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%!

Master Azure’s designs, even at 10%, was worth a small

Glory Group some kind of

do as

“Sure thing, boss.”

the Schnabel

in a faded blanket, listening to Yvonne’s sob story from her rocking chair.

telling you. The moment I laid eyes on that Noella, I got the heebie–jeebies, like something was off. But Mom, Dad, and the bros are all under her spell. They won’t listen to a word I say. Grandma, do we even have a place in this house anymore?

her wrinkly lids sagging with a don’t–mess–with–me

You think Noella’s got

she felt Noella was bad

furiously. “She even got my brothers to scold me, kicked me

She’s got no place here if I don’t say

a mask of smug delight.

through the Schnabel family gates than a

Noella, Madam Ashlyn wants to see you.”

nodded and followed

Schnabel crowd, except for the annual visits from the four Schnabel sons. She wasn’t a fan of Sienna, always sour–faced at the sight

in the garden with a frosty. “Ms. Noella, you can wait

was clear the garden bench wasn’t meant for

power play, maybe taking a stand for Yvonne? She didn’t mind. The

13:10

garden, lost in thought about

had taken the director?

standing in the courtyard. “Grandma, you know what’s up. If she stands there long enough, her legs

there you have it. I told her to sit but didn’t

sweetly agreed, “You’re right, Grandma,”

An hour later.

there, standing like a statue, not

in her mind, profiling the killers” perspectives

opened her eyes, she had found

Palmer pegged, too. Those

said, “Ms. Noella, please go

She moved with the grace of a flowing cloud, not showing the

only recognize Yvonne and Elara as my granddaughters. Don’t think any Tom, Dick or Harry

Ashlyn and asked, “Excuse me, but do you have some kind of psychological

She suddenly opened her eyes wide, so

the beads shattered on the

do! Calling me having psychological issue the moment you open your