The Killer Queen by Noella Briony

Chapter 24

The little black car smoothly rolled out of the Imperial West Hospital grounds.

“That gal you just saw? She’s not my girlfriend.”

Noella didn’t respond.

“She’s my secretary.”

Noella was like, what’s the deal with her?

Running the show as one of the big three on the deep web, it’s no surprise Palmer’s got a few secretaries, especially when that secretary looked like she could seriously kick some butt probably a real whiz at her job.

“Not bad.” said Noella.

Palmer went on to clarify, “You can’t replace the standout abilities and shining moments that women bring to the table at work, so yeah, I’ve got a good number of ladies on my team.”

Noella nodded in agreement. “Totally get you. My big bro’s company is chock–full of women too. He always says no one falls for the boss just because of the job at hand; integrity and skills trump gender every time.”

Palmer chuckled, “Your brother and I are on the same page.”

“Guys can fall for their boss just as easily. It’s got nothing to do with gender.”

That’s not exactly what Palmer meant!

Palmer touched his nose, trying to mask the stiffness around his lips.

“You’ve heard about Thorpe entering the country, right?”

“Yeah, Thorpe’s probably here to touch base with Toxic Monarch.”

Thorpe, the big cheese of the Cerulean Whale Organization, cozying up with Toxic Monarch in Harmonia Country’s Imperial City – that’s quite a meet–up!

“What’s your take?” asked Palmer.

Noella shot him a look and said coolly, “Toxic Monarch’s after the Harmonia market, and Thorpe’s gunning for us. They’re just teaming up for a quick minute.”

Being both seasoned foxes in the deep web game, Thorpe and Toxic Monarch’s combined craftiness could run circles around the planet, with not less than eight or ten sly tails trailing behind them.

When Palmer heard her say “us,” the corners of his mouth curled up ever so slightly, a wave of indescribable joy sweet as honey flooding his heart.

Noella, catching the smile on Palmer’s face, was a bit speechless.

1/5

12:22

head during some missions or what? She’d just mentioned Thorpe and Toxic Monarch joining forces to wipe them out,

too; might be worth getting Vocalist

the CEO’s

not a wrinkle to be seen on his shirt, his chiseled

sharp business suit, stood by respectfully. “Mr. Schnabel, we’ve dug up everything on Noella’s time with

“Let’s hear it.”

often not even paid out. Last

pulls in five grand monthly, raked in

the rage bubbling inside and

fiancé lined up, the big shot Milford from the Rosenberg family of Tranquility City. But the Rosenberg heir’s a player. The Lamberts wanted Briony to marry into the Rosenbergs. so they kicked Noella to

Lamberts. They were

the assistant was shaking in his

rotten

pen in Beckett’s grip snapped

nice to my sis, even if they were broke. But

and refinement; his

H&Y Corporation wants to meet you at the bar tonight

scoffed, his thin lips curving into a scornful

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12:22

Tobin I’ll be

“Got it.”

At the bar.

City, the bar was a blaze of flashing lights with thundering music that rattled the senses and

sooner had Noella stepped in than she felt a

hand and pulled her close, his towering frame casting a protective shadow

with me.”

Palmer’s icy

a sandalwood–like cologne, subtle, filling her senses, and

breath, about to step back when Palmer’s

to her ear, his voice low and tinged with barely–contained delight and allure, thick with a

her back stiffening as she followed Palmer’s nod towards a

knew his mug. The unfamiliar guy sharing his booth must be the Toxic Monarch!

slender back a reassuring pat, which to any onlooker might have seemed like a cozy embrace

a posse of thirty hitmen, and the Toxic Monarch’s got over fifty goons with. him. Wouldn’t be surprised if there are more drug lords lurking around here.”

Thorpe and Toxic Monarch’s headcount in

smelled good, making it a little hard for him to let

gotta play it cool to keep Toxic Monarch and Thorpe from spotting