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.

the jewelry game, a riddle wrapped in a mystery, whose casual toss of a rock always turned out to be top–notch emerald.

a public appearance? News to

over to the message center, swiped her card,

Marcel again tomorrow, the price tag: a

Volkswagen was about as low–profile as it gets, clearly showing its

as

his refined and handsome face all lit up with a welcoming

“What, you moonlighting as

smile stiffening before meeting Noella’s skeptical gaze. Those eyes

ride, recalling the info she had just dug up about

that folks either got tangled in

survive the

I give you a

ride, and it would be a nice gesture to

a welcome gift for you, in case you fancy joining

did not know how

give welcome gifts after they

with the intel. “Take

drop all that cash on this? How many Ubers do you

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

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Chapter 14

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

intel just for me? What if

If it makes you happy, that’s its true value. Everything else is just

so much cash just to

her hands holding the box

splurge like

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

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

So, does my gift make

Noella was dumbstruck.

kind of thing point–blank?

got presents from the Schnabel family’s fourth son?

of subtlety? Did they have to wear all their emotions on

with international orphans online and knew they were straight shooters, always fearing they

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

“Yeah, happy.”

smile deepened, and Noella, feeling her face heat

hot in

for a moment before opening her

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

he get