The Doctor's Secret

Doctor Katherine Ding entered the examination room and warmly introduced herself to her patient. She sat down, clipboard in hand, and began asking him a series of generic health questions. She took notes. Without moving her eyes from her clipboard, she felt his gaze on her.

She realized that wearing a blouse with two buttons open was somewhat unprofessional, lab coat or not. However, the summer heat demanded at least some measure of comfort. Hopefully, he didn't mind the tease. And if he was healthy enough to be lusting after his doctor, that was a good sign.

Katherine left him momentarily to go print something for him. She found the printer on a desk in a busy hallway. As she waited for the documents, her cellphone buzzed in her coat pocket. She fished it out and saw a message from an unknown number. She opened it to a thumbnail of a video with several naked men standing around something. Strange, but ok. It wouldn't be the first time she took a porn break at work.

She started the video. The camera circled around the crowd of naked men to the center of attention. A young woman was crouched on a table being spitroasted by two men. One man was hammering into her from behind with hard, fast strokes, while the other held the woman's face onto his pelvis. Her mouth was wrapped around his cock, and she gave muffled moans as the other man plowed her. The crowd of men stood stroking their cocks, waiting for their turn with her. The cameraman swept the woman's hair aside, exposing her face to the camera. Katherine recognized her 18-year-old self.

Oh God.

She immediately clacked the phone face-down on the desk. This was THAT video.

Fuck Fuck FUCK!

She had tried to leave her slut days behind when she graduated college about a decade ago. She had told herself that if anyone had footage and wanted to use it against her, they would've done it by now. She had tried to convince herself that this wouldn't be an issue. People make mistakes all the time, right? Nothing happens to them. She thought she could slip by like it never happened. And yet...

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from the same sender.

'Does your family know about this?'

This bastard.

She texted back: 'Who is this?'

They responded: 'Conference room. 4pm today. Don't be late.'

She had all of nine seconds to process before another message came through:

'Wear that blouse. It looks good on you.'

She dropped her phone as she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest. She sheepishly looked around--her colleagues were going about their business, seemingly oblivious to her crisis. She didn't notice when her documents had finished printing. She straightened herself, picked up her phone and her documents, and turned to leave right before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She nearly jumped out of her lab coat as she turned to see the young intern looking up at her. Gina stood dressed in a black blazer, matching business skirt, and a cream-colored dress shirt buttoned up to the collar.

"Are you okay, Doctor?" Gina asked her.

"I'm fine," Katherine said. "I just- you startled me."

"You looked like you were having a panic attack. Do you need anything?" Gina asked.

"No, I... I just got some bad news over the phone. I'll be okay," Katherine responded with an involuntary quiver in her voice.

Gina's worried expression did not change.

"If you say so... Let me know if you need to talk."

Gina left Katherine alone to collect herself. She took a deep breath that only partially eased her anxiety, and returned to her patient.

***

Katherine stood outside the door of the conference room at 3:58 pm, hesitating, questioning herself, stalling until someone jumped out and said this was all just a stupid prank. She knew that nobody was coming to save her. It was too late to get the law involved. Even if she did, who would she go after?

She fidgeted, racking her mind for any excuse to not walk through that door into whatever shitstorm awaited her. What if she just walked away? Could she handle being known as a slut by everyone she knew? Would her career survive? Would her family survive?

4:00 pm. She was out of time.

Goddammit.

She turned the knob, slowly opened the door, and stepped inside. The conference room was furnished with five long, rectangular tables that were roughly arranged in a U shape. Behind the table at the opposite end of the room sat three men, watching her. When Katherine recognized the man in the middle, her heart sank and she realized she was in deep shit. David Forsyth, Regional Director of Signal Health Southwest, her boss' boss, was here. He was flanked by two nurses, one on each side. David gestured for her to enter.

"Please have a seat, Doctor," he commanded.

Katherine gently shut the door behind her and sat in the empty chair before the table, directly across from David. She recognized the two nurses flanking David, both dressed in medical scrubs as if plucked from their shifts to attend this meeting. On David's right was Thomas, a dark-skinned man with dark brown eyes and facial stubble. She had worked alongside him a few times--often enough to notice his comforting bedside manner with his patients. He had a way of making people feel safe. She could only hope he was here to mitigate this situation. On David's left was Jack, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed man with whom she had worked only once. They had only a passing acquaintance.

