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%!

even at

some kind of lifesaver from her past life?

as

“Sure thing, boss.”

the Schnabel

blanket, listening to

was off. But Mom, Dad, and the bros are all under her spell. They won’t listen to a word

snapped open, her wrinkly lids sagging

You think Noella’s got bad

Yvonne was a blessed child sent by the gods. If she felt Noella was bad news,

even got my brothers to scold me, kicked me out

no place here if I

was a mask of

Schnabel family gates than a posse of tall and sturdy maids

Ashlyn wants to see

nodded and followed

from the four Schnabel sons. She wasn’t a fan of Sienna, always sour–faced

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

they turned on their heels and left, it was clear the garden bench wasn’t meant

knew this was Ashlyn’s power play, maybe taking a stand for Yvonne? She didn’t mind. The

13:10

garden, lost in thought about the Heartfelt Orphanage,

had taken the director?

in the courtyard. “Grandma, you

she doesn’t know her place. and there you have it. I told her to sit but didn’t say she had to stand. Who’s she

agreed, “You’re right,

An hour later.

standing like a statue, not having moved an

of her day at the Heartfelt Orphanage in her mind, profiling the killers”

eyes, she had

only saw her coming but had Palmer pegged, too. Those hitmen

Noella and said,

lived. She moved with the grace of a flowing cloud, not showing the slightest sign

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

asked, “Excuse me, but do you

eyes wide, so pissed off–she