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erijonarexhepis-blog · 1 year

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SEASON SIX, EPISODE FIFTEEN

Masterlist

THEY WERE IN THE COURTROOM again, and this time it was Jorge who had taken the stand. "Mr. Castillo, during the times that you were speaking with your daughter, Laurel, how would you categorize your relationship with her?" Lennox asked.

"Troubled."

"Why?"

"Did you ever catch your daughter lying to you?"

"Of course," Jorge answered. "When she was 14, she lied about using cocaine—"

"Behavior while a minor is improper character evidence, judge," Annalise interrupted him.

"Sustained," the judge said.

"Let's, um, move on to governor Birkhead," Lennox continued. "Mr. Castillo, have you ever met or spoken with the governor?"

"No."

"Have you ever contacted the governor or anyone associated with her to enact ill will against Ms. Keating?"

"Absolutely not."

"And do you believe any of the allegations that say the governor was involved in your son Xavier's death?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I've made a lot of money in my life— enemies too— so I can think of a long list of people who would have wanted to see my son dead."

Lennox kept glancing over at Annalise. "Mr. Castillo, one of the theories Ms. Keating has put forth is that the FBI is part of this conspiracy against her. Have you been in contact with the FBI about this?"

"No. The FBI's who put me in jail." So, he was still mad about that. "Based on misinformation from an informant. That's her sitting right behind Ms. Keating." Jorge pointed.

Annalise stood. "Objection!"

Jorge turned to the jury. "Those two women are conspiring against me."

"Mr. Castillo, don't address the gallery," the judge told him sternly. "I'm censuring the witness. Jury, disregard the last part of this testimony. Mr. Lennox, meet me in my chambers. Adjourned."

FLASH FORWARD

Shots were fired outside the courthouse. People, who were standing on the steps outside the building, started running and screaming in fear and panic. Some fell and stayed, hoping they wouldn't be hit. They were terrified.

The officers inside the building took action. They grabbed their weapons and ran down the hall to catch whoever was shooting before they killed someone. They ran past Annalise's mother, who was in distress. She hadn't seen Annalise and was worried. Her other daughter was holding her back.

"Is my baby hurt?!" She cried out. "Please tell me! Is she hurt?!"

Someone had been shot. Tegan looked down at this person in terror. How could this happen?

꧁ ꧂

"THANK YOU FOR BEING here, governor," Lennox said.

The governor had taken the stand. "You say that like I have a choice."

"Well, let's not keep you too long, then. Did you order the death of Nathaniel Lahey Sr.?"

"No."

"Do you know if Xavier Castillo ordered the death?"

"Yes, because that guard named him during the civil suit."

"Did you know Xavier Castillo?"

"No, nor have I ever met or spoken to him."

"Do you know his father, Jorge?"

"No."

"Governor, did you ever coordinate with any member of the Castillo family or the FBI to exact revenge on Ms. Keating for defeating you in a Supreme Court case?"

"No." She couldn't even look at Annalise.

"You weren't protecting your re-election?"

"No, because I plan to win my election by convincing the public I'm the best person for the job. The way not to do that is to commit a series of violent murders. That's more Ms. Keating's fallback."

Annalise stood. "Objection. Censure the witness."

"Governor," the judge scolded her.

"My apologies."

"No further questions," Lennox stated.

"Governor, when I beat you at the Supreme Court with my class action, were you upset?"

"More disappointed," the governor answered.

"Because of the damage to your political career?"

"To the taxpayer. Your victory cost the state millions."

"Money well spent if it saved thousands of poor people from unjust convictions."

"Argumentative," Lennox stated. He seemed calm.

"This speaks to the defense's theory of motive," Annalise protested.

"Sustained."

"Do you know Xavier Castillo?"

"As I stated earlier, no."

"What about Hannah Keating?"

The governor paused for a brief second. "I don't know who that is."

"She's my deceased husband's sister, Hannah. You don't know her?"

"I do not."

Annalise went over to her table. "And yet, Hannah Keating recorded herself on a phone call to Xavier Castillo saying this."

She played the recording. "I just saw the governor on tv saying Nate Lahey Sr. died."

"He did die."

"Because the governor killed him?"

Lennox stood up, not wanting to listen to more of it. "Objection. We can't authenticate this recording."