The director himself was an older man--in his late 40s by Katherine's estimation--with grizzled, greying facial hair. He wore a grey blazer with polished brass cufflinks, and a white dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He studied her with light brown eyes. His gaze weighed on her with an aura of authority that went beyond his job title. Katherine could barely meet his eyes.

"I don't think we've met in person," he began. "David Forsyth. Nice to meet you."

"Katherine Ding," she nodded in response, forcing a smile.

David nodded.

"I've heard good things about you. You receive high marks for the care you provide to your patients. I commend you for that."

"Thank you," Katherine replied. She didn't let herself relax fully--she knew he didn't call her in just to praise her.

"Now, it's come to my attention that there's some... risqué content about you. Can you explain that?" David asked.

Katherine swallowed.

"I... did something stupid in college over a decade ago. I was a dumb, 18-year-old freshman. I don't remember agreeing to being recorded."

David was silent for a moment, and then shrugged.

"Well, you can take legal action if it gets published online. Regardless, the content presents a liability to this branch."

"If it gets published online? Are you saying it isn't?" Katherine asked.

"Not as far as I'm aware," David responded. "It was shown to me by a private source. I don't know where they got it from, so we can't be sure it's not floating around somewhere out there."

Katherine nodded with her gaze lowered. David leaned forward with his fingers interlaced under his chin.

"Doctor, I want you to imagine the impact this would have on the company image. Imagine patients recognizing one of our doctors as someone who engages in those sorts of questionable activities. It makes us look 'unprofessional' to say the least."

"Sir, respectfully, I don't think a lapse in judgment 14 years ago has any bearing on how I treat my patients today," Katherine protested.

"It's not about performance, it's about impressions," David retorted. "Like it or not, first impressions matter."

"Was that your first impression of me?" Katherine asked.

David smiled.

"No. My first impression of you was that you're one of our top employees in the region."

Katherine smiled with a much-needed confidence boost.

"That's why it was disheartening to see this about you," David continued. "If the CEO were to find out about this, he'd consider you a liability. I'd have to justify to him why we're keeping you onboard."

"Well, you know my track record here. Is there no way I can convince you to put in a good word for me?" Katherine asked.

"There might be, actually."

Katherine's eyes finally met David's. She saw that he was gazing at her intently. A shiver ran up her spine.

"I'll be honest, Katherine, a part of me enjoyed what I saw," David conceded. "It's exciting to see a proper professional with a secret wild side."

"That was a long time ago, sir," Katherine answered, suddenly remembering that she never closed up her blouse. "I'm not that person anymore. I'm married. I have a family."

"Your husband must be a lucky man," David shrugged.

Katherine felt a pinch of guilt towards her husband. She had let Andy know that he wasn't her first, but she never told him the dirty details of what all she did before she met him. After seven years together, she still feared how he would react if he found out how much of a slut she once was.

"In any case, here's my proposition," David continued.

There was a pause in which Katherine's and David's eyes were firmly locked on each other.

"I want to see it for myself. I want you for a night," he finally said.

Katherine felt a mix of unease and--shamefully--arousal as the bomb was dropped on her.

"But..." she started, but couldn't find a retort. With what leverage could she argue? This man could end her career right now if he wanted to, and rightfully so with the material against her.

"I should clarify that it's not just me," David continued. "There's a reason why these two men are here. I understand that you've worked with both of them before?"

Katherine swallowed. Three of them at once? She had flashbacks of being spitroasted at the frat party. She felt a wetness between her legs, in spite of herself.

"Yes... I have," she said weakly.

David nodded.

"I was hoping a couple of familiar faces would make this easier. Now, if you agree to this, should that video reach the wrong audience, I will advocate for you and call in a few favors to keep you employed here. Otherwise, I'll leave you to deal with it yourself. The decision is yours, Katherine. What do you say?"

Katherine knew she was cornered. 'Deal with it yourself,' he said. How? If the CEO deemed her a liability, that meant the end of her career at Signal Health. If the video leaked online, that meant the end of her career at any major practice. If she was to continue practicing medicine, what choice did she really have? She took a deep breath and answered: "I'll do it."

"Are you sure?" David asked. "I don't want you to feel like you're being forced into anything. Do you want to do this?"

Was this a test, or was he toying with her at this point? Regardless, Katherine swallowed her pride and answered: "Yes, sir. I want to do this."

