"Today, you only have one job on your agenda. Decide if you're going to take the deal we offered you last time. You've had some time to think it over; do you still think it's 'complete and utter bullshit'?"

"My lawyer has since convinced me to reevaluate your offer."

"And?"

"It's still bullshit."

"You can always take a chance at trial."

"Hah. In this political climate; as if. Look, we both know there's no lawyer in the world who's gonna get me off on this. Not with this much attention on the case."

"Look, the offer we gave you-"

"Is just barely enough to keep those idiots on TV from going on a riot. We both know that."

"Please, you know we made the most generous offer we could. You think some regular-ass dude would ever get something like this? Please, we'd probably even find a way to sentence him to death."

"Yeah, yeah; I'm such a privileged little shit. Please, I hear enough of that when I get escorted into the building. I still don't know how nearly half the time I got left in jail is generous, but I know for you guys, it's probably the most flattering offer you've given up this year."

"So, what is your answer?"

"My answer is that I shoulda ran to Cuba or Vietnam. As soon as I saw you guys poking around the finances, I knew I was coming to the end of the line. If only I wasn't so damn partial to the food here."

"Stop fucking around! I'm tired of you spending half the negotiation time talking about how long you got away with it, or how you were so close to escaping justice and becoming some international fugitive. Let's face it; a guy like you, all your assets frozen up, wouldn't last a minute in some third world country. Now, if the next words out of your mouth are anything but yes or no, the deal is off and we will ensure you get the maximum sentence in trial. Final time I'm gonna ask; are you taking the deal?"

"Yes."

"Hallelujah, he finally does something smart. Alright, I'll have them start the paperwork on the deal, you start preparing your ass for an orange jumpsuit."

As the attorney makes her way out of the room, I sit there, thinking about everything she said.

*Click*

"Ah, what a bitch. Though, I have to admit, she played a fair game. Everyone really did a good job and at least I got to have my fun while it lasted. It'll be nice to finally get to relax and take some time off in the big house. I'm sure I'll be running the place in no time. Who knows, maybe I'll even get out early on good behavior. Imagine that, good behavior from someone like me."

As I make my little rant, basking in the end of my reign, something feels off.

"Was it really fun though? Look where I am. I'm being prepared to spend the next third of my life in a prison cell. Was it really worth it?

Suddenly, the door opens. I expected to see the attorney from before walk back in with a police officer and a smile on her face, but instead it's a young petite woman I've never seen before.

She holds the door handle door as she closes the door, preventing it from making the click I've heard a million times over the past few months.

She pays no attention to me and instead pulls a blank sheet of paper from a briefcase I didn't even realize she had till now, then looks it over.

She sits in the chair on the opposing side of the table then places the sheet down in front of us.

"Having regrets?"

"What?"

"What you just saying. About it being worth it."

"No, I was just laminating about how I could have committed even more crime while I had the chance."

"You don't have to put up an act at this point. Like you said, it's all over. Not like it really matters, right? Why don't you tell me exactly what you're thinking. Don't hold back."

Something about how she spoke, hypotonic in a way, it almost makes me feel like I want to drop my defenses and be truly honest with her. Maybe I'd spent so much time putting on the mask, I just wanted a moment where I could be the real me. I certainly wouldn't be able to do that once I got to prison. Whatever thing in your brain stops you from talking, just switched off.

"Well, I was just thinking, how did it even get to this? You ever have the feeling that on the road to do one thing, you ended up doing the complete opposite?"

"What road were you trying to go down?"

"Well, I remember when I started out, before I even went to college. I was a big history nerd. I mostly obsessed over the history of industry. I know that's a weird thing to focus on, but I really loved learning about guys like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Like, a lot of people know that Henry Ford invented the five day work week."

"Yeah, it's a pretty common fact."

"But most people don't know the real story behind that. You hear that and you think, oh Ford must have just been a really cool boss who cared for his workers and understood that a good work life balance improved production."

"That's what I always thought. That, and so they would want to buy his cars to use on their extra time off."

"Okay, the buying cars thing is true, but the first part goes completely against the way Ford thought about his workers. Between burning them out from overwork and the rising levels of complaints, he basically had to be forced to concede to the five day work week. That's the type of stuff that I liked to learn about. Oh, I think I got a bit off track with that info dump; but anyways, I loved that stuff, and it inspired me to want to be a leader of industry. I just, somewhere along the way, I don't know. I don't want to say it's society's fault, but there's certain things you're expected to do to rise up the ranks. I dunno. I just feel like I went wrong too many times and ended up here."

"And if it wasn't like that?"

"Well, the whole reason I tried to rise up in the ranks and become CEO was to make things better. I was just an engineer when I started. With my knowledge and history obsession, I thought I could make the best choices. That's what it would have been. But, it really does feel like you're set up from the start. I mean, as CEO, you're literally required to do what's best for the interest of your company's shareholders; how the hell are you supposed to improve anything in those conditions?"

"I think I have enough information. I think it's time you have control over your speech again."

Just like that, the mask is back and my guard returns.

"What the hell was that? Why did I tell you all that; I don't even know who you are."

"I'm not able to provide you with my name. Now, given the information you have given me, I have drafted up a proposal that I think will make you very satisfied."

She points to the paper on the table which now is filled with words that I know were not there before.

"Nah, I want that annoying attorney back in here; I have no idea who you are and I don't even know what just happened."

"If she comes back into this room, she will be with a police officer ready to put you in handcuffs. If you would rather avoid that, I suggest you consider my proposal."

"Avoid that? What, are you another lawyer or something? Look I already got a lawyer and he's costs way too much for someone who can't even get me out of serving jail time."

"I can get you that."

"You can get me out of jail time?"

"Yes."

"How exactly would you do that?"

"I can get you out of all of this. Not just prison time, but any responsibility at all. I can make it like none of this ever happened. No one would know about the crimes you committed."

"Oh, I see, so you're some type of a magical wish granting genie, is that it?"

"Some would call me that; but they would be greatly mistaken. I am simply an opportunity. I tell no lies and offer only truth. I can do exactly what I say. Freedom, forgiveness, another chance, it's all here."

She points to the sheet of paper on the table.

I saw in big bold letters on top of the page "ISEKAI CONTRACT".

"Isekai? What the hell does that even mean?"

"Isekai means another world."

"What, as in another version of this world… A version where I never got caught? Is that what you mean? Like an alternate universe?"

"It is another world. That is all I can say. Part of the agreement is not knowing what you will encounter in the Isekai."

"So, assuming I believe you, this contract could send me anywhere. But, wherever it sends me, I've never committed crimes in that world?"

"Not just crimes, you will have never existed until the moment of your arrival."

"A real re-do, huh? What's the cost; again, assuming I believe you."

"Entertainment."

"What kind of entertainment?"

"I cannot elaborate. Again, the contract has strict rules. Too much information on your end would ruin the entertainment. In fact, you've asked your last question."

"What?"

"Sorry, I can't answer that. I can only ask you the same question you were asked ten minutes ago. Are you taking the deal?"

"... … .... Yes."

"Hallelujah."