The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 188

There they were, the last Gemstone Gambling King and Queen of Film, TV, Music, huddled beneath a small table, their mouths filled with creamy cheesecake, and each hand securely grasping a slice.

Yasbel chuckled. “Boss, you two just carry on. Don’t mind us.”

Noella pressed a hand to her temple. “What are you doing down there?”

Yasbel was quick with a defense. “I went to pick up Master, didn’t I? After hours on a plane, he was famished. But, you know, being a public figure, I can’t just pig out without it. hitting the gossip columns!”

She still seethed at the memory of a headline: [Heartbroken Starlet Devours Cheesecake. in Midnight Binge]. As if! Her cravings had nothing to do with a broken heart.

Master Hector and Yasbel shared a love for cheesecake that bordered on the religious.

With a stretch of his arm, Master Hector called out, “Noella, help me up, would you? My legs are numb from squatting.”

Noella helped them up, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

Master Hector shook out the pins–and–needles from his legs and glanced at Palmer. “Not bad. Where did you con this one from?”

Noella replied with dry humor, “Picked him up off the street.”

“Well done. He’s a gem. Better than the last one, for sure. I’m off to grab something else to

eat. Carry on, you two.”

Master Hector had a penchant for describing people with terms borrowed from his days of stone gambling. Noella was used to it by now.

To be described as a ‘gem‘ by him meant you were a cut above the rest, flawless and of the finest grade.

As Master Hector and Yasbel scurried off to the next table, Noella sighed softly.

Palmer leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. “The last one?”

The idea that his fiancée might have once ‘picked up‘ another man was a sour note in his heart. The more he got to know Noella, the more she seemed like a treasure trove of surprises, an extraordinary woman whose past he had yet to explore.

“He’s talking about someone unimportant. Just a misunderstanding.”

“Do I count as important?”

in her eye. “Master Hector said it, didn’t he?

would go bankrupt for a stone with the

a gambler, then Palmer was the

Palmer to realize she was complimenting

sleek men’s watch. “I’ve adjusted it. If your don’t like

from you is

had tweaked his watch on their way back from Emerald County, a reciprocation of the watch he

“Thanks, my fiancée.”

to ignore the fact that he consistently wore the cufflinks she had given him during their time at Fortress Hospital. To the uninitiated, it would seem as though the CEO of the Pollack Group had but

his name.

gaze and helped

“Noella, darling, I’ve found us

Is that okay?” Noella gestured toward Hector and Yasbel, now emerging from their

they’re friends of

of Yasbel, who

a magnet for guests, most drawn by the allure of the

could be auctioned on the spot. But since this was the Gruber family’s event, any quality jade unearthed would likely end up in

chest. “This spot’s got the best view. If you see a stone you like, Noella,

can come from the Gruber family’s stones?”

indulging in cheesecake, agreed. “Haven’t spotted anything

are a few, but

multitude of rough stones displayed by

10:55

eye, and even those were of the sort that wouldn’t fetch much on the

of her mouth, Yasbel spoke with earnest. “Malvina, your cheesecakes are divine. Might I take some home?”

I’ll have some packed

“You know

Just guessing. I’ve been lucky, that’s

with Master Hector, the Gemstone Gambling King, and Yasbel, who called

his eyes slightly. “Yasbel and that person with you before,

of those who assisted Noella back at Fortress Hospital, one of whom bore a strong resemblance to Yasbel.

calm. “Nolan and

case, Yasbel must have

eldest, stood in his impeccable suit, his

the game was just