David smiled.

"Good, very good."

Katherine, defeated, let her gaze fall to the floor.

"Before you leave here today, go see the receptionist. She'll have something for you. We'll be in contact soon. You're dismissed."

At David's instruction, Katherine quietly got up and left the conference room. She found an unoccupied examination room, shut the door behind her, sat down, and cried. She had spent years distancing herself from her old ways--she had built a medical career, settled down, and started a family. But ultimately, she couldn't escape her dirty past. It would always be there in the background, threatening to turn her 'proper' life upside-down at any moment. It almost destroyed her career today, and still might. Would her family be next?

She spent several minutes in the examination room before she finally got up, wiped her tears, and left for the reception desk. Gina sat with her blazer draped over the back of her chair. She immediately looked up as Katherine approached.

"Doctor! How are you feeling?" Gina asked.

"I've had better days," Katherine shrugged, knowing better than to try to bullshit the astute intern. "I was told you had something for me?"

Gina reached under her desk and produced a small, pink backpack. She handed it to Katherine. It was light.

"I don't know what's in it. It feels almost empty, but be careful with it," Gina said.

"Thanks," Katherine responded.

"Remember that I'm always here to talk if you need it," Gina added.

Katherine hesitated, and then reached over the desk and hugged her. Gina wrapped her arms around Katherine's shoulders for a warm, brief embrace.

"Thank you," Katherine said.

She left with the backpack and went to her car. Once inside, she opened the backpack and found a white bunny mask--it was an upper mask that only covered above the nose. Also in the backpack was a black dress and a note. She opened the note and found the instructions left for her:

Royal Oaks Hotel

Room 317

Saturday at 9pm

This is where it would happen. She sighed, started her car, and made the long drive home.

***

It was 8:58pm when Katherine stepped off the elevator onto the third floor of Royal Oaks. She had just come from having dinner with her family. Andy made pasta for them--chicken fettuccine, her favorite. She had told Andy she was attending a social with some of her coworkers. He refused to send her out so late on an empty stomach. He always had such a good heart. She loved that about him.

She reached the door of room 317. She paused, took a deep breath, and knocked. The door opened to Thomas standing on the other side. He wore a suit like one would wear on a semi-formal outing--a black blazer with matching slacks, and a white dress shirt. In his hand, he held a red fox mask, similar to the bunny mask Katherine was given.

"Hey," Thomas greeted her.

He stepped aside and allowed her in. Katherine entered the hotel room. Along one wall were two, king-sized beds, one on either side of a nightstand. Along the opposite wall was a desk with a mini-fridge and a cooler tucked underneath. Jack sat at the desk while David sat on the bed nearest the curtains, both wearing suits like Thomas. Jack held a grey wolf mask and David held an oak brown masquerade mask.

"Welcome," David greeted her.

Katherine waved. The door shut behind her.

"Did you bring your outfit?" David asked.

"I did," Katherine responded, sliding the little pink backpack off her shoulders.

"Good. There's a bathroom on your left. Get changed," David instructed.

Katherine entered the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She set the backpack on the sink and looked at herself in the mirror. She had arrived dressed in a cream-colored tank top and capris. Her long, dark hair was tied in a bun. She intended to look casual on her way to the hotel, but she knew what was expected of her when she saw the contents of the backpack. She undid her bun, letting her hair fall past her shoulders. She slid her wedding ring off her finger.

Sorry, Andy. If you knew, you'd understand.

She tucked her ring safely in the front pocket of her backpack. As she removed her clothes, she heard the muffled voices of the men outside the door.

"My wife wouldn't... she'd kill me..."

"... since the last time..."

"Never tried something like..."

They were chatting about their wives and past experiences. Had they done something like this before? No surprise, given David's status.

Katherine stripped down to her panties and then slid the dress over her. It fit almost perfectly if not for the straps being too loose around her shoulders. It felt like the dress was liable to slide down and expose her breasts at any moment. Then again, maybe that was the point. Finally, she put the mask on. She examined her reflection--she looked like a proper masquerade partygoer. That was one thing she had never experienced in college.

Katherine stuffed her clothes into her backpack and exited the bathroom. She entered the room again to find the three men waiting for her. They had all donned their masks--Thomas the fox, Jack the wolf, and David the hunter. They all gazed intently on her, the rabbit, their prey. The imagery was not lost on her.

