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,

public appearance?

center, swiped her card,

Marcel again tomorrow, the price tag:

yet beat–up Volkswagen was about as low–profile as it gets, clearly showing

by the car as soon as

his refined and handsome face all lit up

and quipped, “What,

gaze. Those eyes of his were

glanced at his ride, recalling the info she had just dug up about the villages

poor that folks either got tangled in

the cutthroat underworld

give

ride, and it would be a nice gesture

a welcome gift for you, in

did not know

they had already met a

little box with

Why drop all that cash on

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

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Chapter 14

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

me? What if I don’t want

worth is in the joy it brings. If it makes

so much cash just

holding the box heat up.

splurge like this

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

to stir up sad memories and quickly apologized, “Sorry.

So, does my

Noella was dumbstruck.

that kind of thing point–blank?

this speechless when she got

it that folks from the slums didn’t get the concept of subtlety? Did they have to wear all their emotions on their sleeves?

they were straight shooters, always fearing they might not

stifled the

“Yeah, happy.”

feeling her

getting hot in

a moment before opening her message

director of Heartfelt Orphanage are the same person who had dealings with Vincent, a merchant

did he get mixed