The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 14

The auctioneer was all chuckles as he wielded the tiny gavel.

“Up next, an open piece of Intel: Cerulean Whale’s launching a crackdown on Obelisk Organization and Abyssal Organization, and they’re stirring the pot in Imperial City.

Starting bid: three million dollars.

Sure, the headline was on the house, but if they wanted the nitty–gritty, they got to bid.

Noella couldn’t care less about Cerulean Whale gunning for her crew. Bring it on, who’s eating who was still up in the air.

She had been knee–deep in the gem gambling biz for the past couple of years, letting her hitman outfit grow like wildfire, and without much fuss, it became one of the deep web’s big three.

What piqued her interest was Cerulean Whale’s shenanigans in Imperial City, and if she wasn’t barking up the wrong tree, it likely involved Marcel.

She had to snag this info!

Cerulean Whale attacked Marcel right under her nose, could she even show her face around?

Noella raised her paddle. “Three million and ten grand, name’s Wise Fool.”

The crowd was like, “Say what now?”

Three million and ten grand was chump change, but that moniker made everyone else put their paddles down!

Even the auctioneer was speechless.

They were hoping to rake in tens of millions for this juicy tidbit, but with Wise Fool in the house, who would dare to bid against her?

In VIP Room No. 9, Palmer was taken aback, setting his paddle aside,as well.

Looked like it was her he was up against earlier. Since she was interested in that last piece of intel, his three million wasn’t spent in vain.

With that thought, Palmer leaned back, a sly grin spreading across his face.

He had scoured every nook and cranny of the Radi Building for Noella to no avail. Wise Fool wasn’t one to be easily tracked down.

With Wise Fool throwing her hat in the ring, the room went quiet as a mouse, letting her walk away with the news.

“Congrats to Wise Fool. Sold for three million and ten grand!”

The auctioneer was grinning from ear to ear. “Up next, a little freebie for y’all: Gemstone

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Chapter 14

Gambling King is teaming up with some families for a public gem gamble next month. Don’t

miss out.”

Noella was confused.

name in the jewelry game, a riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose casual toss of

public appearance? News to her.

swiped

after General Marcel again tomorrow, the

beat–up Volkswagen was about as low–profile

as soon as she

handsome face all lit up with a

bit surprised, Noella approached and quipped, “What, you moonlighting

skeptical gaze. Those eyes

recalling the info she had

tangled in scams

survive the

give you a lift?”

and it would be a nice gesture to support

for you, in case

not know how to

gifts after they had already met a few

little box with the intel.

asked, “You were in VIP Room No. 9? Why drop all that cash on this? How many Ubers do you need to drive to make that

Uber driver was new. Palmer felt a mixed bag of emotions, hinting, “I’ve

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Chapter 14

He could make a killing with

just for me? What if I don’t want to join the Abyssal

the joy it brings. If it makes you happy, that’s its true value. Everything else is just

much cash just to

holding the box heat up.

splurge like

moment, then said, “You’re the first. I never gave gifts to ladies, except for my mom, back when she was

to stir up sad memories and quickly

fine. So, does my gift

Noella was dumbstruck.

kind of thing point–blank?

when she got presents from the Schnabel family’s

of subtlety? Did they have to

were straight shooters, always fearing they might not get another chance to speak their

Noella stifled the oddly exhilarating flutter in her heart.

“Yeah, happy.”

feeling her face heat up, quickly looked

it’s getting hot in here!

opening her message box right in front of

same person who had dealings with Vincent, a