"I wish Hannah Keating were here to speak to its authenticity, but she just died." Annalise looked at the governor. "Gunshot to the head."

"Your honor."

The judge made a decision. "Falls under the death exception. I'll allow it."

Annalise hit record again. "I just saw the governor on tv saying Nate Lahey Sr. died," they heard Hannah's voice once again.

"He did die."

"Because the governor killed him?"

"Calm down."

"I wanted Annalise to go down for my brother, not hurt all these other people."

"I'm hanging up." The recording stopped.

"If you didn't know Hannah Keating or Xavier Castillo, why are they speaking so intimately about you?" Annalise approached the governor again.

The governor shook her head. "I have no idea."

"What about Nate Lahey Sr.? Did you do what Hannah said and kill him?"

"Absolutely not."

"So, if Xavier and Hannah were alive to testify, they would say the same thing?"

"Objection," Lennox spoke up but was ignored.

"Did you have them killed to cover up your lies?"

"No! My god."

The judge cut in and stopped the questioning. "I'm ending this cross!"

"Good," Annalise stated. "I'm done with this witness."

꧁ ꧂

NATE TOOK THE STAND THE next day, and he would be the last to do so. "Mr. Lahey, were you involved in any way at all with the death of Sam Keating?"

"No."

"You were arrested and almost charged for his murder, though. Why?"

"I was the boyfriend. That's always the first suspect."

Lennox nodded. "Any other reason?"

Nate looked over at Annalise. "I was framed."

"Who do you believe framed you, Mr. Lahey?"

"At the time, I thought Annalise."

"Did you ever get confirmation of this?"

"No. 'Cause she wasn't the one who framed me."

Lennox glanced over at Annalise for a brief moment. He took a step closer to Nate. "You mean she had an associate do it for her?"

"I mean, she didn't do it. That was Hannah Keating. She wanted to connect Annalise to Sam's murder, and now it's very clear to me how Hannah did it— by using the Castillos and the governor."

"Let me stop you, Mr. Lahey. Did Ms. Keating coerce you to change your testimony today?"

"No. That was you and special agent Lanford when you offered me twenty million dollars to say what you want. I'm just guessing that's so I don't tell the jury that an FBI agent working for the Castillo's murdered Asher Millstone."

꧁ ꧂

THE LAST DAY OF THE TRIAL started the following morning. It was time for the closing arguments. Lennox went first. "Forget everyone else. The Castillos, the governor, the supposed conspiracy. That is all noise to distract you from the person who brought us here— Annalise Keating. She wants to play the victim, and she is good at it too. But you know the real victims."

Lennox showed the pictures of the people as mentioned them. "Asher Millstone. DA Ronald Miller. ADA Emily Sinclair. Rebecca Sutter. Sam Keating. It all started with this man. That is the original sin. You start there. Then there's no doubt that Annalise Keating is not a victim. She's a murderer."

"I'm no victim," Annalise started. "USA Lennox was right about that. But that's the only true thing that he said today. So, here's the truth about me. I've worn a mask every day of my life. In high school, it was a smile that I faked to get boys to like me. In law school, I changed my name to sound more New England. At the law firm, I wore heels, makeup, and a wig. And when I got married, I... threw myself into becoming a Keating, and it was all to create a version of myself that the world could accept. But I'm done."

"Instead, I stand before you, mask off, to tell you the god's honest. I have done many a bad thing. I've coerced witnesses, got clients to lie on the stand, bullied students to tears, manipulated jurors like you. But those are not the crimes I'm being tried for. It's murder. And I am no murderer."

"What I am is a survivor. I survived getting taunted by the n-word when I was in grade school. I survived the sexual abuse by my uncle when I was 11. I survived losing my first love, Eve, because I was scared to be gay. Then the death of my son in a car accident, the murder of my husband, then alcoholism, depression, grief, and every death leading up to this trial."

"But today, you decide. Am I a bad person? Well, the mask is off, so I'm going to say yes. But am I the mastermind criminal who pulled off a series of violent murders? Hell no."

"Who I am is a 53-year-old woman from Memphis, Tennessee, named Anna Mae Harkness. I'm ambitious, black, bisexual, angry, sad, strong, sensitive, scared, fierce, talented, exhausted."

