Princess - A Love Story

Chapter 19

It was bright and sunny the day of their visit to the site. It was a three-hour drive during which Emily hoped Philip would crack and say something. But he got into the car with a bag full of papers and kept his head buried in them throughout.

Emily was impressed with the progress they had made.

"This is quite some work you've managed in such a short time."

Philip grinned. Despite the tension between them, this was theirs. Seeing the fruit of their labor take shape was too much to resist even if the chasm between them was too deep.

"We've got a lot of money that was pumped in so we've been able to spend to get in up this quickly. You should take credit. It was your work that convinced people to give us the money." She smiled in gratitude.

Matthew appeared from the makeshift office. "We've got to leave."

"What happened?" Emily looked concerned

"There's a group of protestors here. Looks like more coming in. We've got to get out of here."

Philip's jaw tightened. "Don't you think it will be better if I stay."

Matthew shook his head impatiently. "You can't reason with an angry mob."

"Take Emily and go," Philip ordered, "I will follow."

"But Philip..."

"There is staff here. And the engineers and the workers. I can't just abandon them."

"Go now Emily. I will follow close behind."

Sure enough, they saw a stream of vehicles start to pour in. People got out of them and stood with signs protesting taking over the wine lands for industry. Their car got stuck behind the crowd that was advancing towards them.

"Philip we need to get out of the open." Matthew was looking tense. This was not part of the plan. "You're a sitting duck."

"There," Emily shouted, pointing towards the closest cover.

"No!"

"Not there Emily." Matthew and Philip shouted in unison but Emily had already taken off.

Cursing they followed her. She stood in the open doorway and waved her hands frantically for them to move faster. She watched, tense as Matthew and Philip ran towards her. Once they got closer, Philip didn't break stride and as he bodily moved her out of the doorway. "What the hell..." she started just a loud explosion shook the foundations around her. Philip grabbed Emily to him protectively, tucking her head under his chin and shielding her from the rubble that had started to crumble from the ceiling above. After some time, the noise quietened.

"I think it's done now," Matthew coughed. The air was thick with dust. Emily untangled herself from Philip. They were all covered in cement dust. "Is everyone all right?" Mathew asked even as he coughed some more.

"What on earth just happened?" Emily demanded once she was sure everyone was unhurt.

"Damn it, this is not how I'd expected it go." Matthew pulled out his phone and shone a dim light around.

"Excuse me?" Emily asked in disbelief. Something wasn't adding up here.

"I didn't plan on the protestors being here." Philip let out a frustrated sigh.

"Must be a last-minute modification," Matthew mused. "You must admit, it's a good idea. It not enough something blows up in the middle of nowhere. You need witnesses for impact."

"Hello! Would somebody like to explain what's going on?"

"I, errr..." Philip looked at Matthew who shrugged unhelpfully. Emily narrowed her eyes at the two of them. "Start at the beginning." So, they explained about Wright, his vendetta against Philip, the moles in Parliament and their plan to flush them out. Wright had, as they had correctly assumed, planned an accident at the plant. His contacts in Parliament would then use that as leverage to moot a proposal to permanently shut down this plant business.