"Ravishing," David said. He spoke with an underlying desire in his voice that sent a shiver up Katherine's spine.

David got up from the bed and produced a bottle of wine from the cooler, along with four glasses from the refrigerator. He pulled a corkscrew from his pocket and began opening the bottle.

"Have you ever been hunting, Katherine?" David asked.

"I haven't," she responded.

"When I was a boy, my father would take me and my brothers hunting. Every time we brought home a prize, we would celebrate with a toast."

David had opened the bottle and begun filling the glasses with red wine.

"Of course, father always got the good stuff while my brothers and I had to settle for cranberry juice," he concluded.

Thomas and Jack approached the desk where the glasses were set. The three men all took one. Katherine went and took the last.

"Does the prize drink to celebrate being captured?" Katherine asked.

David chuckled.

"I'd like to imagine they would, if they knew their flesh was about to satisfy men."

David raised his glass.

"To the hunt."

The four of them clinked their glasses together and drank, emptying them in one swallow. Katherine found that it was smoother than the wine she and Andy occasionally drank at dinner. She set her glass down at the same time as David. They locked eyes. David went to her, placed a hand on her cheek, and kissed her. He held her waist with his other hand, pulling her into him. Katherine braced herself against his shoulders. She tasted the wine on his lips as they kissed.

Oh God.

David was the first man she had kissed since dating Andy. She was alive with a potent mixture of guilt and excitement. Jack and Thomas drew towards her from either side. As David pulled from the kiss, Thomas turned Katherine's face towards his and kissed her. Thomas wrapped an arm around Katherine's back and squeezed her breast with his other hand. Jack slid a strap down Katherine's shoulder, stuck his hand inside her dress, and squeezed her other breast. Thomas pulled from the kiss, and Jack turned Katherine's face towards his and kissed her in kind.

Katherine was smothered, melting under the touch of the three men. It had been ages since the last time she had so many hands and mouths all over her. Her pussy got wet, yearning with desire as the college slut from the previous decade was stirring.

"Get on your knees," David commanded.

The others released her. Katherine obeyed, sinking to her knees with her hands in her lap, like a good girl. She looked up at the imposing, masked hunter, anticipating his next move. David undid his pants and shucked them down to his ankles, boxers included. His cock was hard and ready. It was... about the same size as Andy's. Katherine didn't know what to expect from a man in his mid-40s, but she could definitely work with this. Jack and Thomas stood on either side of her and dropped their pants as well. She knew what to do.

Katherine took David's cock in her hand and took the head in her mouth. She slowly bobbed back and forth, going further down his shaft little by little. Without looking away from David, Katherine reached out to either side and stroked Thomas and Jack while sucking David. Muscle memory was returning to her. Katherine turned her attention to Jack, sucking him while stroking David. She continued for a minute or two before switching to sucking Thomas while stroking Jack. This was when she realized that Thomas had at least a couple inches on the others. While she could take the full length of David and Jack, she couldn't do so with Thomas without gagging. David chuckled.

"Easy. Don't choke yourself," David said.

Katherine eventually returned to sucking David while stroking the other two. She felt him subtly lean his hips forward--he was getting close. Sure enough, David grabbed the back of Katherine's head and pulled her into him as he thrust his cock into her mouth, taking control of her. Katherine could barely focus on stroking the other two as David fucked her mouth. Eventually, David moaned as he shot his load. Katherine gulped down his cum as it hit the back of her throat. David finally released her. She pulled back, covered her mouth, threw her head back, and swallowed audibly.

"You swallowed it all, huh? Good girl," David admonished her.

She only did it so as to not leave a mess.

"Thank you," Katherine responded meekly.

"Let's take this to bed. They'll take care of you for now," David instructed, taking a step back.

Katherine got up and sat at the edge of the bed nearest the curtain. She looked expectantly at Thomas and Jack.

"Please lie down," Thomas spoke.

Katherine complied, lying on her back and resting her head on a pillow. Thomas climbed into bed with her, kneeling in front of her. He hiked her dress up over her panties, which he then slid off her legs and over the black, heeled shoes she wore to the hotel. Katherine watched as her fox-masked colleague crouched his head between her legs. He met her pussy with his mouth, tenderly sucking on her clitoris.

