MY STORY AND I OWN NOTHING ELSE. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED!
It's so cold in here and I can barely breathe, I already feel flustered and like a nervous wreck. I wish I was able to squeeze Alice's hand right now, I looked behind to get a glimpse of her one more time before everything started.
She gave me a big smile and mouthed "You can do it". I really hope she's right. At least her hands get to heal from me constantly squeezing the life out of them, it always calms me when Alice squeezes back.
I looked to the prosecutor next to me, not even two feet away. Rosalie Smith, the youngest but toughest of her peers, not even thirty but she's great at what she does and has yet to lose a case, not to mention how beautiful and intimidating she always looks.
She gave me a reassuring smile and put her hand on my shoulder. She whispers into my ear, "everything will be fine, just trust me and be brave".
I took in a deep breath. I watched as Rosalie flipped her blonde mid-back length hair over her shoulder. She had it styled in vintage waves while she wore a black leather pencil skirt that went almost to her ankles with a white satin blouse that had a bow on the right side of the chest. Her cherry red lipstick matching her red pumps while her black stockings had a fishnet seam running up the back of each leg. Her look was completed with heavily donned eyeliner and mascara.
She's dressed in such a seductive way yet not inappropriate for the courtroom. She always looks and seemed so confident and self-assured. She's everything I wish to be.
"All rise." I heard a man call out. I quickly rose to my feet and so did everyone else in the court as the Judge took his place.
"You may be seated."
I sat and started to squeeze my hands together, I feel like all my blood is rushing to my head and I'm going to pass out. I tuned out most of what the Judge was saying. You're making the right choice, Bella.
Everything will be fine, just be brave.
Everything will be fine, just be brave.
Everything will be fine, just be brave.
Everything will be fine, just be brave.
Everything will be fine, just be brave. I kept repeating it in my head, over and over.
"As per request by both the prosecution and accused, this trial and courtroom is closed. Heaven knows we don't need a media circus in this courtroom." The Judge's deep voice cut through the courtroom like a sharp blade.
"Ms. Smith, you may give your opening statement." The judge said and Rosalie rose in her usually confident manner.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my name is Rosalie Smith and I'll be prosecuting this case against Edward Masters, the handsome gentleman before you who stands accused of rape and false imprisonment. You're going to hear evidence and be told a lot of different things, it's your jobs to see through the smoke and mirrors the defense will throw at you. You're all here to determine beyond a reasonable doubt whether Edward masters is guilty or innocent. Now, the defense will have you believe he's an upstanding guy who spends his time donating to charities and good causes, helping others and just golfing his days away."
"Some aspects of that is true, he is quite known for always giving a helping hand. But he's also known for his ruthless business tactics, superior attitude and feeling of entitlement. Thirty-one year old Edward Masters is the owner of the largest oil company in the world and a co-owner of two of the second largest oil companies in the world. He's amassed billions of dollars of wealth and owns quite a number of mines due to his savagery and not so upstanding tactics. He has also probably never heard the word 'NO' in his life. I know what you're thinking, why does he have to rape if he's so successful and handsome?"
"Someone that successful and with an ego the size of the moon doesn't feel he has to worry about the repercussions of his actions. He can take whatever he wants whenever he wants. I'm here to take off the mask that he shows everyone. I'm here to show you his true self, the one he showed twenty-two year old Isabella Adams on the night of January 5th this year when he brutally raped her in his private jet, taking away her innocence. I'm here to show you the Edward Masters who held her against her will after brutally raping and told her he would have her family slaughtered if she uttered a word about the rape."
"The defense will have you believe differently, no, this isn't a case of buyer's remorse, Isabella didn't have consensual sex with Mr. Masters then regretted it. Mr. Masters saw her and he wanted her and we all know the ruthless tycoon-Edward Masters ALWAYS gets what he wants. After pursuing her for weeks he finally got her to give him a chance. He thought if he wined her, dined her and bought her a few expensive gifts she would open her legs for him like every other woman has done so for him in the past. After all, she was just another prize he was trying to score so he could add another win to his record of sickening achievements. But that didn't happen and when she wouldn't throw herself at him he flew into a fit of rage and showed her the monster he really is. The monster I'm going to reveal to you."
