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%!

of Master Azure’s designs, even at 10%, was worth a small fortune.

big boss of Rising Glory Group some kind of lifesaver from her past

do as I

“Sure thing, boss.”

Schnabel

blanket, listening to Yvonne’s sob story from

on that Noella, I got the heebie–jeebies, like something was off. But Mom, Dad, and

her wrinkly lids sagging

You think Noella’s got bad juju?”

child sent by the gods. If she felt Noella was bad news, Ashlyn

furiously. “She even got my brothers to scold me, kicked me out without dinner, calling herself the only daughter of

She’s got no place here if I don’t say

was a mask of

Schnabel family gates than a

wants to see

followed

crowd, except for the annual visits from the four Schnabel sons. She wasn’t a fan of Sienna, always sour–faced at the sight of her, leading the men of

in the garden with a

heels and left, it was clear the garden bench wasn’t meant for sitting- rusty and muddy. It looked like it would crumble

stand for Yvonne? She didn’t mind. The Lamberts used to make her stand

13:10

lost in thought about the Heartfelt Orphanage,

taken the director?

smirk playing on her lips as she saw Hoella standing in the courtyard. “Grandma, you know what’s up. If she stands there long enough, her legs

up. “You said 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 performing for? Makes it look

“You’re right,

An hour later.

a statue, not having

Orphanage in her mind, profiling the

her eyes, she had

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

Noella and said, “Ms. Noella, please

a flowing cloud, not showing the slightest sign of fatigue

distaste, “No manners. Go learn some and then come back. I only recognize Yvonne

good look at Ashlyn and asked, “Excuse me, but do you have

wide, so pissed off–she threw her prayer beads across the