The two love bir to tods are out on vacation In a new town away from home and work. They are enjoying life in an highland mostly spending time on the beach near by.
In the mould white sand, Eddie and Grace, playing bear foot in swimming attire, a bikini suit, Eddie in a short Without a shirt.
Grace shovel her hands in the sand and splash it on Eddie who runs after her to revenge. Not too long, she is caught, tickling her, she couldn't hold herself from giggling.
" Eddie stop it, please!" She could nologer find strength to stand than she fell on sand, yet he continued tickling her. She yelled on top of her voice. " "Eddie stop" laugh more.
Eddie, lying on to of her, watching her tinkle, he lowered his head and pined his lips on hers. Staring in her eyes in so much lust, he move a lower lip gently and she responded. The kissing went on and on.
"I love you, Grace." He murmured in between her lips. In response, she groaned sweetly.
On the other side, the prestigious hotel is set ablaze. Workers and customers are running out for their lives as Soon as the fire alarm is rang. Fire started from the top level of the building coming down. It's chaos everywhere as people are coming from every direction, squeezing themselves in exist which seems not to be enough.
The fire fighters have just arrived, when smoke has covered the building, part of the building already trembling down. A thousand have managed to get out but a great number is still inside, struggling to get out.
Some of them who managed to get out, their families are still inside. A crowd is gathered outside weeping, some struggling to go back for their children especially those who where staying there in apartments.
The police are already patrolling, put a long sticker separating the people from entering the building or coming anywhere near it's surrounding. Some of the police men controlling the mob that wants to pass through for their relatives
Mr Imakando is already informed about the tragidy which he didn't believe it's happening. He is expected at the scene, by the police, the angry mob are also waiting eagerly but the police are on guard. journalist are everywhere waiting for someone to interview.
Mr Sosala is unaware of what is happening at the moment. It is only when Reuben came running to his house when he learnt about it.
" Uncle how did it happened?" panting
" what's going on son? who's chasing you?" Mr Sosala asked surprisingly
" Uncle, it's no longer a secret, it's all over the news! Where is the remote?" looking around, he saw it on the table and switch the television on.
On every channel, it is a breaking news. Mr Sosala could not hold himself than he collapsed.
" Honey, no! Reuben hurry call the doctor!"
" Honey please open your eyes, please. Reuben where are you, do it fast." she yelled.
He managed to call the emergency center. Suddenly Mr Sosala is up, forgetting his car keys he runs outside to get into the car, then he realized he is not having the keys with him. " Pass me the keys, woman!"
She came running after him with the keys in her hand. "Honey you can not go there just yet. It's not safe yet."
" Auntie is right, uncle. The public is still angry."
" Oh what are you saying, just give it to me!" grab the keys from her hand.
Before he could get in, the police was standing right beside.
Officer in charge, " good evening. we are here that you can come with us. It Is not safe for you to drive alone."
The three of them drive to the scenery. The two police men and Mr Sosala, leaving Mrs Sosala and Reuben behind. She remained in shock of what is happening and Reuben the comforter who helped her back in the house.
The fire fighters managed to quench the fire at a time that part of the building is in complete ruin. 20 dead bodies are layed up in covers on th surrounding, wait to be carried away by ambulances. 10 of them are foreigners from different countries who were staying in the hotel's apartments, they are 4 children and 6 adults. the remaining 10 are the employees of the hotel.
The injured, are being carried away by ambulances, some in critical conditions.
The two owners arrived at the scene at the same time, the mob Running towards the cars in rage to attack them as Soon as they come out, but the police already got on the way, broking the public from getting any closer. The cars drove in and the get is pulled close leaving the journalists chasing behind with cameras and voice recordings, ready to interview.
Mr Sosala couldn't hold his tears when he saw the lying dead bodies. He moved closer, fell on his feet and wept.
as soon as they are given opportunity, the journalists covered around the Mr Imakando, mics, recorders, cameras, all pointed on him.
" Sir, the public would like to hear from you, how the fire broke out, In this five star hotel, which protected it reputation for over 25 years of it's existence?" one female journalist asked.
" I must say, I am as blind as all of you hear, over what happened here." He replied.
Second journalist pose another question, " in an interview with your surviving workers, they said the fire started from the kitchen. could it be that the hotel's electrical connections ain't in good connection, or there is another explanation for this?"
"I will not give assurance of that really be the cause, but we will need more time to examine and know the exact cause of the fire."
" What do you have to say about the victims families, both the injured and the deceased? How do you intend to compensate them over their lose?" Asked the third journalist.
Mr Immakando turned to his partner, Mr Sosala, who is standing beside and gave the floor to him to give an answer.
" Time is what we are asking for, as a company to ponder about it and we will get back to every affected family." Upon saying this, they got back in their cars respectively and drove away.
The injured have been taken to the hospital, so are the corpses to the mortuary.
The royal family watching on TV, the punic on people, especially on the hotel owners.
" Now let's see how you will enjoy life, Grace when you learn about the incident." She thought.
