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

1/5

13:12

Chapter 14

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

miss out.”

Noella was confused.

riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose

appearance? News to

center, swiped her card, and got the dirt.

General Marcel again

about as low–profile as it gets, clearly showing

Palmer by the car as

and handsome face all lit up with

surprised, Noella approached and quipped, “What, you

stiffening before meeting Noella’s skeptical gaze. Those eyes of his were something else,

ride, recalling the info she had just dug

that folks either got tangled in

to survive the cutthroat

give you a

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

a welcome gift for you, in case

know how to

after they had already met

handed over a little box with the intel. “Take

No. 9? Why drop all that cash on this? How

being mistaken for an Uber driver was new. Palmer felt a mixed bag of

2/5

13:12

Chapter 14

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

this intel just for me? What if I

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

so much cash just to cheer

felt her hands holding

always splurge like this

gifts to ladies, except for my mom, back when she

meant to stir up sad memories and quickly apologized, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to bring

my

Noella was dumbstruck.

that kind

she got presents from the Schnabel family’s fourth son?

folks from the slums didn’t get the concept of subtlety? Did they have to wear all their

chatted with international orphans online and knew they were straight shooters, always fearing they might not get another chance to speak their

that in mind, Noella stifled the

“Yeah, happy.”

her face heat up, quickly looked away.

getting hot in here!

a moment before opening her

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

did he get