It is night, Grace is having a nightmare. In the dream, she was fighting with a lady who's face was hidden in a black veil. They fought for a while and Grace was over powered. It's at that moment when the alarm wake her up.
The dream seemed so real that she failed to grasp it's meaning. She thought about it for long but couldn't figure out it meaning. She and Eddie have not talked nor saw each other for 3 days now. with this scary dream, she grabbed the phone and dialed his number which she found still unreachable.
In panic, she decides to follow him personally without saying goodbye to her parents. Only washed her face and change pajamas, into clothes , checked her wrist watch which is showing 8:30 O' clock and left, convinced her self it's not too early to visit someone's House.
Eddie has been in the dilemma, of which he has to make a choice between the love of his life and his family's reputation, his father's business, above this, he is blackmailed by his parents and their alliance, the king on sending Mr Sosala to prison for failure of paying the loan back and throw his family in street, since the house was placed as a collateral during the loan agreement.
All this is a tie to him, what should he do. If he refuse to marry the princess, Grace's father will be jailed and his love roam the street without a home. on the other hand, betraying Grace is not part of his opinion.
For days, Eddie haven't slept, only fighting within his thoughts, what he should do is what he doesn't know.
Grace enters the Immakando house, she is welcomed by the maid who is saving the dinning table. Alice, 45 years old, she has worked for the Immakando's family since Eddie was 5.
Alice is like a family, and has been the best nanny to Eddie and Theresa. They are fond of her more than their mother, and always share their happy moments as well as their sad times.
" Grace. How are you my dear?" hurried over and embraced her.
" I'm fine, nanny. How have you been."
"Mrs Alice, we still have a lot to save, are you still standing there?" A voice spoke from behind Grace.
They turned to look at who's voice it was
" Princess Lukundo?" Surprisingly asked.
" Oh, it's Grace. Hi besty." perk her on the cheek, a perk of betrayal.
" I've been looking for you, for days now. I found neither you nor the queen, at the palace. Where have you been?"
"She's been here. Any problem?" Mrs Immakando intrudes as she descends the stairs.
" Tell me Grace. When last did it cross your mind that you thought of coming here to visit or just to help out with somethings?"
"Auntie, let me continue with saving the table. excuse me." Hurried away to the kitchen excited in the heart.
Grace has no way of defending herself for it has been long since she visited. But what she does not know is that her friend is the cause of everything.
" I'm sorry mother. It's just that...
"Ooh please, young lady! you always have a way of defending yourself! she interrupted. " I even wonder what my son saw in you." In so much hatred, she spoke.
It is at that moment when Eddie came out from his room you go out. From up the floor, he saw Grace with his mother. " Grace!" the voice came from up the stairs. They turned up and saw Eddie, who Soon descended down.
Without acknowledging his mother, he pull her in a tight hug. With tearful eyes fixed on mrs Immakando she hugged him back. The princess watching from the dinning doorway, gnashing teeth in anger, walk away to the kitchen. Mrs Immakando perceive that and followed her to the kitchen.
"I ve been trying to call you but your phone was off. What is happening, Eddie?"
" I'm very sorry honey, it's only the battery which is having faults." He lied.
"Come with me to the shade." Hold her by had as they walk out the door.
The princess is pacing from side to side in panic. Mrs Immakando came by. " Come down, princess."
"Calm down? Did you say calm down? Just take a look at how they are holding each other!" viewing from the window. Mrs Immakando moved close and saw the them holding so lovingly.
" I'm leaving." Grab her handbag to leave when she is stopped
"Wait princess, please."
" I will come back some other time." She walked away.
Mrs Immakando sadly sighed.
The two could not let go of each other for over 30 minutes. Eddie is filled with agony within him such that he almost shed a tear, knowing in his heart the fate of their relationship. He gently pulled out from the hug. caressing her cheeks as they stare lovingly in each other's eyes, he kissed her on the forehead affectionately then pulled her back in his arms.
" I love you Grace. So very much."
" I love you too, honey. I can't survive without you." Hold him tight.
After a bit, Sh pulled out, " I had a nightmare of a strange woman who's face was hidden behind the veil. She grabbed you from me, Eddie. I woke up and came looking for you because I was afraid of loosing you." She fell back in his arms.
Eddie swallowed hard. He trembled within his heart. A tear fell off his eyes which he quickly rub out, avoiding questions from Grace the why he is crying.
