I was wondering if somehow we could make a channel like suez canal through Panama."

Charles leaned back in his chair, considering Matthew’s suggestion. "The Panama Canal, you say? That’s an ambitious idea. It would open up trade routes and drastically cut shipping times between the coasts."

Matthew nodded eagerly. "Exactly! With the kind of profits we’re pulling in, it’s a project worth looking into. Amerathia could spearhead the construction, and Hesh Industries could be at the forefront of supplying the machinery and expertise."

"Very well, let’s explore the idea."