Katherine sighed and rested her head as Thomas began to work on her. She felt a pair of hands lift her foot and begin undoing her shoe. Apparently, Jack decided her shoes were in the way. Jack removed her shoes and kneeled onto the bed next to her. He slid the top half of her dress down to her waist, exposing her breasts. He leaned in and began squeezing her breasts, sucking one nipple after the other, greedily devouring her like a hungry wolf.

"Oh my God," Katherine moaned.

Her back arched from Thomas' cunnilingus. Her nipples hardened from Jack's stimulation. She felt her orgasm building.

"Do you want to cum?" David asked from his seat on the other bed.

Even through the fog of her pleasure, Katherine realized how he had a way of toying with her with his questions. He wanted her to embrace her lustful side. He wanted to see the slut he saw in the video. In spite of everything, there was only one right answer.

"Yes... please," Katherine gasped.

At that, Thomas and Jack both began sucking harder on Katherine's body. Thomas began fingering Katherine's pussy with what must've been his middle finger, crooking it so as to hit a specific spot. Katherine couldn't believe how he was able to find the right spot so easily.

"Oh fuck!" she gasped.

Katherine's hips bucked as they worked her. Her legs quivered as her climax approached like an incoming wave on the oceanfront. She moaned and shuddered as the wave finally came crashing down on her, washing away her shame. The men released her and her body relaxed. She laid with her eyes closed, blocking out the guilt of allowing herself to cum by someone other than her husband.

She felt movement as if someone handed something to Thomas. She looked up and saw that Thomas held a box of condoms. He pulled one out and put it on.

"Turn over," Thomas said.

Katherine rolled onto her stomach and propped herself on all fours. Thomas positioned himself behind her. She felt his latex tip rub against her slit, and then slowly push into her. She moaned through closed lips as her pussy was filled. She felt his hands on her hips as he thrust into her with slow, smooth strokes. She was sure he wasn't even giving her his full length.

Jack climbed into bed and knelt in front of her, stroking his hard cock. Katherine pulled him closer by the hip and took his cock in her mouth. She moaned onto it as Thomas continued thrusting into her from behind. The scene was reminiscent of the frat party. Katherine looked to the side--she could just make out David stroking his cock in her peripheral.

Well? Is this what you wanted to see?

Jack began bucking his hips into Katherine's face, fucking her mouth as Thomas fucked her pussy. Thomas began thrusting deeper into Katherine--her garbled moans became more frequent. Katherine had never considered herself a size queen, but she sure as hell enjoyed big cocks and Thomas' was about to bring her to another orgasm.

"Fuck, here it comes!" Jack suddenly moaned.

Jack held the back of Katherine's head as he shot his load into her mouth. Thomas slowed his thrusts as Jack's cum filled Katherine's mouth. As with David, Katherine gulped Jack's cum as it hit the back of her throat. Jack eventually pulled out, slowly, as if reluctant to leave her lips wrapped around his cock. She covered her mouth and swallowed dutifully. As Jack left the bed, Katherine began moving her hips back and forth onto Thomas, fucking herself on his big cock.

"Don't stop," she said, looking back at him.

Thomas hadn't fully stopped when Jack finished, but Katherine was eager to get back to the pace they were at when she was about to climax again. Thomas grabbed Katherine's ass and thrust his full length into her. They were smashing their hips into each other with synchronized movements. The sound of flesh smacking against flesh filled the room. Katherine buried her face into the sheets.

"Oh fuck!" she moaned through gritted teeth, biting the sheets.

It didn't take much longer for Katherine to cum again. She moaned into the sheets and her legs trembled as her orgasm erupted through her. Thomas didn't slow down. Even as Katherine went limp in the aftermath of her orgasm, Thomas continued reaming her pussy until he finally reached his own climax. He moaned as he finished, and Katherine could've sworn she felt the condom filling up with his load. Thomas leaned over top of her and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. He finally pulled out of her, leaving the bed.

Katherine laid there for a moment, face-planted onto the bed. Her mask pressing against her would've almost been uncomfortable if not for the afterglow of her orgasm. Before she could gather herself and guess what was next, she felt movement as someone got on the bed next to her. She looked up and saw David sitting beside her, looking at her with a devious smile. He was naked now, except for his mask.

"One more round," David said. "You can get on top."

