Chapter 257 Explosive Photos
Leander was tempted by Tarquin's suggestion, but he was a bit more cautious. "Isn't this a bad idea?" he said, his voice hushed. "This is Dr. Johnson's private business. You know how she gets. If she finds out, we're toast!"
"Don't be such a scaredy-cat! It's just a package. What's the worst that could happen?" Tarquin scoffed. "Besides, we have Dr. Smith on our side. He's a nice guy. If Dr. Johnson throws a fit, we'll just get him to smooth things over. He'll stick up for us, for sure."
Tarquin's fingers fidgeted with the package. Curiosity gnawed at him. He felt an insatiable urge to uncover its contents. The package had arrived earlier that day, delivered not by a regular courier but by a shifty-eyed character who reeked of shadiness. The unusual delivery only intensified Tarquin's suspicions.
Tarquin prided himself on his intuition, especially when it came to sniffing out secrets. Back in school, he was the go-to guy for gossip, always the first to unearth hidden affairs and scandals.
"Just remember," Leander warned, his voice still laced with apprehension, "you were the one who wanted to open it. If Dr. Johnson blows a gasket, don't drag me down with you."
"Relax, will you? Dr. Johnson's not a monster," Tarquin said, already tearing into the package. "She's not going to eat us alive."
Inside, nestled amongst protective layers, lay a plain manila folder. Tarquin pulled it out, his heart pounding with anticipation. As he flipped it open, a stack of photographs tumbled out.
Tarquin's eyes widened. His breath hitched in his throat.
Leander, still wary of incurring Jennifer's wrath, kept his distance, deliberately avoiding any glimpse of the photos. He hadn't been the one to suggest opening the package, so if Dr. Johnson decided to unleash her fury, he wouldn't be caught in the crossfire.
A gasp from behind startled him. "Tarquin, what's gotten into you?" he snapped, frowning. "Stop making those noises! You scared the daylights out of me."
Tarquin whirled around, his face alight with excitement. "Leander, you have to see this!" he exclaimed, grabbing Leander's arm. "I told you there was something fishy going on! My intuition never fails!"
Intrigued by Tarquin's overdramatic reaction, Leander finally gave in to his curiosity. He peered over Tarquin's shoulder, his gaze falling upon the photographs.
His jaw dropped. The glass he was holding slipped from his grasp and shattered on the floor. "Is this… real?" he stammered.
The photos depicted James and Harmony in a series of compromising positions, their intimacy undeniable. Though the images were taken from a distance and the lighting was poor, there was no mistaking James' identity.
They weren't familiar with Harmony, but some of the photos captured her face with startling clarity.
They frantically flipped through the photos, their eyes locking in a mixture of shock and disbelief at the end of it.
Leander's mouth hung open. Words failed him.
"Who would have thought Dr. Smith had it in him to do something like this?" Tarquin gasped, his voice barely a whisper. "Sneaking around behind Dr. Johnson's back like that. This is huge!" He clapped a hand on Leander's shoulder. "See? I told you! This package was hiding something juicy. I knew it the moment I saw that shifty-eyed delivery guy, !"
Leander, his initial shock giving way to a more analytical mindset, picked up the photos again. "This feels… deliberate," he said slowly. "Like someone's trying to sabotage Dr. Johnson and Dr. Smith's relationship."
Tarquin frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Think about it," Leander said, tapping a finger on the photos. "The package was addressed to Dr. Johnson. Someone clearly wants her to see these photos, to create a rift between her and Dr. Smith. Besides, we don't even know if these photos are real. People can do anything with technology these days."
"No way," Tarquin shook his head vehemently. "I took a whole semester on photo manipulation back in college. I can spot a fake a mile away. These are the real deal."
"I don't believe it," Leander insisted, his brow furrowed. "Dr. Smith and Dr. Johnson seem so happy together. Dr. Smith wouldn't do something like this. Besides, Dr. Johnson is gorgeous, way out of his league. He has no reason to cheat!"
"You're too trusting," Tarquin said, shaking his head. "People can surprise you. Maybe Dr. Smith's just good at hiding his true colors. It's a shame for Dr. Johnson, though. She's such a catch."
Leander fell silent, considering Tarquin's words. As a man, he understood the allure of temptation. He'd seen plenty of his friends stray from their relationships, unable to resist the pull of something fresh and new.
"I just never took Dr. Smith for that kind of guy," he said finally with a note of disappointment in his voice. "I really looked up to him."
"We can't let Dr. Johnson be played for a fool," Tarquin said, his voice hardening with conviction. "We have to tell her the truth."
"That's a terrible idea," Leander shot back. "If we show Dr. Johnson these photos, it'll be World War III. They'll probably end up getting a divorce!"
"So we just let her walk around obliviously?" Tarquin said, his voice rising in anger. "We've been interning here for months. Dr. Johnson's been good to us. We owe her at least that much."
Leander hesitated, torn between his loyalty to Dr. Johnson and the potential fallout. After a moment, he sighed. "So what do you suggest we do? March into her office and show her the photos?"
Tarquin thought for a moment. "I'll send her a message on Facebook," he said finally. "Just to see what she's up to."
Meanwhile, Jennifer and James had arrived at the movie theater. They purchased their tickets and were heading towards the entrance, a sense of anticipation hanging in the air.
It was a strange thought, but despite being married for years, this was their first time going to the movies together.
Jennifer stole a glance at James as he carried her purse and a bucket of popcorn. The feeling of being cared for brought a smile to her face.
It felt like they were teenagers again, experiencing the thrill of a first date.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a Facebook notification. It was from Tarquin, one of the interns.
Tarquin: [Dr. Johnson, are you with Dr. Smith right now?]
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