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.

jewelry game, a riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose casual

a public appearance? News

strutted over to the message center, swiped

after General Marcel again

the Radi Building, a squeaky–clean yet beat–up Volkswagen was about as low–profile as

spotted Palmer by the car as

and handsome face all lit up

“What, you moonlighting as an Uber driver?”

before meeting Noella’s skeptical gaze. Those eyes of his were

ride, recalling the info she had just dug

So poor that folks either got tangled in scams or

the cutthroat underworld of

if I give you a lift?”

a ride’s a ride, and it would be a nice gesture to support

got a welcome gift for you, in case you fancy

know how to

after they had

over a little box with the intel. “Take a peek.”

that cash on this? How many Ubers do you

felt a mixed bag of emotions,

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Chapter 14

then; the guy was the head honcho of Abyssal Organization. He could make a killing with just one job on the deep

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

joy it brings. If it makes you happy, that’s its

much cash just to

felt her hands holding the

always splurge like this on

the first. I never gave gifts to ladies, except for my mom, back when she was

and quickly apologized, “Sorry. Didn’t mean

fine. So, does my gift make you happy?”

Noella was dumbstruck.

asks that kind of thing point–blank?

she this speechless when she got presents from the

concept of subtlety? Did they have to wear all

knew they were straight shooters, always fearing they might not get another chance

that in mind, Noella stifled the oddly exhilarating flutter in her heart.

“Yeah, happy.”

her face heat

getting hot in

for a moment before opening her message box

Hospital and the director of Heartfelt Orphanage are the same person who had dealings