The Killer Queen

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. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“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

13:12

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

miss out.”

Noella was confused.

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

But a public appearance? News to her.

Noella strutted over to the message center, swiped her card, and got the dirt.

“Cerulean Whale is sending a hitman after General Marcel again tomorrow, the price tag: a hundred million dollars.”

Outside the Radi Building, a squeaky–clean yet beat–up Volkswagen was about as low–profile as it gets, clearly showing its age.

Noella spotted Palmer by the car as soon as she stepped out.

He waved her over, his refined and handsome face all lit up with a welcoming ease.

Å bit surprised, Noella approached and quipped, “What, you moonlighting as an Uber driver?”

Palmer was momentarily frozen, his smile stiffening before meeting Noella’s skeptical gaze. Those eyes of his were something else, bright and captivating.

Noella glanced at his ride, recalling the info she had just dug up about the villages near Heartfelt Orphanage.

Dirt–poor. So poor that folks either got tangled in scams or dabbled in adult entertainment.

Palmer had done well to survive the cutthroat underworld of the deep web.

“Mind if I give you a lift?”

Figuring a ride’s a ride, and it would be a nice gesture to support Palmer’s “side hustle“, Noella hopped in without much fuss.

“I’ve got a welcome gift for you, in case you fancy joining Abyssal Organization.”

Noella did not know how to respond.

Who would give welcome gifts after they had already met a few times?

Palmer handed over a little box with the intel. “Take a peek.”

Genuinely surprised, Noella asked, “You were in VIP Room No. 9? Why drop all that cash on this? How many Ubers do you need to drive to make that back?”

As a billionaire, being mistaken for an Uber driver was new. Palmer felt a mixed bag of emotions, hinting, “I’ve got a day job, you know.”

13:12

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

“You bought this intel just for me? What if I don’t want to join the Abyssal Organization?”

“It’s all good. A gift’s worth is in the joy it brings. If it makes you happy, that’s its true value. Everything else is just gravy.”

Dropping so much cash just to cheer her up?

Noella felt her hands holding the box heat up.

“You always splurge like this on girls?”

Palmer was speechless for a moment, then said, “You’re the first. I never gave gifts to ladies, except for my mom, back when she was around. She loved her flowers.”

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

“It’s fine. So, does my gift make you happy?”

Noella was dumbstruck.

Who asks that kind of thing point–blank?

Why wasn’t she this speechless when she got presents from the Schnabel family’s fourth son?

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

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

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

“Yeah, happy.”

Palmer’s smile deepened, and Noella, feeling her face heat up, quickly looked away.

Man, it’s getting hot in here!

Noella pondered for a moment before opening her message box right in front of Palmer.

[The head of Tandy Hospital and the director of Heartfelt Orphanage are the same person who had dealings with Vincent, a merchant from Tranquility City, before going missing.]

Vincent? How did he get mixed up in this?

The Lambert family was indeed part of the whole missing kids mess, so it wouldn’t be a shocker if Vincent had a hand in it.

Noella put away the note, her beautiful brows furrowing ever so slightly.

She was a knockout, with her expressive eyebrows and a look that could turn heads, yet she

carried that chilly vibe that’s signature to a hitman, her eyes sparkling with intensity.

This look gave her a more down–to–earth charm like she was just a teenage girl.

“Is the info useful?”

“Yeah, thanks. What should I prep to return the favor? Forget joining the Abyssal Organization I’m not ditching the Obelisk Organization just yet.”

The killers at Obelisk Organization had been with Noella for years; they had deep bonds with her and the org, and she wasn’t about to bail on her crew.

Palmer’s face was tinged with a light smile.

“Then just tell me your name. I want to know your real name–your in–the–sun, off–the–dark–web name.”

Noella was taken aback. Her name worth three million? Was this guy Vocalist not schooled or something, not knowing the first thing about bargaining?

“Noella.”

“Palmer.”

Noella nodded mentally noting Palmer’s name.

“Can you drop me off at Rising Glory Mall?”

Azure’s biggest brick–and–mortar store was about to launch in Imperial City, and Kitai had been on her back, making her promise to be there. Timing wise, it should be right about now. If she didn’t show, Kitai would throw a fit, cry, make a scene, threaten to hang himself and roll around

on the floor.

“Of course.”

Rising Glory Mall was the biggest shopping center in Imperial City, packed with luxury brands–no surprise a gal like Noella would want to hit it up.

After dropping Noella at the mall, Palmer spun the car around and drove into the parking lot of Rising Glory Mall, heading straight for the parked Maybach.

The butler, Xander, was almost bug–eyed seeing his boss step out of some nondescript beater.

What was going on with the boss? Suddenly into the minimalist vibe?

When Palmer looked his way, Xander quickly bowed. “President, everything you’ve arranged has been taken care of. Your grandfather wants you to visit the hospital tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow?”

Xander hesitated, knowing he couldn’t lie to Palmer, and finally stuttered out, “Marcel’s granddaughter will be there.”

Palmer closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.