The Killer Queen

Noella fanned herself with her palm, the roses blooming all over the manor, their scent rich and heady.

Palmer parked the car right under the Radi Building as Noella had said. “This the spot? I’m not too hot on the lay of the land around here.

Noella nodded. “Yeah, that’s the place. I’ll shoot you the cab fare.”

Palmer couldn’t help but chuckle, pulling out his phone and handing it over to Noella. “Let’s add friends on WhatsApp first, then you can Venmo me.”

After Noella added him and grabbed her backpack, she hopped out of the car.

Palmer watched her sprinting into the office building, even swiping an employee card to get through security.

Radi Building was chock–full of companies – was she one of the employees here?

Noella had a hunch and turned around to see Palmer still by the car, gazing her way.

Bathed in light, he was the picture of elegance and charm, not at all like a top–tier assassin who flirted with death on the daily.

Palmer waved at her, his face wearing a warm, genial smile, putting even Beckett to shame in the gentlemanly department.

Noella’s cheeks flushed, and she bolted for the elevator.

After she disappeared inside, Palmer whipped out his phone to call his secretary. “Radi Building could be one of my assets. Get me everything on all the companies and their employees here.” “Right away,

Mr. Pollack. We’ll start the acquisition of Radi Building immediately.”

Noella made her way to the top floor and found a studio with no sign on the door.

Kitai’s face lit up with surprise when he saw her, “Boss, you’re here.”

Noella passed him the design draft. “Use display agents 3 and 5, a 30-70 mix then finish with number 8 for five minutes.”

“Got it! Boss, our new store is in the Rising Glory Mall. Wanna check it out?”

Rising Glory Mall was all about first–rate, blue–blood brands, a famous hotspot for luxury goods in Imperial City. If something was sold out everywhere else, you could probably snag it there.

Beckett’s face flashed in Noella’s mind; Rising Glory Mall was his turf, too.

“Nah, let’s pass. Give Rising Glory Group a 10% cut from our sales at the mall.”

Kitai’s jaw dropped – that was a hefty 10%!

A sliver of Master Azure’s designs, even at 10%, was worth a small fortune.

Was the big boss of Rising Glory Group some kind of lifesaver from her past life?

“Just do as I say.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

At the Schnabel Mansion.

Ashlyn was wrapped in a faded blanket, listening to Yvonne’s sob story from her rocking chair.

“Grandma, they’ve crossed the line. I’m telling you. The moment I laid eyes on that Noella, I got the heebie–jeebies, like something was off. But Mom, Dad, and the bros are all under her spell. They won’t listen to a word I say. Grandma, do we even have a place in this house anymore? Boo–hoo–hoo.”

Ashlyn’s eyes snapped open, her wrinkly lids sagging with a don’t–mess–with–me vibe.

“You serious? You think Noella’s got bad juju?”

To Ashlyn, Yvonne was a blessed child sent by the gods. If she felt Noella was bad news, Ashlyn wouldn’t let her step foot inside the mansion.

Yvonne nodded furiously. “She even got my brothers to scold me, kicked me out without dinner, calling herself the only daughter of the Schnabel family.”

Ashlyn snorted. “The only daughter? She’s got no place here if I don’t say so.”

Yvonne’s face was a mask of smug delight.

No sooner had Noella stepped through the Schnabel family gates than a posse of tall and sturdy maids stopped her.

“Ms. Noella, Madam Ashlyn wants to see you.”

Noella nodded and followed the maids.

Ashlyn usually kept to the old house, away from the Schnabel crowd, except for the annual visits from the four Schnabel sons. She wasn’t a fan of Sienna, always sour–faced at the sight of her, leading the men of the family to minimize their visits.

The maids led Noella into the Schnabel Mansion, pointing to a bench in the garden with a frosty. “Ms. Noella, you can wait right here.”

As they turned on their heels and left, it was clear the garden bench wasn’t meant for sitting- rusty and muddy. It looked like it would crumble if breathed on.