Annalise let out a shaky breath. She glanced from one juror to the other. She said everything she needed to say and moved almost every person in the room.

"And I am at your mercy."

April was sitting between Laurel and Connor— with Michaela on his side. The jurors had made a decision, and they were anxiously waiting to hear what they had decided for Annalise.

"Ms. Foreperson, I've been told you've reached a verdict."

"Yes, your honor," the juror responded. Some papers got passed on to the judge. The tension in the room was thick. Laurel was gripping April's hand. They had no idea how this was going to end.

The judge looked through the stack of papers as the people in the room waited anxiously. "Please stand."

Annalise and Lennox both stood. "For the charge of conspiracy to murder Sam Keating in count one of the indictment, the jury finds the defendant Annalise Keating..." she paused for a while before revealing it. "Not guilty."

When those words left her mouth, April breathed relief, as did the people sitting behind Annalise. But it was not over yet. "For murder in the first degree of Rebecca Sutter, the jury finds the defendant not guilty. For the murder in the first degree of Asher Millstone, the jury finds the defendant not guilty."

Laurel leaned back in relief, tears threatening to escape. Connor and Oliver had a somewhat similar reaction. April couldn't help but smile, her eyes watering. It was over.

Michaela, on the other hand, was not as happy.

"For murder in the first degree of Emily Sinclair, the jury finds the defendant not guilty. For the murder in the first degree of Ronald Miller, the jury finds the defendant not guilty. For murder in the first degree of Caleb Hapstall, the jury finds the defendant not guilty."

April looked over at her professor, who was hugging her family members. They were happy. Annalise wasn't going down for something she didn't do. And that was when April knew she had done the right thing.

The judge read the rest of the charges; not guilty. Those were the words that kept repeating themselves. Annalise was free. It was over. And she was enjoying the moment with the people closest to her.

Her students stood in the hall sometime later. Connor and Oliver didn't know how to feel, but they didn't have to wonder much longer.

April turned to her friends— her family. She just looked at them and took in the moment. It was over. It was finally over.

They could go back to when they worried about silly things, not murder. Their lives could go back to normal— somewhat normal.

But not for April.

She was ready. She knew it was the right thing, but she hadn't told anyone.

Her friends watched the two police officers approach them, and they were confused. Especially when they cuffed April. There was a lot she hid from them.

They questioned the officers— asked them why they were taking their friend away. What did April do? She told them she got probation.

April looked at her friends as the officers put the cuffs on. "I lied," she shrugged. "I'm the one who takes care of you. So that's what I'm doing."

They looked back at her with tears in their eyes. They were also confused and panicked. "I'm going to be fine. Fifteen years is not that much. Take care of yourselves."

"No, you can't do this!" Connor yelled at the police officer when they dragged her away. He was the most affected by this.

"Connor," Oliver pulled him back. He was crying too. Michaela reached out in an attempt to comfort him, but Oliver pushed her hand away. "You don't get to do that after everything."

"Oliver—"

"You betrayed everyone," Oliver cut her off harshly. Michaela was taken aback. She didn't have anything to say. She knew what she had done. She decided to walk away, no matter how much it hurt.

"Let's leave," Laurel spoke. She turned her stroller. And the three made their way to the exit. For a moment, they had enjoyed that feeling of happiness and relief. They hadn't felt that in a long time.

April gave up information and her freedom for her friends. She considered them family. She had lost her father, and her mother was being rearrested; that was a part of the deal she made.

As she was taken away, she thought about her friends and where they would end up. Annalise was free, and her friends were leaving. They were all going to start fresh.

April was unaware of the shooting outside the courthouse as it happened. As fast as that happiness appeared, it was gone. They were gone. It was over.

It was finally over.

She would be alone in prison, but that was how it had always been. Alone. But she took comfort in knowing her family would be okay.

No more worrying about people going after them or who killed who. It was over. It was finally over.

#femoc #femlead #michaelapratt #murdermystery #familydrama #femalelead #murder #annalisekeating #frankdelfino #laurelcastillo #connor walsh #coliver #bonniewinterbottom

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emeaentrepreneur · 11 months

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Why does the world need more women in leadership roles?

Over the centuries, we have only talked about men’s roles in leadership, but nobody talks about women’s roles in leadership. Women make up half of the world’s population, but they are underrepresented in leadership positions. Women leaders can overcome workplace hurdles and become role models for everyone.

