In the private dining room next door, Lillian shot up from her seat, her face burning with indignation. She looked ready to march over and tear into them. "How crude! Gossiping about people behind their backs!"
Bianca Lowell grabbed her arm just in time. "Lillian! They''re talking about you!" Lillian seethed, unable to contain her anger.
Bianca''s expression turned icy. "They haven''t mentioned any names. If you storm over there now, you''ll just be admitting it''s you they''re talking about."
The reminder finally sank in, and Lillian''s face grew even darker. "So we''re just supposed to let them run their mouths?" she demanded, still fuming.
Of course, Bianca was just as angry, but she was far more rational. Besides, Seth Harcourt was due to arrive any minute, and she didn''t want to cause a scene that might dredge up a past she''d rather forget-especially not in public. So, for now, she had to endure it.
"What''s the rush?" Bianca said coolly. "How much longer can she enjoy this little moment of triumph?"
Lillian paused. "You''re right."
Once PerseTech went public, Bianca''s status would skyrocket, leaving Noreen Gilmore so far behind she wouldn''t even be able to catch up. By then, Bianca would have earned Wade Harcourt''s approval and secured her ce in the Harcourt family. Noreen would be left in the dust. There would be plenty of time to settle old scorester.
"What are you two talking about?" Seth asked as he walked in.
Bianca offered a faint smile. "Just some girl talk."
Seth didn''t press the issue. Lillian took a sip of tea and said, "Seth, what do you think the odds are of running into someone by chance in the same city?"
"Very low."
Lillian''s tone wasden with insinuation That''s what I thought. So isn''t it strange that we seem to run into Noreen everywhere we go? It really makes you wonder." She was deliberately trying to nt a seed in Seth''s mind-that these fréquent "chance" encounters were orchestrated by Noreen it was just so pathetic. Noreen knew perfectly well that Seth was engaged to her cousin, yet she still harbored these petty ambitions. She had no sense of propriety.
At the mention of Noreen''s name, Seth''s expression remained impassive. "The innocent have no need to defend themselves. Just ignore it."
With that one simple sentence, hepletely shut Noreen out of his world. Bianca was pleased with his response, and a genuine smile returned to her face. It was clear he didn''t even want to waste his breath talking about Noreen.
Lillian, sensing the shift, tactfully changed the subject. "Bianca, do you think Healy will show up today?"
"I''m not sure," Bianca replied.
"Well, it''s his mother''s restaurant, and it''s their anniversary celebration. He should be here, right?" Lillian said hopefully. She had specifically chosen Mrs. Naylor''s restaurant for their get together precisely for the chance to run into Healy Naylor. She never expected Noreen to be there too.
Noreen, for her part, had no idea Bianca and her group were dining in the next room. She was there at Mrs. Naylor''s personal invitation to celebrate the restaurant''s anniversary-both as a guest and to show her support.
Not wanting Mina Holt to dwell on gossip, Noreen cut her off, handing her a ss of
soy milk to change the subject. "I noticed you have a real eye for photography. You should consider taking a ss."
Mina, with her youthful enthusiasm,
was easily distracted. "See? Noreen
gets me! I''ve been wanting to, but
tel
my brother thinks it''s not a serious
pursuit and won''t support me."She then looped her arm through Noreen''s and turned to challenge "Carman, even Noreen
Carman Hof
supports me learning photography. What do you have to say now?"
"Then do it," Carman relented.
Mina scoffed. "Why are you so two-faced? I begged you for ages and you ignored
me, but the second Noreen says something, you agree. You''re going to be
Carman''s face flushed. "Just eat your dinner!"