The Killer Queen

There they were, the last Gemstone Gambling King and Queen of Film, TV, Music, huddled beneath a small table, their mouths filled with creamy cheesecake, and each hand securely grasping a slice.

Yasbel chuckled. “Boss, you two just carry on. Don’t mind us.”

Noella pressed a hand to her temple. “What are you doing down there?”

Yasbel was quick with a defense. “I went to pick up Master, didn’t I? After hours on a plane, he was famished. But, you know, being a public figure, I can’t just pig out without it. hitting the gossip columns!”

She still seethed at the memory of a headline: [Heartbroken Starlet Devours Cheesecake. in Midnight Binge]. As if! Her cravings had nothing to do with a broken heart.

Master Hector and Yasbel shared a love for cheesecake that bordered on the religious.

With a stretch of his arm, Master Hector called out, “Noella, help me up, would you? My legs are numb from squatting.”

Noella helped them up, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself.

Master Hector shook out the pins–and–needles from his legs and glanced at Palmer. “Not bad. Where did you con this one from?”

Noella replied with dry humor, “Picked him up off the street.”

“Well done. He’s a gem. Better than the last one, for sure. I’m off to grab something else to

eat. Carry on, you two.”

Master Hector had a penchant for describing people with terms borrowed from his days of stone gambling. Noella was used to it by now.

To be described as a ‘gem‘ by him meant you were a cut above the rest, flawless and of the finest grade.

As Master Hector and Yasbel scurried off to the next table, Noella sighed softly.

Palmer leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. “The last one?”

The idea that his fiancée might have once ‘picked up‘ another man was a sour note in his heart. The more he got to know Noella, the more she seemed like a treasure trove of surprises, an extraordinary woman whose past he had yet to explore.

“He’s talking about someone unimportant. Just a misunderstanding.”

“Do I count as important?”

Noella glanced at him, a knowing twinkle in her eye. “Master Hector said it, didn’t he? A

In the world of gemstone gambling, men would go bankrupt for a stone with the just–right

water content. If Noella were a gambler, then Palmer was the prize find.

It took a moment for Palmer to realize she was complimenting him.

Noella dug into her purse and handed him a sleek men’s watch. “I’ve adjusted it. If your don’t like it…

“I love it! Anything from you is a treasure.”

She had tweaked his watch on their way back from Emerald County, a reciprocation of the watch he had gifted her.

“Thanks, my fiancée.”

Noella glanced at Palmer’s wrist, unable to ignore the fact that he consistently wore the cufflinks she had given him during their time at Fortress Hospital. To the uninitiated, it would seem as though the CEO of the Pollack Group had but a single pair of cufflinks to

his name.

Noella met his shining gaze and helped him put on the watch.

Malvina popped up out of nowhere. “Noella, darling, I’ve found us the perfect spot.”

“I’ve got a couple of friends with me. Is that okay?” Noella gestured toward Hector and Yasbel, now emerging from their latest table hideaway.

Malvina’s lips twitched. “Well, ain’t that a sight? If they’re friends of my Noella, they’re welcome. Though, they do look vaguely familiar.”

Despite being an avid movie–goer, Malvina couldn’t quite place the face of Yasbel, who was a far cry from her larger–than–life screen persona.

The Gruber family’s gemstone auction was a magnet for guests, most drawn by the allure of the Gemstone Gambling King’s reputation.

According to the rules of the game, any rough stone of interest could be auctioned on the spot. But since this was the Gruber family’s event, any quality jade unearthed would likely end up in the Grubers‘ coffers.

Malvina patted her chest. “This spot’s got the best view. If you see a stone you like, Noella, darling, I’ll buy it for you!”

Master Hector snorted. “What good can come from the Gruber family’s stones?”

Yasbel, still indulging in cheesecake, agreed. “Haven’t spotted anything worthwhile.” All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Noella merely glanced up. “There are a few, but not many.”

Indeed, of the multitude of rough stones displayed by the Gruber family, only a few caught

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her discerning eye, and even those were of the sort that wouldn’t fetch much on the open market.

After a dainty wipe of her mouth, Yasbel spoke with earnest. “Malvina, your cheesecakes are divine. Might I take some home?”

You’ve got taste! I’ll have some packed for you!”

Pelmer, sitting beside Noella, whispered, “You know about gemstone gambling?”

“Not really. Just guessing. I’ve been lucky, that’s all.”

To most, gemstone gambling was a matter of chance, but Noella sat with Master Hector, the Gemstone Gambling King, and Yasbel, who called Hector ‘Master‘

He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Yasbel and that person with you before, they look quite alike.”

He remembered the faces of those who assisted Noella back at Fortress Hospital, one of whom bore a strong resemblance to Yasbel.

Noella’s voice was calm. “Nolan and Yasbel are twins.”

In that case, Yasbel must have belonged to Polaris Star too.

On stage, Yates Gruber, the Gruber family’s eldest, stood in his impeccable suit, his smile reaching out to the crowd.

The night was young, and the game was just beginning.

Malvina whispered, “Yates is no good.”

Yasbel’s smirk twitched. “Aren’t you biologically related?”

Who threw their own brother under the bus like that?

Malvina just shrugged, unconcerned. “Yeah, so what if he’s my brother? Am I not supposed to state a fact? Walden may be as dumb as a bag of hammers, and Yates, he’s got a heart like a slot machine– takes a lot, gives little. Noella, honey, if Yates comes chatting you up later, just ignore him, okay?”

There was a hint of something more behind Malvina’s words.

Noella nodded in understanding. “Got it, thanks.”

Yates scanned the crowd below the stage, his gaze finally resting on Noella. He shot Palmer a warning look before turning away.

“Thank you all for joining the Gruber family’s gemstone auction. Without further ado, let’s welcome the Gemstone Gambling King!”

The title of Gemstone Gambling King was so illustrious that even Malvina perked up to see who was on stage.

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tion the two people hext to Noella were the so–called Gemstone Gambling King

let out a “heh

Hector snorted. “Some joker trying to step into my shoes.

nothing

A middle aged man with a pencil mustache slowly appeared on stage, making Master Hector’s lip curl in disdain. “Ugly as sin, and he dares to gamble on stones? Might scare the rocks into dust”

Yates clapped his hands. “Ladies and gentlemen, the man of the hour, the legendary Gemstone Gambling King, Mr. Gary!

The Gruber family hopes to witness the miracle of stone gambling with you all today. In addition to the rough stones handpicked by Gary for live cutting, we invite everyone to choose their own stones. Any treasures you find are yours to keep, and the duds, well, they’re on us!”

Yasbel sneered. “Sounds generous, but it’s just a show for the greenhorns. There aren’t many real gems in this pile ”

The Gruber family wasn’t known for making losing bets

Yates’s gaze settled on Noella “Ms Schnabel, care to try your luck with a couple of rough stones?