The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 12

Noella fanned herself with her palm, the roses blooming all over the manor, their scent rich and heady.

Palmer parked the car right under the Radi Building as Noella had said. “This the spot? I’m not too hot on the lay of the land around here.

Noella nodded. “Yeah, that’s the place. I’ll shoot you the cab fare.”

Palmer couldn’t help but chuckle, pulling out his phone and handing it over to Noella. “Let’s add friends on WhatsApp first, then you can Venmo me.”

After Noella added him and grabbed her backpack, she hopped out of the car.

Palmer watched her sprinting into the office building, even swiping an employee card to get through security.

Radi Building was chock–full of companies – was she one of the employees here?

Noella had a hunch and turned around to see Palmer still by the car, gazing her way.

Bathed in light, he was the picture of elegance and charm, not at all like a top–tier assassin who flirted with death on the daily.

Palmer waved at her, his face wearing a warm, genial smile, putting even Beckett to shame in the gentlemanly department.

Noella’s cheeks flushed, and she bolted for the elevator.

After she disappeared inside, Palmer whipped out his phone to call his secretary. “Radi Building could be one of my assets. Get me everything on all the companies and their employees here.” “Right away, Mr. Pollack. We’ll start the acquisition of Radi Building immediately.”

Noella made her way to the top floor and found a studio with no sign on the door.

Kitai’s face lit up with surprise when he saw her, “Boss, you’re here.”

Noella passed him the design draft. “Use display agents 3 and 5, a 30-70 mix then finish with number 8 for five minutes.”

“Got it! Boss, our new store is in the Rising Glory Mall. Wanna check it out?”

Rising Glory Mall was all about first–rate, blue–blood brands, a famous hotspot for luxury goods in Imperial City. If something was sold out everywhere else, you could probably snag it there.

Beckett’s face flashed in Noella’s mind; Rising Glory Mall was his turf, too.

“Nah, let’s pass. Give Rising Glory Group a 10% cut from our sales at the mall.”

Kitai’s jaw dropped – that was a hefty 10%!

even at 10%, was worth a small

Rising Glory Group some kind of

do as I say.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

Schnabel Mansion.

in a faded blanket, listening to Yvonne’s sob story

I laid eyes on that Noella, I got the heebie–jeebies, like something was off. But Mom, Dad, and the bros are

snapped open, her wrinkly lids sagging with a

You think Noella’s got bad

felt Noella was bad news, Ashlyn wouldn’t let her step foot inside the mansion.

to scold me, kicked me out without

“The only daughter? She’s got no place here if I don’t

was a mask of smug delight.

the Schnabel family gates than a posse of tall and sturdy maids stopped

Ashlyn wants to

and followed the

four Schnabel sons. She wasn’t a fan

pointing to a bench in the garden with a frosty. “Ms. Noella,

meant for sitting- rusty

Ashlyn’s power play, maybe taking a stand for Yvonne? She didn’t mind. The Lamberts used to make her stand

13:10

garden, lost in thought

taken the director?

as she saw Hoella standing in the courtyard. “Grandma, you know what’s up.

and there you have it. I told her to sit but didn’t say she had to stand. Who’s she performing for? Makes it look like I’m

“You’re

An hour later.

a statue, not

details of her day at the Heartfelt Orphanage in her mind, profiling the killers” perspectives and reconstructing

eyes, she

coming but had Palmer pegged, too. Those

and said, “Ms. Noella, please go on

cloud, not showing the slightest sign of fatigue or soreness from standing for an hour. Instead, every gesture she made was dripping with

only recognize Yvonne and Elara

me,

opened her eyes wide, so pissed off–she threw her

beads shattered

Calling me having psychological issue the moment you open your mouth, I want to see how a wild girl like you. could ever set foot in the Schnabel