Rosalie finished then returned to her seat next to me. She rubbed my back gently and reassuringly. She had spent a lot of time with Alice and I the past few months, mostly prepping me for trial.
"Will the defense like to give an opening statement now?" The judge asked.
"Not at this time, your honor."
"Prosecution may call their first witness." The judge gestured at Rosalie.
"The prosecution calls Alice Blanc."
"State your name for the record please."
I watched as Alice was sworn in. She gave me a small smile.
"Ms. Blanc, what's your relationship to Isabella Adams?"
"She's my best-friend, we've been best-friends since kindergarten."
"So we can all assume that you know her well?"
"I know her better than she knows herself." Alice told Rosalie with a smile.
"Would you say she's someone with good character?"
"She has excellent character, Bella is the most humble, honest and generous human being I know."
"You wouldn't happen to be saying this just because you two are friends would you?"
"BESTFRIENDS and no. Bella's such a sweet person, if it weren't for me she would let people walk all over her."
"Do you recall the morning of January 6th this year?"
"Yes, I do." Alice answered.
"Please elaborate on the events of that morning for court."
"Well, I was awakened by the doorbell, I went to answer the door and Bella was standing at the door. She was wearing new, designer clothing I had never seen her in but she still looked disheveled and upset. When I asked her why she looked so, she told me she was fine and to leave her alone. She locked herself in her room for hours."
"So you and Ms. Adams shared a place?"
"Yes, we used to share an apartment until we had to be put in protective custody."
"What else happened that day?"
"I was worried and wanted to know if she was alright so I knocked on her bedroom door. After getting no response for a while she said again said she was fine and to leave her alone."
I noticed Edward's lawyer was writing constantly. He seemed so focused.
"What happened next?" Rosalie asked Alice.
"I felt bad she seemed to be hurting and wouldn't let me help so I sat on the floor at her bedroom door and talked to her."
Alice POV
Bella, do you remember our first day of middle school. After classes ended your Dad picked us up and took us for ice cream. When we got to the ice cream parlour your Dad asked what we wanted, I was so upset that day I told him I didn't want anything. But you told him to get me strawberry with extra sprinkles cause you knew that's what I liked."
"When we got to your house I was still upset and told you I didn't want to talk. Remember that? You asked me what happened and I said 'I'm fine, now leave me alone!' Then I ran out to the backyard to get away from you. Then you follo-"
"I followed you and told you I'm not gonna leave you alone, cause when you feel sad I feel sad and I don't want you to feel sad, Aly." Bella said from the other side of the door. A moment later I heard a click, she opened it.
"Then you told me early that morning your Mom had hit you across your back with a broom handle, nine times." Bella said softly.
"Yeah, I remember." I whispered.
"You have to tell me what's wrong." I pleaded. "When you hurt, I hurt too and I hate it when you're hurting and won't let me help you." I told her as I tried fruitlessly to hold back my own tears. I hugged her tightly.
"What's the matter, Bella?" I asked her as she sobbed in my arms.
*END FLASHBACK*
Bella's POV
"When I finally got Bella to open the door and talk to me, she told me he raped her." Alice seethed while staring at him intently.
The entire court was silent and the jury was very attentive. I felt the eyes of some of the jurors on me, like they were judging me.
"He who, Ms. Blanc?"
"Edward Masters." Alice seethed with disgust.
"Is this the man you're referring to?" Rosalie asked as she pointed at him.
"Yes, that's him."
The jurors directed their attention over to him.
"Let the record reflect Ms. Blanc has identified the defendant as the man Isabella Adams confessed raped her."
"What happened after Ms. Adams confessed that Mr. Masters raped her?"
"I comforted her, we spoke about it and I was eventually able to convince her not to shower and to let me call the police." Alice said.
The memory of it made me feel dirty.
"She was hesitant in coming forward?" Rosalie asked.
