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?”

knowing twinkle in her eye. “Master Hector said

of gemstone gambling, men would go bankrupt for

content. If Noella were a gambler, then Palmer

a moment for Palmer to realize she was complimenting

and handed him a sleek men’s watch. “I’ve

Anything from you is a

Emerald

“Thanks, my fiancée.”

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

his name.

gaze and helped

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

Is that okay?” Noella gestured

they’re friends of my Noella, they’re welcome. Though, they do look

the face of Yasbel, who was a far cry

for guests, most drawn by the allure of the Gemstone

rules of the game, any rough stone of interest could be auctioned on the spot. But since this was

you see a stone you like, Noella, darling, I’ll buy it for

“What good can come from the Gruber family’s stones?”

in cheesecake, agreed.

are a few, but not many.”

displayed by the Gruber family, only a

10:55

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

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

taste! I’ll have

beside Noella, whispered, “You know about

I’ve been lucky, that’s

but Noella sat with Master

“Yasbel and that person with you

assisted Noella back at Fortress Hospital, one of whom bore

“Nolan and

have belonged to Polaris

Gruber family’s eldest, stood in his impeccable suit, his smile

and the