บท 138: Interlinked

"You were eavesdropping on our conversation?" Bella asked with a displeased frown when they both looked up at Nicole, who was standing by the door and looking down at them. 

"If you call walking past this door to the next room eavesdropping, then I guess that is what it is. What past were you both talking about? And how does it affect me?" Nicole asked as she moved further into the room without invitation and sat on the chair opposite them.

"We weren't talking about..."

"Trust me; my ear works really well," Nicole cut Ben off before he could deny mentioning her name. 

"Since we are having a party, why don't we take it out of the room? Joan can't be left out," Bella said dryly as she stood up and headed for the living room, leaving Nicole and Ben to follow her. 

Ben glanced at Nicole and was startled to see her fluttering her lashes at him, "What?"