The phone vibrates from his pocket, he pulled it out with a right hand to check who texted. The text is from the King: 'Report to the palace now. Do not keep me waiting. Upon reading the text he cursed within the heart.
" I have to attend a meeting honey. I'm even late by 10 minutes. I will pass by your place when I'm done, come on let's leave. " Holding her by the hand to a car where he asked his driver to drive her home.
They kissed for the last time then she entered the car and the driver drove off. She waved at him not knowing that this is her lost kiss from him. Eddie remained back standing like a statue as the car drive away. He later entered another car and drove off to the palace.
Mr Imakando is already at the palace. He was summoned as soon as the princess reported Grace's sudden visit.
Eddie arrived at the palace , parked the car and entered the palace. As soon as he reached the living room, the guard lead him to the king's chember. It is where he found his father and some strange 3 men.
Upon entering the chember, he bowed down his head in showing respect waiting for a permission to sit down.
" You may take a sit." the King spoke.
His father never turned even to look at him.
The King proceeded. " Eddie your time is up. It's either you decide now, or these men you see here will have to go and arrest Mr Sosala. Now speak!
" your majesty, just like that?"
" Are you marrying the princess or not?"
After sometime of being lost in thoughts he said yes.
In seven days, your marriage Shall take place. The announcement Shall be made in two days time." said the king.
" Your majesty, don't you think you are rushing things? 7 days is way too soon."
"If you had made a decision on time, it couldn't have been too soon." the King responds.
Without further argument, an agreement book is brought fourth in which he signed, accepting the princess as the only woman to be seen around with.
The agreement has been finalized, the loan has been paid back to the bank and contractors have been assigned to start renovate the protea hotel in which ownership will now be of the king and Mr Immakando, excluding Mr Sosala. All the changes are taking place without the knowledge of Mr Sosala.
Three days have passed, the news about the princess and Eddie's marriage is all over town and the news papers.
Reuben is helping his mother selling vegetables at the market. One female customers came by to buy Tomatoes carrying a newspaper in her hand, as she is trying to get tomatoes, the newspaper fell free her hand. Reuben has always been a gentleman, he bend down to help her pick the paper. He only stretch out his hand to pick the paper when he saw the princess engagement to Eddie. He slowly unbend with eyes fixed on the paper.
" You can have the paper, I already read it." She smiled and left.
" I had seen this coming." This idiot. spoke to himself.
" Reuben can't you see the customer? what is so exciting on that paper that you cannot attend to the customer!" grab the paper from him.
The heading shocked her too and she turned to his gloomy who later ran away without saying a thing, to Grace's house.
On the other hand, Mr Imakando called the meeting with his working partners, the workers of all the departments as well as the mangers, excluding his endorser Mr Sosala, making known to them on the changes that is taking place.
Addressing them. " Thank you all for coming. I called you all here to inform you on the changes that will take place as we resume with our work as soon as the hotel is completed.
The hotel accountant raise a hand to say something and he is given a go ahead.
" Sir, we are have started this meeting without the presence of Mr Sosala. Can you tell us why?"
Other workers agree with him
"Thank you for your concern. Mr Sosala is no longer a part of this hotel now. King Habbenzu will be our partner when we resume work."
Mr Imakando said these, when Mr Sosala just entered the meeting room.
"Did I hear you right?"
Everyone turned to him
Mr Imakando arose from the sit courageously , "You heard right."
"Wow. chuckled. Is that Why you pushed your son in marrying the princess, dumping my daughter?
Everyone stared surprisingly after hearing this.
" Go ahead, answer me!" grab him by the shirt.
The accountant and the manager of chefs interfered. " Sir please, calm down! Hold him back.
" I made this effort, just to rebuild everything , but what did you do nothing!" replied in so much arrogance.
" Do you think so?" sadly spoke.
After that, Mr Sosala said nothing than he turned and left quietly. Everyone didn't expect this from Mr Imakando, from their faces he could tell that they were disappointed with his actions. Out of guilty, he adjourned the meeting and I'm mediately left.
The King invites his cabinet members to a feast of his daughter's coming marriage to Eddie. A huge dinning table of about 50 chairs is covered with all kinds of food, Win and drinks. It is noise everywhere, both of people's laughters and those of glasses of wine.
The king rose up from his sit with a glass of wine in his hand, " I want to make a toss to my beautiful princess and her future husband, Eddie." gesture at them from their sit. " cheers!" Noise sounds of glasses in cheers.
