BEYOND TOMORROW

Xavier Shut up, b***h. I watched my dad throw my mom across the table. A sandwich set him off this time. I ushered my younger brother into our baby sister's room. Get your ass back here. Hearing my mother's frail body getting slammed against the wall angered me so much I wanted to help her, protect her, but I can't; I’m not strong enough. I still have the scars from the last time I tried. I ball my ten-year-old fist while comforting my crying brother. This won't last forever. I don't know if I'm trying to convince my siblings or myself. End of flashback Mr. Sato I come back to the present. Everyone around the table is staring at me. I clear my throat. I agree. We should still hit our 15 million goal this quarter. Once we acquire the Emerson project, we will be nearly there. My CEO, Jason, varies on with the rest of the meeting and assigns tasks to the executives. I hate these meetings. Who knew being the owner of a large accounting firm in the state meant I would have to attend boring-ass meetings? I would rather be doing the numbers. That is my passion, not running a business, but I digress. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the company. And the perks that come with it? I received a call from my father-in-law asking me to bring some documents. If you enjoy the perks, then you must deal with the responsibilities too. Anna On the other end of town The room is quiet; all we hear is a woman screaming, begging someone to stop, but the video keeps playing. The video shows Nick dragging Penny into a room and ripping off her clothes. Penny was half out of it from the blow she took earlier. He threw her on the bed. And started punching her. Again, she was screaming for help, trying to cover her face from the punches, but no help came. After he was satisfied with that, he started to rip off her clothes. He put her in a chokehold as he thrust inside her. And again, she kept screaming for help, clawing at his hands, trying to get him off of her, but to no avail. Nick didn't care; he kept going. While his friends recorded and laughed, he kept going. The video ends with him just leaving Penny on a bed, telling her she better keep her mouth shut. The courtroom is in stunned silence. Your Honor, the defendant subpoenaed this video from one of the victim's phones, and it came with a note: drop the case, or I make good on my promise. Anna stands straight in a black suit with blue eyes, long blonde hair, and a stern face that says, "This case is mine. I have won." Anna approaches the bench and tells the judge that Nick's friends are willing to testify against him. As she tells the judge this, Anna thinks to herself, of course his friends turned on him. What rhymes with grape when it pertains to jail and to never underestimate a woman like her? The verdict comes back. Nick is sentenced to 10 years with no possibility of parole. Anna stands and heads out. As soon as she hits the doors, reporters flood her and ask her what's the case pro bono for her. Anna only answers three questions. The reporters already know this. One reporter asked whether she took the case only because Penny's story resonated with her, or because it was a senator's son and a high-profile case that would take her firm to new heights. Anna replied that justice doesn't look at how rich you are. It looks at the facts. It looks at the evidence, and it goes from there. And justice today was served. A different reporter asked, "Will Penny be making a statement about what happened to her? And if she does, will she be seeking more justice from the friends that stood and watched?"Anna's reply was We are now executing and seeking justice for the friends who did stand and watch and did nothing, and also who harassed her. Another reporter asked, "Does she have any other high-profile cases in the works?"Anna replies that she is not at liberty to discuss that at this time. Anna says no further questions at this time, then pushes past the reporters and heads to her car. When Anna makes it to her car, she thinks to herself **を*えるものは*もありません.