Ashley Kimberly- HE is the Woman

Chapter 1: The choice

" Just name the amount. But make sure my son is proved innocent."

"I don't bet on money. I bet on chances", smirked Ashley with his back towards Jonathan Grey and his son. 

" You know whom you are talking to.. I am JONATHAN GREY. State's renowned business tycoon. Taking our case and winning it will help both of us ", gritting his teeth explained Jonathan.

Ashley silently sat on the couch opposite to Jonathan and his son. He took few minutes before changing his mind. After all money and fame did not compare to a woman he doesn't even know. Women are shrewd; she will find another man to leach off, he thought. All the women he met were same so he never regretted breaking every woman's heart he dated. After all it is a man's world and only men shall rule, he told himself.

"Let's go."

Puzzled Jonathan asked, " Where?."

" Where your son raped his employee. We need to make sure whether there is any evidence against your son or not. And I need all the information related to that woman your company has."

They  silently drove to the main branch of GREY Telecom.

       This case is one of the easiest case I ever came across, thought Ashley. For a renowned lawyer like him few minutes will be enough to turn the tables. He walked into the court with confidence overflowing from every single cell of his body.

The victim, Rosa, glared at Ashley. Rosa's lawyer  started,

" Your honour, my client Rosa  was brutally raped on March 28th 2019  at Joe Grey's cabin in the main branch of GREY Telecom at 7pm. Apparently the CCTV camera in front of Joe Grey's cabin is missing and so are the security guard on duty that day. Too many coincidences at once ", he stated sarcastically. " But here are the medical reports which proves she was raped. According to my client Joe grey then dragged her to the fire exit and pushed her off the stairs. I have witnesses to testify that Joe Grey  ordered Rosa to bring some files to his cabin at 6:35pm. And that was the last time they saw Rosa on her feet."

Witnesses were called to the witness box. Ashley sat patiently without questioning. He already dealt with these witnesses and offered them a hefty amount for changing their statements.Little did anyone guessed that the storm was yet to come. 

Finally when Rosa's lawyer was done presenting all the evidence and witnesses he had Ashley stood on his feet and took a deep breath. 

"Your honor, none of the evidences proved that MY CLIENT raped Rosa. It all proved that she was raped. Everyone saw her going towards Joe Grey's cabin...but they did not see her entering the cabin. Now I would like to call Rosa on witness box ."

Horrified Rosa ran to the witness box and shrieked, " They saw me entering his cabin! they are all lying!  That monster.."

Before she could finish Ashley cut her off, " Ms Rosa if I'm not wrong you were pregnant as it shows in the report."

Rosa hesitated a bit," Yes and my child died because of what this monster did to me!", tears rolled down her cheeks and her nose running.

"If I am not wrong you are not married and your father is a priest."

"Objection your honour! This has nothing to do with the case", snapped Rosa's lawyer.

"Objection overruled".

"So where were we...", Ashley started again.

"Yes..", Rosa replied before Ashley could finish his sentence.

" You belong to a religious family but how did you become pregnant without getting married? Where are your parents?"

"My family disowned me as I ran away with my late boyfriend. He got into an accident and he is no more."

" Funny. Now that we are bringing up your pregnancy you claim to have a dead boyfriend and no one to testify that your boyfriend existed ?"

" What are you trying to say!?."

Now Ashley turned towards the judge , " Your honor what I'm trying to say is this woman leaches off men and since Joe Grey did not fall into her trap she is using this scheme. A woman with no character I would say. She gets pregnant but claims that the father of the child is dead. None of the evidence proves my client laid his hand on her. She must have slept with someone else and is trying to use this medical report against my client."

"No! This is a lie!."

The clock stroke at 12pm.

" The court is adjourned for  the lunch break. We will continue after lunch break." 

 Once people started to move Rosa ran towards Ashley and dropped on her knees, " Please believe me he did this to me. Please my life will be completely ruined if I don't get Justice. Give me some time I can prove my boyfriend existed and none of it is a lie!."

"I know he did this to you. Sorry but the law will not favor the one with no evidence", whispered Ashley in Rosa's ear and walked away.

" Inhumane. Heartless," whispered Rosa under her breath as tears fell like a downpour from her eyes. All the news channel had the heading of "Employee of GREY Telecom plotting against the boss by accusing of being raped". Rosa knew if she did not clear her name, her entire life will be ruined. No one would hire her . She will have no one to go to. But all she could do was beg her God for mercy.

After lunch break the debate went on for another half and hour. Finally came the time  for verdict.

"Due to lack of evidence the jury has come to the conclusion that Joe Grey can not be accused for raping Rosa....", Rosa could not hear anything more than this. Shattered Rosa fell onto the ground. No one could hear her sob . Tears streamed down her red cheeks. 

Suddenly Ashley doubted his choice of ruining someone's life for money and fame. But then he reminded himself about his idea of all women and consoled himself, " All women are same. They will move on pretty soon since they don't have any moral."

As he was walking away someone grabbed his hand. Ashley turned back to find Rosa. Her nails dug into his flesh. 

"You are the one who removed the CCTV camera I know!. It was there that day I saw it. You messed up with the evidence to win!. You did not hesitate to say those nasty things about my character even when you knew the truth! You are no different from those monsters! God will not spare you. God shall not spare you!. Soon you will know what it takes to be a woman. How hard it is to live with a stain for a woman...you will know in this lifetime!".