According to a report, 30% of women are CEOs out of 100%. Companies with a higher representation of women on their boards perform better than other organizations. Female leaders can bring unique perspectives, skills, and experiences that can help drive innovation, creativity, and competitiveness.

As we look forward to a brighter future, Gender diversity in women’s leadership roles is now more important than ever. That’s why companies are taking responsibility for women and trying to create better policies and opportunities for them. At the same time, they will also need support to proceed and overcome the habit of pulling back. Continue reading this article to learn the reasons why the world needs more women leaders in the workplace.

7 Reasons Why the world Needs more female leaders in the Workplace

Women are exploring space these days, so why can’t they play and dominate any leadership role? So why can’t they play leadership roles? Here are the seven reasons why the world needs more women leaders.

1. For the personal and vocational development of the team

To discover your leadership voice, first understand your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. You can know this by evaluating your interactions with others and estimating your communication skills. However, Female leaders tend to have different skills and qualities. We know that women are more emotionally intelligent, and this quality can help them build strong relationships with their team members and create a positive work environment.

When women are leaders in the workplace, they build good relationships with their team members, encourage them, respect them, and communicate honestly with them. Women leaders give priority to the personal and professional growth of the team. Women also know the importance of investing in their employee’s development and creating opportunities for them to learn and grow.

2. For achieving equity and equality

Over the decades, the lack of representation of women in leadership positions has been an issue in many organisations. As we see advancements in gender equality, women can still face significant barriers to breaking through the glass ceiling and assuming leadership positions. A woman can contribute a different perspective to leadership that understands the needs and expectations of an organisation.

There has been a lot of progress in building equity and equality in the workplace, but the fundamental gap in leadership roles still exists. At the same time, the organisation takes responsibility for improving policies, building the structure, and providing opportunities to women.

3. For Fueling the fire of innovation

Diversity of thought is crucial for generating new and creative ideas, and women leaders can bring a wealth of experience and insight that can result in breakthroughs and progress. Some reports show that teams that don’t have diverse backgrounds and experiences are less innovative and effective than those that do. Women leaders can give an outlook on gender and diversity issues that can help find new opportunities and challenges.

As we know, to boost innovation, diverse perspectives are essential. Women leaders contribute valuable skills, new perspectives, and cultural diversity that facilitate more effective problem-solving. Their high emotional intelligence is crucial to recognizing the pulse of employees in order to get the best results.

4. For challenging traditional leadership styles

The traditional leadership approach involves providing guidance, direction, and motivation to employees so they can do their work. A traditional leader’s main focus is to improve the business position of the company. As we know, women break through the glass ceiling and reach the top positions in their organisations, so they are able to challenge traditional leadership styles. And they can also promote a balanced, inclusive, and honest workplace.

A female leader’s leadership style is based on communication, collaboration, and trust and is less graded than that of traditional leaders. When women are in leadership roles, they have both masculine and feminine energies, and they can play both roles when required.

5. For tackling systemic barriers

It is important to create an environment that encourages and supports women in leadership. It means breaking down the systemic constraints obstructing women’s leader’s growth and providing them with the resources to succeed. Encourage them in their every achievement and try to maintain gender equality.

Women leaders are the best fit for this because of their unique perspectives, life experiences, and ways of thinking that can solve complex problems. Leaders of diverse groups encourage creativity and create an environment where they can make better decisions. We must recognize and accept what they bring to our table.

6. For Achieving a better financial outcome

More creative ideas can be presented in a diverse workplace. This will help fuel the growth and stability of an organisation. Workplace diversity should not just priorities women but be a fluid combination of both genders. Diverse workplaces can increase productivity, creativity, performance, and staff retention.

According to a workplace study, businesses with gender-diverse workforce experience higher profitability. Some research reports have shown that having more women in higher positions is more profitable for the organisation and provides safer and higher-quality customer experiences.

7. Women in leadership roles can close the gender pay gap

Something we can do is transform the gender pay gap into a gender opportunity gap. When both men and women start from scratch, men are usually offered more opportunities leading to higher-paying jobs. According to a report, women leaders in leadership still don’t earn as much as male leaders, but now a woman can expect a salary of 25% on average.

