Chapter 33

Two days had past since Michelle had helped Giselle get together with Caleb. She was in her room reading a magazine, the main headline said First member of the Elite eliminated when an officer came in. he was carrying two envelopes.

Michelle thanked the officer and he left.

The first letter was from Michelle's parents.

Dear Michelle, you're mother and I have heard what you did to help Giselle and we're very proud of you. You'd make just a great matchmaker just as you'd be a great princess. Love you Rosebud

Love mom and dad.

The second one was from Giselle.

Dear Michelle, Caleb and I are living our dreams of seeing the world, the ferry landed in Ireland this morning. I think of you a lot and hope you find you're true love someday. Thank you again.

Love Giselle

Michelle smiled; she was happy for Giselle. She decided to go tell James that Giselle hadn't written to her.

When she got downstairs, she saw Dorothy walking by, she was carrying her suitcase. Although she had walked quickly by, Michelle had enough time to see that she looked sad.

James followed two minutes later.

"What's wrong with Dorothy?" asked Michelle.

"She dropped out," explained James. "Her parents called late last night, her grandmother past away of brain cancer. She told me that she had hoped her grandmother would live to see her get married to a prince. She said that she'll still find a husband someday, but she wanted her grandmother to see her marry royalty to make it extra special."

Michelle felt sorry for Dorothy, she had never met her own grandparents, but she could see that Dorothy had a very close relationship with her grandmother.

"I'm surprised the quartet hasn't left yet," said Michelle. "With Giselle gone, count Neilson doesn't really need them for confidants anymore."

James felt very suspicious too, why hadn't he dismissed four girls he hired to be confidants for his daughter when she left both the Elite and Illea?

James decided to shake those feelings off.

"Do you want to go into town?" he asked.

"Yes please" said Michelle.

After changing into casual clothes, Michelle and James got into the car and the chauffer drove to the city.

Things where going quite well, until a red light came up. The chauffer stepped on the brakes, but they didn't go off.

"What's wrong?" said James.

"The brakes won't go your highness!" cried the chauffer. He tried again but they still wouldn't go.

They sped right through the red light, Michelle screamed when she looked out her window to see a car heading towards them and James held her. Luckily, the car stopped in time.

The chauffer tried to stop again, but the brakes still wouldn't go on. Michelle was looking very frightened, where they gonna crash and get killed? James held on to Michelle calmly, but he was looking frightened too.

The chauffer then drove off the road and into the parking lot of a plaza, Michelle and James had looks of horror as the car went directly into the back of a van!

Michelle had her eyes shut tight, but she could hear a crashing sound. When she opened her eyes, she saw that she and James were all right. Fortunately, the chauffer was all right too.

The front of the car was damaged, as was the back of the van they had ran into. But the back of the van was full of dents, the car's front looked destroyed and smoke was coming up of the engine and car alarms were going off from both vehicles.

People where coming up from all directions to see what was going on. Horrified and concern looks on their faces.

Michelle looked at James and took a deep breath and the two climbed out. First James and then he helped Michelle out.

The chauffer also climbed out and began to look at the damage.

About half an hour later, the rest of the royal family, some officers and the rest of the Elite came along.

"Michelle! James!" cried Holliday running up and hugging Michelle. Riley ran up too joining in.

"Are you guys okay?!" asked Morwenna worriedly.

"What happened?" asked Shari.

"I don't know," said James. "The breaks wouldn't go on and the car went out of control."

"Oh James" said Dinette hugging her son.

"I'm fine mom," said James assured "Really."

The chauffer looked up from the car.

"I don't think the broken breaks was an accident," he said darkly. "It seems that somebody sabotaged them."

The crowd gasped in shock and murmurs started to go around.

"If I didn't know better," said James. "I'd say somebody wants either me, or my whole family or a member of the Elite dead."

That caused more worried and fearful looks to be exchanged.

At count Neilson's villa, Emily, Tiffany, Suzanne, and Harper were watching tv. When Emily flipped the channel to the news, she saw Michelle and James being interviewed.

"They're still alive!?" exclaimed Suzanne.

Count Neilson came walking in and when he saw James and Michelle alive and unharmed on the tv screen, he frowned.

"It looks like I have to do everything myself" he grumbled.

Author's note: Michelle and James certainly had a close call! But count Neilson won't stop until he overthrows the royal family. Do you think it was either him or a member of the quartet who sabotaged the car's breaks?