It's another day, the royal council meeting is called in which the hotel owners are invited by his majesty, over the issue concerning his subject. After the incidence, his royal highness, the king, queen, princess and other oyal cabinet members visited the affected and addressed the families of the deceased, assuring them to tackle the issue.
The chember is full of the royal cabinet members, among them is Mr Sosala and Mr Immakando with his four staff members, the human resource, the executive chef managers.
Everyone arose as the king enters the chember dressed in his royal garment. In showing respect, everyone bow their heads and shouts 'live long the king'. He ascend His thrown, his guards take position, then the rest of the house take their sits.
" You are all welcome to my chember." He welcomed them.
" Thank you, your majesty. Responded in unison.
The King continues, " I believe you all know why this meeting is called. "
The house responded with a Yes as he goes on to speak.
" In the midst of the council, are the so_owner of the fallen mighty Protea hotel, best hotel in the country, Mr Immakando and Mr Sosala accompaned by their staffs, you are all welcome."
" Thank you, your majesty." responded at once.
He went on, " I must say it is a great lose to the community, the country at large and more especially to you, the owners, I must say." everyone agreeing, murmuring within themselves.
" Order!" the cabinet commander called the meeting to silent as the king continues.
" As much as it is a lose to, you the hotel runners, it is a great lose to the people who lost their loved ones in the accident and are therefore crying for justice to their king. That is why I called for this meeting to discuss the way forward, on how the crying mob will be helped. The question is posed to the council members only, before it comes back to the protea team." He opened the floor for the discussion.
The senior cabinet member, who is the chief advisor raise a hand to speak, which is granted to him.
" May you reign forever, great king. Give praises then he continued. Your majesty, such mistakes rarely happens in bigger hotels as protea. This is because such business have experts they work with, in making sure the things are in order and place. But what is surprising is why they allowed such a mistake, till it sweep off the entire building." facing the protea team he went ahead. " Your majesty, there is no way, that those workers couldn't see a fault to report to the electricians. Therefore your majesty, these people are responsible of everything that happened." Bow and sit back
Mr Sosala raise the hand to defend his team, but it is over looked. Another cabinet member stood and spoke in favour of the protea team, which gave the hotel hope. The majority who speak, spoke against the hotel which left the hotel team in fear of the king's final decision.
Lukundo and the queen have been following the discussion from behind the closed doors. The way the issue is chocking them up, is amusing them.
The discussion has been exhausted and it is now the time for the king's final decision.
"By the power invested in me as the king of this town, response of every living being, of this land, therefore decides that your company compensate every victim involved in the accident. Hospital bills of the injured will be payed by your company, the funerals of the 20 dead bodies will all be under your sponsorship. Well wishers are free to help out." He rose up in his authority that is unquestionable and left the chember, leaving the team pleading with him to lower his judgement.
The queen and princess jumped up in joy, embraced and run in before anyone could see them.
The protea team left the chember in disappointment. Where will they get such money to sponsor the funerals and the hospital bills?
Mr Sosala arrive home looking weary, so is Mr Imakando. He threw his finished body on the couch without a single word to his wife, only tears rolling down his cheeks she could see.
Mrs Immakando, " Honey, say something, please. shocking him.
" please daddy, how did the meeting go?" Theresa asked.
" Has Eddie picked the call?" He asked.
" His phone is still off, I don't know what is happening." Theresa answered.
Back to the Sosala house.
" Did you call Grace?" he asked
" It's not going through, I'm sure she is ok."
Mr Sosala say no further word, than she walked up to his room.
Eddie and Grace unaware of what is happening back home, they continued in romance. Eddie left Grace asleep when he went to buy breakfast. A note is left on the table when she woke up: " Good morning queen of heart. Remain right in bed, breakfast is coming. kisses."
After reading the note, Grace drag the blanket back on her head smiling. On the queue to the cashier, when he saw a newspaper with the cover of the burning protea hotel building, where the heading is, ' settled in fire.' He couldn't hold himself than he let loose of what he is carrying from his hands.
Surpassing those ahead of him, he went direct to the cashier, " excuse me, may I have a look at the newspaper, please."
" Sure. This world is full of evil. Who would do such a thing, setting such an amazing hotel on fire. she sigh in disappointment.
Eddie, Didn't believe it when he saw their hotel on fire. The shock got over him when he read the whole story, the people who died on the incident and those injured, the king's final judgement shocked him the most that he ran out of the supermarket suddenly without thinking of leaving the news paper.
In a little while, he parked the car outside and run into the house shouting, " Grace where are you, we need to leave right now!" Throw the news paper on the table, reached out for the suitcases and started packing.
" Why in such a hurry, sweetie." got out from the bed.
" There is tragidy at home, read the newspaper on the table."
Without wasting time, she grab the paper to read while Eddie continued packing the bags.
" oh no, this is not happening." She sit back in bed helpless.
"Honey, calm down, we shouldn't lose it already. come on put on clothes, we go, we don't have much time, I have already got the ticket, we are going back by air."
In a no time Grace was done and they left the house in a hurry.