"Yes. Bella said Edward told her if she breathes a word to anyone, he'd kill her family and she knows he has the means to do it. If she doesn't tell he would take care of her financial needs and make sure she's comfortable. She'd be a fool not to take his offer because if she tells the case won't even go to trial, he can buy the prosecution office and the jurors, he's 'Edward Masters'. That's exactly what she told me."
"Objection! Hearsay!" His big, intimidating lawyer shouted in his German accent.
"Sustained. Move it along, Ms. Smith. " Was all the judge said.
"Did you see any markings or bruises on Ms. Adams?"
"Yes, when she removed the sweater she was wearing I noticed a number of hickeys and bruises on her neck, wrists and chest. She had bite marks on her shoulders but everywhere else was covered up so I couldn't see."
"Thank you, Ms. Blanc."
"Your witness." The judge said as he motioned to his attorney.
"I have no questions for this witness at this time your honor but I do reserve the right to cross at a later date." His attorney said looking uninterested.
"So noted. You may step down, Ms. Blanc. Prosecution may call next witness " The Judge said.
"The people call Dr. Lynn Sears to the stand."
I sipped on my water slowly as she was sworn in. I can't wait for this to be over.
"Please state your name and who you are for the Jury."
"My name is Dr. Lynn Sears, I'm the doctor who examined and treated Isabella Adams when she was brought in to the hospital by the police."
His lawyer was writing again. Rosalie warned Alice and I about him.
"You have to be ready for this, Bella. If you're not then we shouldn't go through with a trial. What I can recommend is you get therapy for any PTSD symptoms and that's it. I can't put you on the stand if you can't handle it. Mr. Masters has many lawyers on hand but his favorite to use is Emmet Armold, he's a real cutthroat."
"I remember. When I first met him it was at a charity ball with him, he introduced himself as his friend and business partner."
"Yes, he handles civil and criminal cases, whatever the field is, Masters uses him and he handles it well. His reputation exceeds him. I've went head to head in court with him once. He didn't beat me but he was close."
"He's not sympathetic to anyone on the stand, he rips everyone to shreds. He distracts the jury from his brute ways by bringing up shockingly negative things from the witness' or accuser's past. He doesn't just take your words and twist them around, he gets into your head, he makes you say things you shouldn't tell the court. "
"When he's not destroying someone in court for Masters he's getting some mob boss off. Emmet Armold is so good you can walk into a room filled with cameras, kill everyone and that video can be played in court but he can still get you off and he doesn't even use an insanity defense. I'm not trying to scare you or deter you, I just don't want to put you up there and Armold breaks you down. Then there's the media."
I looked up at Rosalie, alarmed.
"Don't worry, I will request a closed case so no media outlets or anyone else can come into the courtroom. I know Armold is going to request the same, he won't want all of the dirty details of what his client did to you leaking out. Master's rivals and the rest of the world would have a field day, it would be fun to see all of the smear campaigns come into play against him. Don't worry, your name won't be listed on any records for this case. I'm going to protect your privacy as best as I can but leaks still happen sometimes. There are moles everywhere, if your name somehow does get out, Masters will pay media outlets to slander you. I don't want to see you dragged through the mud, you've already been hurt enough." Rosalie said as she stroked my hair.
"You already know you're going to have to talk about the rape in full. He's going to pick your story apart, he's going to ask you inappropriate questions. Armold dissects every little thing. So now is the time to tell me anything you may have left out or any negative things from your past that can come back to haunt you. Any ex boyfriends, any-
"Bella has never had a boyfriend in her whole life." Alice told her.
"I'm not keeping anything from you and there's nothing I've done in the past that I feel ashamed of."
"Good, cause Armold will try to make you feel dirty up there and like you did something wrong, he's going to try to get the jury to feel as if you're a liar. If we make it to court you will see him writing a lot, more than the avera-"
"If we make it to court?" Alice asked Rosalie sharply.
"No one in the DA's office wants to touch this case, I don't think they're any judges out there who wants to sit on this trial."
"So one no believes me?" I asked her in disbelief.
Rosalie sighed.