Noella knew this was Ashlyn’s power play, maybe taking a stand for Yvonne? She didn’t mind. The Lamberts used to make her stand as punishment just to appease Briony.

13:10

Noella stood in the garden, lost in thought about the Heartfelt Orphanage,

Who had taken the director?

Yvonne peeked through the curtains, a smirk playing on her lips as she saw Hoella standing in the courtyard. “Grandma, you know what’s up. If she stands there long enough, her legs will give out for sure.”

Ashlyn’s prayer beads kept rolling, not even looking up. “You said she doesn’t know her place. and there you have it. I told her to sit but didn’t say she had to stand. Who’s she performing for? Makes it look like I’m mistreating her, totally not presentable.”

Yvonne sweetly agreed, “You’re right, Grandma,”

An hour later.

Noella was still there, standing like a statue, not having moved an inch.

She replayed the details of her day at the Heartfelt Orphanage in her mind, profiling the killers” perspectives and reconstructing the scene. Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

As Noella slowly opened her eyes, she had found it!

Cerulean Whale not only saw her coming but had Palmer pegged, too. Those hitmen were just a smokescreen.

The maid stood behind Noella and said, “Ms. Noella, please go on in.”

Noella nodded and strutted into the small building where Ashlyn lived. She moved with the grace of a flowing cloud, not showing the slightest sign of fatigue or soreness from standing for an hour. Instead, every gesture she made was dripping with class.

Ashlyn squinted at Noella and spat out with distaste, “No manners. Go learn some and then come back. I only recognize Yvonne and Elara as my granddaughters. Don’t think any Tom, Dick or Harry can claim that title.”

Noella took a good look at Ashlyn and asked, “Excuse me, but do you have some kind of psychological issue?”

Ashlyn was speechless. She suddenly opened her eyes wide, so pissed off–she threw her prayer beads across the room.

Noella dodged smoothly, and the beads shattered on the floor.

Ashlyn roared, “Go learn some manners! Don’t come back until you do! Calling me having psychological issue the moment you open your mouth, I want to see how a wild girl like you. could ever set foot in the Schnabel family!”

The maid stepped in front of Noella, “Please, Ms. Noella.”

The nuns Ashlyn called in to teach manners were a bunch of stiff old birds, and getting on their good side was a snowball’s chance in hell.

If Noella didn’t get it together, there was no way she was going back to the Schnabel family anytime soon. And if she did, she would likely have her hide tanned.

An hour later.

The four sons of the Schnabel family came rushing from different directions and gathered in front of Ashlyn’s building.

Jasper said, “Beckett, our sister has been in there for ages. I told you we should’ve reminded her not to bother with that old witch.”

Beckett replied, “Slipped my mind to tell her. Let’s bust in and get her out. I’ll handle Grandma

later.”

The next second, a bunch of old nuns actually escorted Noella out, smiles on their faces for

once!

“You’re so incredible; your manners are totally on a royal level. The old lady sending us to teach you was really overkill.”

“The old lady said you could leave when you’ve learned your manners, but we all agree that it’s us who should be learning from you.”

Safe travels, Miss.”

Noella nodded at them with her usual elegant and dignified poise, effortlessly exuding nobility.

“Brothers, what brings you guys here?”

The Schnabel boys breathed a sigh of relief, seeing her come out safe and sound.

Beckett said, “Let’s head home, sis. From now on, ignore grandma. She’s getting old, not all there anymore.”

Noella nodded; her preliminary diagnosis confirmed that Ashlyn wasn’t all there indeed; she must have been on some hallucinogenic meds for a long time, with obvious side effects.

Yvonne looked on as the Schnabel brothers took Noella away, fretting like mad.

“Grandma, why did they just leave like that? They have no respect for you at all!”

Ashlyn, listening to the nuns‘ praises of Noella and fuming with rage, felt her blood pressure rise, and her head ached so bad she passed out right then and there.