Mr Sosala could not believe how everything turned upside down for him.He drive home in devastation that he couldn't see the car coming ahead of him. In trying to get on the right path, he made a sudden turn, off the road and hit the tree.
The people present when the accident happen called the ambulance which didn't take time and drive him to the hospital. The police as they were making inspection at a place of an accident found his phone, dial Mrs Sosala's number to inform them about the accident.
Mrs Sosala preparing lunch in the kitchen with her daughter helping with the chopping of tomatoes and onions when her phone ring, she wiped her hands then pick the call. " Honey, what is taking you so long, we are almost done cooking hurry up."
cop's voice, " sorry ma'am, but this is officer Chela."
"Officer, with my husband's phone? But Why?" Curiously asked.
"Your husband was involved in a road accident and he has been rushed to Central hospital. I request you to come to the hospital immediately." cut the call.
Very shocked and powerless, Mrs Sosala drop the phone from her hands. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
" Mum what going on? Why did the cop called with my father's phone?"
She turned to her daughter with tears rolling down, " your daddy was involved in an accident."
" No no no, not my father! push the mother out of the way, confused running outside to the car.
The mum run after her, " Hold on Grace."
Before she could start the car, Reuben came by. In his mind, he thought she has learned about the news of Eddie and princess Lukundo's engagement. " Grace hold on." Got hold her hand before she starts the car.
" Honey let Reuben drive. son, please take us to Central hospital." she entered the back of the car and close the door behind.
"Hospital, For what?"
" My father is in there! Get out if you can't drive!" yelled.
" Ok, alright." He immediately start the car.
The Immakando family is back home from the feast. Eddie hurried to his room as soon as he drop off the car without looking back at his parents. He hates the sight of his parents because he feels betreyed. upon entering the room, the jacket away hurried to the bathroom where he opened the sink, washing his tearful face as though he want to wash his skin off in frustration.
He paused, seeing his reflection in the mirror, memories of him and Grace reflect. He roared angrily grabbing a bloom from the corner and Begin to hit the mirror that break in pieces and noise such that his parents heard from their bedroom who Immediately came running to his room.
They reached the bathroom when he has broken every glass there and throw himself down without a shirt, Crewling in water mixed with his blood which is coming from his cuts.
" Enough son! This is ridiculously!"
The mother is very emotional, she begin to cry. " Come on, help him."
The moment his father get close, he pushed him away vigorously that he hit the wall.
"Son stop it! yelled the mother as she rushed to help the husband.
He stood on his feet shaking in anger, "he is ruining my life! I was happy with my Grace, what did you do instead?" Fell on his feet helplessly and weep.
" In 7 days, I have to leave with the woman I never loved, till the day I will die."
Mrs Immakando holding the husband by shoulders, she pitty his poor son."
Without a word, Mr Imakando rose and walked away if the room limping, leaving the wife standing idle.
" Get out of here mother, I do not need you either."
Sorrowfully, she walked away.
Central hospital, ward 13 I.C.U. Mrs Sosala and her daughter crying beside the unconscious husband, covered in as n oxygen mask with a pulse oximeter on his finger. Reuben watching through the glass door, he's filled with remorse when he looked at Grace who Haven't yet found out about her lover's betrayal. He wiped a drop of tear from the face and moved to the bench to sit.
After some minutes, the doctor came in to do his work and asked them to excuse him a bit. Both Grace and her mother are out on the beach waiting for the doctor to come out and give them the new information.
Grace is pacing up and down with a phone. She has been trying Eddie's line, but it wasn't going through, not because it is off, but because he changed the line as commanded by the king. Reuben came by with two cups of coffee, he offer one to Mrs Sosala, to help her calm down and took one to Grace, but she refused and continued trying Eddie's line. At last, she thought of going there personally.
"Mum I will be back. Reuben, take care of my mother."
Reuben put the cup down, " Where are you going too?"
" To Eddie's house." Walking away.
" No Grace, you can't go there!" cross her path.
" Reuben please, I have no time for this!" Push him out of the way.
" Stop, Grace, please." Chasing after her.
"Taxi!"She stopped the taxi which I'm mediately stop.
Before she could get in, Reuben grab her hand. " stop it Grace, you can not go there."
" Why can't I go when it's my boyfriend I'm talking about! Are you jealous, huh?"
" Think as much as you want, but I won't let you go to that traitor's house!"
Out of control, Grace give him a slap. " One more word from you, insulting my man, I will get the hell out of you!"