Katherine looked and saw that David had a condom on. He was ready. She gingerly crawled over to him. She straddled him, taking his cock inside her pussy. He wrapped his arms around her back, she wrapped hers around his shoulders as she began to grind onto him. He kissed her neck. She wanted to object to that. No hickeys. She opened her mouth to speak, but only a gasp escaped. She was too tired and too drunk with pleasure to go against anything.

"Katherine," David called her to attention.

She looked into his eyes as she continued gyrating on his cock.

"Do you feel good?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"Do you want to cum one more time?"

"Yes."

He kissed the other side of her neck. She gasped.

"Do you like when I kiss you?"

"Yes."

David kissed from Katherine's neck to her breasts as she rode him. They kept a close, intimate embrace. Katherine was getting close. Just one more time. She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him down back-first onto the bed. He looked up at her.

"I need to cum," she said.

A wicked grin crept across David's face.

"Do it," he commanded with a smack on her ass.

Katherine rode David's cock hard, losing herself in pursuit of her third orgasm of the night. Her mouth hung open--only ragged gasps were coming out. Her orgasm built and built until it finally spilled over. She grit her teeth as her climax tore through her. She opened her mouth again with a raunchy, satisfied moan. She collapsed on top of David, breathing heavily. She felt his arms wrap around her back, and then she felt him roll her onto it. His cock was still inside her.

Katherine opened her eyes to see David on top of her, thrusting his full length into her with hard pumps. He removed her mask and tossed it aside. He cupped her face and kissed her as he ground into her. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his back. David grunted as he had his way with her, chasing his own pleasure. With a few more hard, rough thrusts that shook Katherine's body, he finally finished with a mighty grunt. He took his time to come down from his climax before he pulled out and dismounted.

"Let's wrap it up," she heard David say.

She heard the rustling of clothes as the men got dressed. She heard the refrigerator door open and close. She felt a body approaching her.

"Katherine," Thomas called.

Katherine opened her eyes to see Thomas, without his mask, kneeling at her bedside with a bottle of water.

"You should rehydrate," he said, twisting the cap loose.

She sat up, took the bottle from him, and took a long sip. It was cold and refreshing.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

She had just cheated on her husband with three men to save her career. What was she supposed to say?

"I'm fine," she responded.

Thomas paused for a moment before he continued.

"I'm sorry about all this. I saw how uncomfortable you were in the conference room. This wasn't my idea."

The door of the hotel room opened and shut as David and Jack left the room. Katherine looked Thomas in the eye, mustering at least some degree of seriousness.

"Where did the video come from?" she asked.

"I don't know," Thomas shrugged. "I haven't actually seen it myself. The director called me in and asked if I knew about it--if I knew about your past. I had no idea. When he called us all into the conference room, I thought he was going to take disciplinary action against you. I didn't know he was going to make that proposition. When I realized what was happening, I figured the best way I could help you was to make it at least somewhat pleasurable for you."

Katherine studied him as he spoke--he seemed sincere. She knew him well enough to know that his story checked out, at least coming from him. She sighed.

"Well, you certainly did that," she said blushing.

Thomas blushed as well. He pulled a key card from his pocket and placed it on the nightstand.

"Checkout is at 10am tomorrow. You can crash here tonight if you want. There's more water in the fridge. Do you need anything else?"

"Just some time alone to rest," she said.

Thomas nodded and stood up.

"I'll see you Monday."

Thomas left the room. Katherine got up and bolted the door after him. She removed her dress--which had gotten very wrinkled throughout the night's activities--and entered the bathroom. She splashed water on her face and examined herself in the mirror. No hickeys. Thank God. She reached into her backpack and checked her cellphone.

11:17 pm

2 missed calls- Andy

2 new messages- Andy

Anxiety bit her as she opened her messages.

'Hey. Getting kinda late. Just checking on you.'

'You ok?'

Katherine texted him back:

'Had a couple drinks. Crashing at a hotel.'

'Royal oaks.'

She hesitated before following up with:

'I'm sorry.'

Katherine showered and went to bed, wrapping herself in the sheets and covering her shame.

***

Monday morning was business as usual for Katherine. She greeted Gina as she entered the building. She saw five patients in four hours. She exchanged idle chit-chat with a couple CNAs. She had not seen Jack, Thomas, or David all day. That was until she spotted Jack sitting on a bench in the courtyard on her way back from lunch. He looked up from his phone and their eyes met.

