I was always skeptical about this feminist avalanche that took the west world over. The hashtags “#me too” and “#time’s up” and so on. Hollywood actresses bringing down big studio executives and male stars, telling it all on TV interviews and Newspapers. All in vivid erotic details. Powerful men dropping like flies. Every day a new woman or girl would come clean and accuse another bigshot star. A male witch-hunt never seen before. Soon it spread to politicians and NFL players. No men were immune. It made the male world rethink millennia of misconduct towards women.

Soon French actresses like Catherine Deneuve started an anti #metoo movement. Saying all this tsunami of accusations having gone too far.

Back then I agreed. I also felt some women were using this to get back at men they didn’t like. But not necessarily they had been raped. They were just taking advantage of the movement for wrong reasons. Pure overreaction.

I was raised in a good family with good values. Since a little girl I’ve learned the basic golden rule of not talking to strangers nor accepting anything from anyone. Set limits and you are safe, I thought confidently. Well, and stupidly.

Until it happens to you…

I’ve never thought I’d be in this position. Something I thought I had total control of. That I was immune to it.

I was sitting with a girlfriend at a bar in Hong Kong, drinking and relaxing after a long day of work. This well-dressed guy came around and offered us a second round of drinks. “I’m Jack Liu, nice to meet you ladies“, he said making himself comfortable sitting one chair further beside me. I didn’t invite him though. I’ve always heard vampires need a first invitation to approach. Not in his case.

We refused the drinks, but he insisted in staying and drank by himself. He told about his life around the world. Talking about his long CV with pride. Graduation in Canada. Big boss in Silicon Valley. Big shot in Hong Kong. The king of crypto currencies. He came to change the world as we know it. Christ had descended.

We found him funny. Crazy, but funny. He got funnier with every glass. Soon, totally drunk, he moved one chair closer and sat right beside me. Using a lower tone of voice and a huge proud grin he started to tell us how gullible people were. How everyone falls for anything. That getting money from people these days are like taking candy from a baby.

I smiled shocked and asked him, “really?”, and he said, “Oh, yeah, I can teach you”. After that, he told me a list of people and organizations he used his tricks upon. People he fooled and got millions out.

He wouldn’t stop babbling about it, as if he was telling something to be proud of. At that point, It just became weird, not funny anymore. I looked at my friend and signed to her for us to leave. I was polite and said “All right, Jack, thanks for your company, we gotta go now”. He insisted for us to stay; it took long minutes to get rid of him. But we finally did it, my friend went outside to get us a taxi, while I went for a quick visit to the toilet.

A little while later, I left the toilet cubicle and washed my hands. I looked at the door and saw Jack Liu standing there inside. Empty toilet. His penis in his hands. Masturbating while staring at me. He said, “finish this for me first, ok?”. I ran to the door and tried to push him away so I could run through the door. He grabbed me, pushed me against the wall. I tried to fight him; we fell on the floor. He got on top of me, lift my dress and pull down my underwear. I tried to punch him, kick him, but he was stronger than me. I screamed for help. He licked his fingers and put inside of my vagina. With the other hand he covered my mouth. Then, he tried to penetrate me. All the way he would call me a bitch. That I should stay still and quiet. That I didn’t know who I was dealing with.

The door opened; a woman saw us on the floor in shock. She ran away and screamed to other people to help me. Two security guards came and took Jack Liu off me. A woman helped me to dress while my body trembled and I cried. The security guards dragged Jack Liu out of the toilet. He fought them. For a moment he escaped and came towards me saying: “I will kill you if you tell anyone. I will kill you, bitch!”. The guards grabbed him and took him outside of the toilet finally, while he screamed, “Did you hear me?! Did you hear me?!”

Minutes later one of the security guards came to tell me that Jack Liu was gone. They escorted me outside safely to a taxi. My friend was there not understanding anything.

I asked the security guard where the police were. He told me to forget it. He said Jack Liu wouldn’t bother me anymore. That I simply should forget about it. Like nothing had happened. He touched my arms and said, “Really, do it”.

I was so confused and dizzy, I left with my girlfriend home. But that haunted me for months. A man tried to rape me, and I couldn’t do a thing? A part of me wanted to scream and report him. But I was so scared.

But not anymore.

Here is my letter of apology for all women that were a victim of the same crime before. I apologize for having ever doubted any of them. It can happen to anyone. Only now I can see that. I’m sorry.

And as for you, Mr Jack Liu, this is me saying ENOUGH! I’m not scared of you anymore. No one will buy my silence. No one will threaten my freedom and dignity anymore.

I am here giving you a chance to turn yourself in. Apologize to all women you did the same or worse.

I remember well most of the names of people you fooled and stole millions from. I’m ready to release it to the press.

You choose.