" I will call him whatever name I want, because he deserve it, for playing with your feelings!" yelled on her face.
" Have you lost your sanity?"
Without a word for her, He throw the newspaper at her and she hold it. Grace turned the paper looking at him in wonder. She turn on the paper and the news on it her eyes into the breaking dam. She moved to the wall, leaned over as she continue reading while tears rolling down her cheeks.
" The time I came to your place, I had brought you the news, but I found the accident news, then I decided not to tell you about it." He justify himself.
" It is no longer news that the princess and Eddie are engaged, that's in 7days they will be getting married." He moved close to comfort her in his arms but as soon as he was close, Grace jumped up and begin running, conning a taxi. Before he could get to her, one of the taxi stop by and she jumped in.
Reuben chase after the car but it was faster than him. He remained behind battling for oxygen when an empty taxi stop by. He got in and the driver drove off.
Mrs Sosala on the other hand couldn't understand what was happening to her family. She fell back to the sit crying in confusion.
The princess and Eddie are out on their first outing since the engagement. They are out to shop attires for their upcoming event with guards guarding them. All the way to the shopping mall, no one said anything to each other, although Lukundo tried to lean on Eddie who did nothing about it since the guards where watching.
They went in like a Happy couple and begin shopping. At the ladies attire, Eddie remained standing as Lukundo was excitedly trying on different wedding dresses.
" Honey, how does this look on me?"
He remained silent for a while, only staring with no interest.
"Sir, please recommend." the saleslady intrude.
" It's very nice." He said so and nothing followed after.
The princess sadly smiled at the saleslady, " You can park the same one for us." rushed to the changing room.
The two moved to men's suits with the guard following behind. Without wasting time, he picked the suit he tried once, off they go.
At the Immakado's house, Grace trying to enter the gate, but the gate man couldn't let her in as ordered by Mrs Immakando.
" Please let me in, please. Eddie please come out, I need you! " She called out.
Again and again she called his name, until Mrs Immakando came out to face her.
" How dare you disturbing the peace of this house!" grare at her.
" Mum, please, let me just speak to Eddie, please."
" I believe you read the paper of my son getting engaged to the princess, right?"
" That's nonsense to me, just let me speak to my love!" Pushing through to enter the gate, but the gate man is too powerful than her.
" Eddie my love, please listen to me, it's me your Grace please, please!" shouting like a mad person.
At that moment, Reuben came by and dropped as soon as the driver stopped the engine . "Grace stop forcing things. If he truly cares about how you feel he could have come out. " Hold her back.
"Thank you, because you are still in your right sense to see that. Mrs Immakando answered.
" No Reuben I know my Eddie he will come out!. Trying hard to Free herself, yet to no avail.
Grace cried, yelled but no answer. Mrs Immakando run back and ordered the gate man to close the gate on their faces, which he did.
Reuben struggled until he managed to get her into the taxi and ordered the driver to start the car. They drove off while she was still yelling and pushing to get out.
Five minutes after they left, Eddie and the princess drive in. The news is kept in secret from Eddie.
"welcome back." Hope you enjoyed your selves. Asked Mrs Immakando.
Before the princess could respond, she turned to look at gloomy Eddie, then she answered yes.
" I'm going to my room. You can hung around with my mother." climbed the stairs, as they escort him with eyes until he was seen no more.
" Come on sit."
The princess sit beside .
" Grace was here. She caused chaos, demanding to speak with Eddie, but don't worry I didn't give her a chance to even step her foot in our compound."
"What is wrong with her? didn't she saw the news and read from papers?" Arose angrily.
"Calm down she won't do anything."
"But what if she comes back and meet him home? You know for sure that Eddie won't resist her!" panting in panic.
" I have to go. Stood up. My parents need to be informed about this." Grab the bag from the sit and walked away. On the door way, she bumped into Mr Imakando whom she just stare at and continued with her way out.
"You look pale, what's going on?"
Instead of giving an answer, he gave out a sigh of sadness, throw his tiresome body on the couch. " Sosala is admitted in the central hospital. He was involved in an accident the very day I told him, he's no longer a part of Protea hotel."
" Oh poor man. Is that why you look like a roast chicken? Oh please! His daughter came here to cause trouble, demanding to see our son."
Mr Imakando felt more guilty for his action. without saying a word, he walked away to his room. His action left the wife puzzled, she is left with no choice than to follow him upstairs.