"Hey," he waved.

Katherine waved back, silently.

"How're you feeling?" he asked.

"Fine, thanks," she said curtly.

Katherine wondered why Jack was pretending to care, as if he wasn't so quick to leave when the 'fun' was over.

"I didn't mean to make you swallow something while you were 'occupied.' I heard people can choke on that. Sorry about that."

Katherine took a quick glance to make sure no one was around to hear that. Jack continued.

"Then again, I guess you have experience with that sort of thing, don't you?"

She might've imagined it, but she thought she heard a hint of cockiness in his voice.

"Look here," she started. "I don't know how much you saw, but don't make assumptions about me based on something from 14 years ago. You don't know me."

Jack just stared at her for a moment, looking... almost bewildered?

"You really don't remember me, do you?" he asked.

"... What?" Katherine responded.

Jack turned his attention back to his phone, typing something out. Even before her phone buzzed in her pocket, Katherine had begun to piece it together. She pulled her phone out to see a message from an unknown number--the same unknown number that sent her the clip last week.

'Hi.'

The realization came crashing down on her. Jack recorded the video! He was there! She didn't recognize him at all for as long as they'd been working together, but it made sense. David said he was shown the video by a private source--he had seen it directly from the actual source.

Katherine looked at him, mouth agape as she processed what she had to do.

"Give me your phone!" she demanded.

She gave him no choice as she snatched the phone from his hand. He did not resist. She deleted the clip from the thread he started with her. She searched for it in his library.

"What you're looking for is at the top of the gallery. It's the oldest one," Jack said.

Katherine opened the photo gallery, scrolling through several innocuous pictures of his family. Sure enough, the video was at the top. The full video was several minutes long, which surely didn't cover the whole party. She deleted it.

"Who else has this video?" she demanded.

"Nobody. Not unless someone else recorded too," he responded.

"Who have you shared this with?"

"Only you. I played it for the director straight from my phone. I didn't upload it anywhere. I kept it on a micro SD card this whole time."

Katherine locked eyes with him as she questioned him. His gaze did not falter. She was convinced he was being honest. She gave him his phone back.

"Why did you do this to me?" she asked.

"There's a policy in the handbook about reporting inappropriate behavior," he shrugged.

"Don't give me that bullshit. This was something from before either of us started here. WHY did you do this?"

Jack hesitated before answering.

"Because I never got my turn with you."

"Everyone in that room got a turn."

"Everyone except the cameraman," he shrugged. "It was part of my hazing. I had to watch everyone else have fun with the hot piece of ass while I wasn't allowed to get any. They even made me beat off to it later in front of them."

"So, you almost got me fired over not getting laid over a decade ago?"

"Nobody was going to fire you. The CEO was never going to see it because I was the only one who had it. And David..."

Jack chuckled.

"David was a pledge. He used to do the same kind of parties back in his day. He wouldn't have actually fired you, because he would've lost his leverage."

Katherine couldn't decide whether to celebrate the fact that her career would be safe for the time being, or to slap Jack for putting her through this crap. She decided against violence, if only to avoid giving someone another reason to fire her. She sighed.

"Well, now you've lost your leverage. You don't seem bothered by losing the video just now."

"I don't need it anymore. I finally got my turn. Besides, I got a wife anyway."

Good luck to her.

"So, are we good?" Jack asked.

"As good as it'll get," Katherine shrugged. "If I ever find it online, you'll hear from my lawyer."

"You won't."

Jack got up and started towards the building.

"Take it easy."

He disappeared inside, and Katherine took his place on the bench. A weight had been lifted off her shoulders, somewhat. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to worry about that video anymore. That night at Royal Oaks would have to remain a secret between the four of them--yet another secret she would have to keep hidden from Andy.

How long could she keep bearing the weight of all these secrets? She contemplated telling him everything. Her past, the frat party, the video, the night at Royal Oaks, everything. Maybe he would forgive her if she confessed. She picked her phone up--she would call him right away.

Hey honey, can we talk? I have something to tell you. I've been hiding this for as long we've known each other, and I can't do it anymore.

She checked her phone. It was 1:15 pm.

Shit.

She was supposed to be with a patient right now. She pocketed her phone and went inside, back to the 'proper' life she built over the ghosts of her dirty past. Her secrets would remain hidden another day.