The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 24

The little black car smoothly rolled out of the Imperial West Hospital grounds.

“That gal you just saw? She’s not my girlfriend.”

Noella didn’t respond.

“She’s my secretary.”

Noella was like, what’s the deal with her?

Running the show as one of the big three on the deep web, it’s no surprise Palmer’s got a few secretaries, especially when that secretary looked like she could seriously kick some butt probably a real whiz at her job.

“Not bad.” said Noella.

Palmer went on to clarify, “You can’t replace the standout abilities and shining moments that women bring to the table at work, so yeah, I’ve got a good number of ladies on my team.”

Noella nodded in agreement. “Totally get you. My big bro’s company is chock–full of women too. He always says no one falls for the boss just because of the job at hand; integrity and skills trump gender every time.”

Palmer chuckled, “Your brother and I are on the same page.”

“Guys can fall for their boss just as easily. It’s got nothing to do with gender.”

That’s not exactly what Palmer meant!

Palmer touched his nose, trying to mask the stiffness around his lips.

“You’ve heard about Thorpe entering the country, right?”

“Yeah, Thorpe’s probably here to touch base with Toxic Monarch.”

Thorpe, the big cheese of the Cerulean Whale Organization, cozying up with Toxic Monarch in Harmonia Country’s Imperial City – that’s quite a meet–up!

“What’s your take?” asked Palmer.

Noella shot him a look and said coolly, “Toxic Monarch’s after the Harmonia market, and Thorpe’s gunning for us. They’re just teaming up for a quick minute.”

Being both seasoned foxes in the deep web game, Thorpe and Toxic Monarch’s combined craftiness could run circles around the planet, with not less than eight or ten sly tails trailing behind them.

When Palmer heard her say “us,” the corners of his mouth curled up ever so slightly, a wave of indescribable joy sweet as honey flooding his heart.

Noella, catching the smile on Palmer’s face, was a bit speechless.

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12:22

some missions or what? She’d just mentioned Thorpe and Toxic Monarch joining forces to wipe them

West Hospital was pretty decent too; might be worth getting

Group, the CEO’s

seen on his shirt, his

Schnabel, we’ve dug up everything on Noella’s time with

“Let’s hear it.”

rough with the Lamberts. Her pocket money was capped at two hundred a month. often not even paid out. Last year, she got a measly five hundred for the

She pulls in five grand monthly, raked in thirty thou last year, mostly under–the–table cash

his brow, struggling to contain the rage bubbling inside

The Lamberts wanted Briony to marry into the Rosenbergs. so they kicked Noella to

Noella got nabbed – all orchestrated by the Lamberts. They were hoping to sell her off to some hillbilly backwater, never to return.”

the assistant was shaking in his

a rotten bunch!

pen in Beckett’s grip snapped clean in

Lamberts! It would’ve been okay if they were just nice to my sis, even if they were broke. But to torment her like

refinement; his assistant had

from H&Y Corporation wants to meet you at the bar tonight for a business talk, and

lips curving into a

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12:22

Tobin I’ll be right

“Got it.”

At the bar.

in all of Imperial City, the bar was a blaze of flashing lights with thundering music

sooner had Noella stepped in than she felt a few deliberate

his towering frame casting a

she’s with

with Palmer’s

shirt, she noticed he seemed to be wearing a sandalwood–like cologne, subtle, filling her senses,

her breath, about to step back when Palmer’s hand pressed against

Thorpe’s over there.” He leaned in close to her ear, his voice low and tinged with barely–contained delight

flushed even redder, her back stiffening as she followed Palmer’s nod towards a booth. And

Thorpe and knew his mug. The unfamiliar guy sharing his booth must be the Toxic

gave Noella’s slender back a reassuring pat, which to any onlooker

brought a posse of thirty hitmen, and the Toxic Monarch’s got over fifty goons with. him. Wouldn’t be

Thorpe and Toxic Monarch’s headcount in

a little hard for him to let

for the intrusion, but we gotta play it cool to keep Toxic Monarch and Thorpe from spotting us.”

like, talk about an unnecessary cover–up!

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