"I believe you, most of my colleagues do and so does the police, it's just he-"
"He's Edward Masters." I finished for her.
"Exactly. The police department called my office before even thinking of going to question him. They were torn on whether to throw your statement in the trash or not. No one in the DA's office was interested in someone accusing him of a crime, especially if that someone is an ordinary girl without money or power. The world is cruel, Bella. With a case as big as this, the boss would usually sit first chair and an ADA like myself would sit second chair."
But everyone is too concerned with the jury being tampered with, evidence disappearing or Masters taking out a hit on them. We had to put the Doctor who examined you in protective custody to make sure she doesn't disappear before the trial even got started. I fought hard for this case, they threatened to fire my but I knew they wouldn't actually do it. I have the highest conviction rate."
"I don't want you to get hurt, you've been so good to Alice and I. Are you sure you want to prosecute him, you're willing to do that just for me? Aren't you the least bit afraid?" I asked.
"Bella, you should know by now I don't fear anything or anyone. Besides, I have a huge problem with powerful men thinking they're entitled and can take what doesn't belong to them. Not to say that it isn't going to be difficult, that's why I'm going to ask you one more time, are you sure you want to go through with this?"
*END FLASHBACK*
"Could you tell the court what the police brought her into the Hospital for?"
"She was brought in to have a rape kit done."
"And what were the findings of said rape kit?"
"Ms. Adams had a number of injuries consistent with sexual assault. There were bruises on her breasts, neck, between her thighs. Her wrists were red and purple as if someone held and squeezed them for a long period of time. Teeth markings on her shoulders and vaginal tearing and bleeding usually do from the woman not being aroused or prepared for intercourse. I could tell her hymen had been recently torn and there was semen inside of her. "
I shivered and tried to block out what Dr. Sears was saying. I'm not going to cry, I won't give him the satisfaction.
I hadn't even realized Rosalie was putting up blown up pictures taken of my injuries. I looked up and was taken aback. I felt sick and disgusted.
"I'm calling a half an hour recess." The judge said while looking at me.
I quickly got up and exited the courtroom. I could tell Alice was in tow right behind me. I dashed to the restroom and hung my head over the toilet while I threw up. I realized Alice was behind me holding up my hair.
"If I can't handle this how I am I going to get up on the stand and tell a group of strangers what happened?"
"It's okay Bella, you'll be fine. If you get scared just look at me." Alice said as she hugged me tightly.
"I wish Mom and Dad were here." I sobbed.
"I know, I wish your Mom and Dad were here too."
I heard the restroom door open.
"I'm sorry, Bella."
"It's fine, I know it's your job and that you have to show the photos." I said while heading to the sink to wash my hands.
"Come, I'll get us some hot cocoa and croissants." Rosalie said while she led me out of the bathroom with Alice.
When we got out Mr. Big and mean was standing there.
"Nice performance, Isabella. You seemed very convincing to the jury, the judge even bought it, he called a recess."
"Excuse me?" I asked, his taunt catching me off guard.
What happened next was even more unbelievable.
Rosalie slapped him hard in face. The noise bounced off the walls and everyone turned to look at us.
"What the hell are you all looking at!?" Rosalie yelled at everyone who was staring, they quickly turned their heads.
"You're a disgusting piece of filth just like your Boss! Stay away from her and all of my witnesses, Armold. You don't want to make me any angrier!" Rosalie seethed at him.
He brought his muscular, 6'4" frame closer to her to the point they were touching.
"Ohh I think I do. I would love to see how wild you could get." He whispered into Rosalie's ear, I had barely heard it.
Rosalie slapped him again but this time with the back of her hand. I bet that one hurt more. People turned around again to look. Rosalie glared at them and they turned back around. She shoved him out of her way, dragging me behind her, I had a tight grip on Alice's wrist and was pulling her as Rosalie dragged me behind her.
"Watching you model around the courtroom in that leather skirt was making me hard all morning. I couldn't even cross-examine your first witness." He told Rosalie.
He made my skin crawl. Better running into him than him I guess.