The Killer Queen

Why was the word “like” suddenly so hot on his Ups?

Palmer casually undid his suit button with one hand and took his seat like a true gent.

“Let me reintroduce myself. Name’s Palmer Pollack, flying solo. Got grandparents at home with health issues, a dad who’s not much help, and two brothers who aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed. As you can see, I’m busting my hump trying to keep the family afloat.

Noella was speechless.

Why should she care about who’s in his family or whether he’s single?

“The lady who called me earlier Is no one to me. I’ve never been in love, and I’m a complete rookie when it comes to relationships.”

“Oh.”

Palmer’s handsome face was adorned with a gentle, breezy smile, and the glint from his gold–rimmed glasses added a touch of luster to his appearance.

“I need a favor, hoping you can help me out.”

“Shoot.”

“I’d like to meet ‘Lunaris‘ from the Obelisk Organization, the so–called Phantom Surgeon. My grandparents, especially Grandpa, aren’t doing too great. His heart condition has been pretty bleak these past years, and I’ve grown numb from signing too many critical condition notices.”

On the deep web, the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris was a big deal. Apart from knowing that Lunaris was part of the Obelisk Organization, no one had the scoop on her.

Rumor had it that during a group mission for the Obelisk, Lunaris single–handedly saved all the critically injured members, snatching lives right out of death’s clutches!

Noella pressed her lips.

“Sure, when do you need to see her?”

“Sooner, the better.”

“How’s the 20th sound?”

She couldn’t make time to see Palmer’s granddad on the 18th since the Schnabel family was throwing her a birthday bash.

“Perfect, I’ll sort everything out and pick you up then! As for getting in touch with her, I’ll leave that to you. I’ll have the fee ready.”

“Alright.”

Noella agreed, then remembering Palmer’s financial situation, added, “You don’t need to break

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the bank for the fee”

The Phantom Surgeon charged a fortune just to make a house call and Palmer might not be

able to foot the bill

Palmer chuckled. For the first time in this world, someone’s actually worried about him being strapped for cash!

Yet, the girl in front of him was so pure and transparent, like an uncut gem, and he couldn’t bear to taint her innocence.

Palmer admitted, he was really enjoying the concern!

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered.”

“Alright.”

After the meal they stepped out of the restaurant into the brilliantly lit street.

A somewhat old BMW was parked under the warm glow of a street lamp, and Vincent hopped out, rushing towards Noella.

“Noella, did you take your grandma’s shares? I’m telling you, that’s all Briony’s stuff. Hand it over now, and I can let bygones be bygones!”

He tried to grab Noella’s hand but was stopped by an iron grip on his wrist!

Standing in front of Vincent was a cool and handsome young man, nearly six feet tall, looking refined but with a grip so firm that Vincent couldn’t wriggle free at all!

The fear of being dominated by Jasper still haunted Vincent!

“Let go of me! I’m teaching Noella a lesson here: what’s it to you?”

Palmer slightly furrowed his brows, then looked at Noella. “Can I give him a thrashing?”

“Sure, but there are cameras here.”

“Then let’s take it to the alley over there.”

Vincent was appalled.

What were they talking about?

“You want to hit me? I’m telling you, everything that belongs to your grandma is the Lambert family’s, and you have to return it all!*

Noella replied calmly. “You didn’t even come to Grandma’s funeral. She waited for you in the hospital for three days before she passed, wanting to see you one last time, but you never showed.”

Vincent had no response.

“I… I was too busy with work. If I hadn’t been working so hard, could your grandma have afforded such a nice hospital room?”

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“In the years Grandma was sick, you visited her three times, never staying more than ten minutes. I was the one who took care of her.”

When Old Mrs. Lambert was at her worst, she couldn’t recognize anyone and kept calling out for Noella over and over. Before she died, she wanted to see Vincent one last time, to remind this good–for– nothing son to take good care of Noella.

But Vincent thought Old Mrs. Lambert had had too many close calls, and he didn’t want to miss dining with the new model he had just met..

Belinda thought funerals were bad luck, and Vincent, being a businessman, thought it was too inauspicious to attend. He never went to say goodbye to Old Mrs. Lambert.

“I’ve been working hard. Do you think you grew up on thin air? Now, you’re no longer part of the Lambert family. Briony is my real daughter, and you must return everything that belongs to the

Lamberts!”

Noella said indifferently, “I didn’t take anything with me.”

The day she left, she only took the laptop Old Mrs. Lambert had bought her!

“If you didn’t take anything, then where are your grandma’s shares?”

Noella sneered, looking at Vincent as if he were crazy. “Don’t you know whether Grandma had any shares?”

Vincent was speechless again.

Reminded by Noella, he suddenly remembered that Old Mrs. Lambert had no shares. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

What use would a country old lady have for shares?

“Never mind the shares; where’s the bid proposal you stole? Hand it over now!”

Bid proposal?

Looking at the bid proposal produced by Vincent’s intellect was an insult to Noella’s eyes.

That Vincent could produce such a trashy bid proposal after decades in business was a talent in and of itself.

“I’m not interested in your stuff. As for where your bid proposal is, just check the surveillance footage when you get back.”

Vincent’s study had always been under surveillance!

The cameras were originally to keep an eye on Noella and Old Mrs. Lambert, and Vincent had nearly forgotten about them after Noella left the Lambert family.

Noella paced out without giving Vincent a second glance.

This family was out of their mind; she wasn’t going to waste another minute on them.

Palmer let go of Vincent’s hand, which he was about to wrench out of its socket, and followed

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her.

He felt a twinge of heartache for her.

Was this really her family? So, that was what her days used to be like!

Noella walked through the night, her slender frame all resilient, her hair a misty cloud trailing behind her ears. A fleeting glance from the girl under the streetlight was enough to send waves of awe through

anyone.

And yet, Palmer caught a whiff of sadness in Noella at that moment.

He stepped forward, took Noella’s hand, and enveloped her petite hand in his.

Noella was puzzled.

“I had a bit too much to drink. Just help me out a bit.”

“Huh?”

“They’re not your tribe; don’t sweat it for their sake.”

Noella shook her head. “I’m not upset, but you can let go now.”

She had Vincent pegged a long time ago.

But the image of Old Mrs. Lambert, clinging to the doorway with those weathered eyes brimming with tears, her grip on Noella’s hand weakening…

The thought still haunted Noella!

Palmer went with the flow and released her hand.

Watching Noella hail a cab and leave, Palmer stood there, a bit loath to part.

Annie parked the car behind Palmer and sighed, “Boss, you’re really not the best at this chasing game, huh? She says ‘let go‘, and you just let go?”

Palmer’s smile faded as he turned, all icy sharpness again.

“You don’t get it. I can’t openly pursue her until I’ve called off my engagement; it wouldn’t be right.”

“So, you just let her cab it alone? I was waiting right behind you to drive her!”

“She doesn’t know who I am; I don’t want to burden her. She doesn’t seem to fancy the high life.”

Palmer thought back to his earlier probing and felt a slight headache. He feared scaring Noella away, so he only dared to disguise himself in the simplest way to gain her care and trust.

Annie was speechless.

This was huge! The boss who dominated the business world with deals in the billions was actually a hopeless romantic!

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“What about the Schnabel family engagement?”

‘Til be at Ms. Schnabel’s birthday bash. Have a gift ready: I’ll be proposing we call off the engagement with the Schnabel family that day!”