Therefore, appointing more women in leadership roles can provide benefits and productivity, help them achieve a more comprehensive goal, and close the gender pay gap more effectively.

Closing Thoughts

Women leaders’ challenging journeys to the top allow them to develop themselves remarkably. If we have more women leaders at the top, then it will be easy to fill the gender pay gap, fuel the fire of innovation, tackle problems, achieve better financial growth, achieve equity and equality, and challenge traditional leadership roles.

Finally, women’s leadership is not just about guessing the trends. It’s about wasting untapped potential because we just believed that women could not make good decisions.

Visit More : https://theeuropeentrepreneur.com/leadership/why-does-the-world-need-more-women-in-leadership-roles/

#leadership #womenleadership #femaleleaders #workplace #leadershiproles

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thxnews · 1 year

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Who Are the Lucky Six "Ambassadors for a Day" in Argentina?

The British Embassy in Argentina has recently revealed the six talented young Argentine women, aged between 19 and 26, who emerged victorious in the latest edition of the "Ambassador for a Day" competition. This unique opportunity will provide them with a firsthand experience of diplomatic work, allowing them to join a network of female leaders from different countries in the region.

Ambassador for a day competition winners. Photo by British Embassy, Buenos Aires. UK.GOV.

Empowering Women and Fostering Inclusion

The primary objective of the program is to promote women's inclusion in various professional fields and society as a whole, contributing to their empowerment by equipping them with the necessary tools to unleash their full potential. Selected Candidates by Area of Interest In the area of Democracy and Human Rights, Lucía Lago Krummer (19), an International Relations student at the University of Belgrano, and Ornella Dotti (19), a Law student at the University of Buenos Aires, have been chosen as the "ambassadors for one day." In the realm of Economic Relations and Trade, the winners are Josefina Blasco Firpo (19), a Political Science and International Relations student at the National University of Rosario, and Martina Fillmore (19), an International Relations student at the Catholic University of Córdoba. Lourdes Arena (26), a Biotechnology graduate from the National University of Tucumán, has been selected in the field of Science and Innovation. Candelaria De Paula Marelli (21), an Environmental Management student at the Argentine University of the Business, has been chosen as the representative in the area of Climate Change.

A Unique Opportunity for the Winners

The competition winners will have the privilege of joining British Ambassador Kirsty Hayes and other members of the diplomatic mission in activities directly related to their respective fields of interest. They will also attend meetings with the Embassy's work teams, engage with various organizations and experts associated with the Embassy, and become part of the Latin American network of Ambassadors for a Day. Moreover, the winners will have the chance to participate in virtual or in-person meetings with British ambassadors and deputy heads of mission. They will gain access to increased opportunities to attend courses or talks on women's empowerment and will be invited to future British Embassy events and activities pertaining to their areas of interest.

Excitement and Enthusiasm

Expressing her delight, British Ambassador to Argentina, Kirsty Hayes, stated, "This is the second year we have organized this competition. We had a record number of participants, and we are pleasantly surprised by the level of preparation and enthusiasm shown by the Argentine students. Last year, we shared enriching experiences with the first cohort of Ambassadors for a Day, and I am eagerly looking forward to meeting the newly selected students." Ambassador Hayes further emphasized that the initiative seeks to promote inclusion and greater participation of women in society. She expressed her satisfaction in witnessing the shared objective among numerous young women who are determined to bridge the gender gap through their commitment to education and professional development.

A Rigorous Selection Process

Over 200 women took part in the competition, specifically designed for university students or recent graduates. The selection process required candidates to submit a video response to the question, "Why do you want to be ambassador for a day?" Additionally, they had to complete an online questionnaire and participate in an interview with Embassy officers during the final round.

Looking Ahead

The winners will be contacted in the coming weeks to determine a suitable date for their participation in Embassy activities. As they prepare to embark on this extraordinary journey, these six young Argentine women have the opportunity to become a source of inspiration for countless others, demonstrating the power of perseverance and the potential for positive change in society. By fostering women's empowerment and inclusion, the British Embassy's "Ambassador for a Day" competition is sowing the seeds for a more equitable and prosperous future, one where women's voices are amplified, and their contributions celebrated. Sources: THX News & British Embassy Buenos Aires. Read the full article

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