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?”

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

would go

Noella were a gambler, then Palmer was the

a moment for Palmer to realize she was

purse and handed him a sleek men’s watch.

love it! Anything from you is a treasure.”

from Emerald County, a reciprocation of the watch he

“Thanks, my fiancée.”

she had given him during their time at Fortress Hospital. To the uninitiated, it would seem

his name.

gaze and helped him put on the watch.

popped up out of nowhere. “Noella, darling, I’ve found us

Noella gestured toward Hector

ain’t that a sight? If they’re friends of my Noella, they’re welcome. Though, they do

Malvina couldn’t quite place the face of Yasbel, who was a far cry from her

most

of the game, any rough stone of interest could be auctioned on the spot. But since this was the Gruber family’s event, any quality jade unearthed would likely end up in the Grubers‘ coffers.

chest. “This spot’s got the best view. If you see a stone you like, Noella, darling, I’ll buy it for

Hector snorted. “What good can come

cheesecake, agreed. “Haven’t spotted

glanced up. “There are a few, but

rough stones displayed by the

10:55

those were of the sort that wouldn’t fetch much

a dainty wipe of her mouth, Yasbel spoke with earnest. “Malvina, your cheesecakes are divine. Might I

taste! I’ll have some packed

“You know about

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

with Master Hector,

eyes slightly. “Yasbel and that person with you before, they look quite

back at Fortress Hospital, one

was calm. “Nolan and Yasbel

have belonged to Polaris

Gruber, the Gruber family’s eldest, stood in his impeccable suit, his smile reaching out to the crowd.

and the game was just