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

miss out.”

Noella was confused.

in the jewelry game, a riddle wrapped in a mystery,

a public appearance? News

strutted over to the message center, swiped her

General Marcel again tomorrow, the price

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

spotted Palmer by the car as soon as

his refined and handsome face all lit

surprised, Noella approached and quipped, “What,

skeptical gaze. Those eyes of his were something else, bright and captivating.

recalling the info she had just dug up

folks either got tangled in scams or dabbled

survive the cutthroat underworld of the deep web.

give you

and it would be a nice gesture to support Palmer’s “side hustle“, Noella hopped

gift for you, in case you

know how to respond.

they had already met a few times?

a little box with the intel.

all that cash on this? How many Ubers do you

Uber driver was new. Palmer felt a

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Chapter 14

the guy was the head honcho of Abyssal Organization. He could make a killing with

if I don’t want to join

all good. A gift’s worth is in the joy it brings. If it makes you happy, that’s its true

much cash just

her hands holding the

splurge like this on

I never gave gifts to ladies, except for my mom, back when she was around. She loved her

quickly apologized, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to bring that up.”

fine. So, does my gift make

Noella was dumbstruck.

kind of thing

got presents from the Schnabel

it that folks from the slums didn’t get the concept of subtlety? Did they have to

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

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

“Yeah, happy.”

deepened, and Noella, feeling her face heat up, quickly

hot in here!

her

of Heartfelt Orphanage are the same person who

did he get mixed up in this?