The Killer Queen

The moment she thought of it, Yvonne started to freak out.

“Listen here, don’t you go messing around. Do you have any idea who I am? Do you know who my grandpa is? I’m from the Schnabel family, for crying out loud!”

“Ms. Schnabel? What a coincidence, I was actually looking for a Ms. Schnabel. Since you took. on my order, you should play by the rules, right?”

Yvonne was totally lost. Order? What order?

She had been strapped for cash lately and hadn’t hit the card tables in ages. There couldn’t possibly be an order, could there? All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

The driver’s voice turned fierce, and his arm, bulging with veins, sported a tattoo of a mountain peak. The scar on his face made him look all the more ferocious!

“The order from Thorpe. If you’ve taken it on, then you have to come with me whether you’re the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris or not!”

Yvonne was like, “What”

What was he on about with this Phantom Surgeon Lunaris business? Was he talking about that billion– dollar order from the deep web?

She wanted to say something else, but then she got clonked on the back of her head and blacked out, eyes rolling back.

The unlicensed cab quietly pulled away, disappearing into the night.

The Lambert Mansion, Tranquility City

Vincent slammed the surveillance report on the table, his beard practically trembling with rage. “Briony, tell me what the heck is going on? How many of our family’s orders have you shown to the Rosenberg family?”

“Not that many, Daddy. I didn’t have much choice. Milford said he’d dump me if I didn’t show him, and he said it’s all in the family anyway, right? Once we’re married, we’re all one big happy family, aren’t we?”

Belinda also stepped in to calm Vincent down, “Exactly, honey. Besides, our family’s business doesn’t even overlap with the Rosenberg family’s. It’s probably all just a coincidence. And when Briony marries into their family, we’ll be able to peek at the Rosenberg family’s contracts too, right?”

Vincent was like, well, when you put it that way…

Even though the Rosenberg family’s business wasn’t doing too hot lately, they were still doing

better than the Lambert family by a long shot. Plus, Milford was definitely a stand–up guy: otherwise, he wouldn’t have helped fix up the Lambert ancestral home.

“Alright, no more of this, but if you can, try to get a look at the Rosenberg family’s contracts for your old man.”

Seeing Vincent wasn’t pressing further, Briony quickly agreed, “Once I’m married, I’ll let your know everything. Daddy. Milford is good to me; he won’t keep secrets from you.”

Vincent nodded, his mind returning to the Lambert family’s recent business woes. He had splurged on a feast for the four big bosses, and not a single one showed up. He ended up eating all the food

himself, and even got the runs for days because the ingredients weren’t fresh.

Briony remembered seeing a poster of Noella around the university town, bit her lip, and voiced her thought.

“Daddy, I think I saw that Noella is about to make her debut. Not sure if she’s acting or singing. I never heard about Noella having any talent for that sort of thing. It’d be bad news if she’s planning to star in those not–so–classy films.”

Vincent got ticked off at the mention of Noella.

That ungrateful girl! She had managed to cozy up to Jasper and when he asked for a simple. introduction, she had the nerve to block him!

What an ingrate!

“Who cares about her? She’s cut ties with the Lambert family anyway. Briony, you’re a lady of a reputable house, so don’t you go following in her footsteps; all she’s got are bad habits.”

“I know, Daddy. Aren’t we being sued by East Sea Culture Company? Why don’t I debut? I want to help the family too.”

With her beauty and talents, she was sure to do better than Noella once she debuted. And once she married into the Rosenberg family, they wouldn’t dare look down on her as someone raised by a nanny!

Vincent shot that idea down immediately.

“No way, my girl’s my pride and joy. Go be an actress? What nonsense! A girl’s place is at home. taking care of her husband and children. The idea of you flaunting yourself in public is just unseemly. You’d do better sweet–talking Milford into marrying you sooner and discussing the dowry with the Rosenberg family.”

The most important thing was that Briony didn’t have any real skills; she wouldn’t even qualify as a sexy lamp if she debuted.

Vincent had it all figured out. When a family like theirs marries off a daughter, the wedding gift from the bridegroom can’t be less than two or three hundred million. That money would come in handy to settle his company’s claims!

Briony felt a bit wronged. Why could Noella do things that she was barred from? If she debuted, she’d totally outshine Noella!

“Enough of that. Once I’ve sorted all this out, I’ll prepare a generous wedding gift for you.”

He was thinking his daughter’s wedding gift ought to be at least five million, but the Lambert family just didn’t have that kind of cash right now.

Briony’s mind raced and said, “I heard from Milford that the CEO of Pollack Group has been visiting Imperial West Hospital every day. Maybe we should try our luck?”

“You mean Palmer from the Pollack Group? Is he sick or something, that he’s going for checks every day? That’s a big shot you don’t see every day.”

If they could cozy up to the Pollack Group, Vincent wouldn’t have to worry about doing business

anymore.

Forget about the Rosenberg family giving him the cold shoulder; he’d be able to kick them to the curb and find an even better match for his family!

“Get things sorted, and we’re heading to Imperial City tomorrow!”

“Got it.”

Vincent was all giddy as he made the arrangements, then his secretary rang in.

“Mr. Lambert, someone’s offering three million to buy the Lambert family’s old house in Linefort City.”

“Who? That place is ancient. I haven’t set foot in there for over twenty years. Who’d want that old dump?”

“Some local, said they’re fond of the osmanthus tree in the yard. If you’re not keen on selling, I’ll just turn them down.”

Vincent shot up from the couch right away.

“Of course I am! That old shack’s market value is barely two hundred thousand tops, and now someone’s willing to pay that much for it? No one’s living there, might as well sell it!”

He had no attachment to that old house. And why should he? Isn’t the villa he’s living in now swanky enough? Why hang onto some rickety old place! Now that someone’s playing the fool with three million, he’s obviously going to cash in.

“Tell them yes, and see if you can hike up the price. Even if it doesn’t go up, three million will do.”

“Alright.”

CEO’s office of Rising Glory Group.

“What did you say? Vincent wants five million? Where does he get the nerve!”

12:45

The secretary was at a loss for words too. Beckett was willing to shell out three million, all for the sake of returning the favor for old Mrs. Lambert’s affection towards Noella. How could Vincent have the cheek to suddenly jack up the price?

. Sitting on the sofa, Noella chimed in with a hint of indifference. “Probably it’s the secretary’s own idea, trying to pocket a cool two million. Get straight to Vincent. Tell him our initial offer was five million, but now we’re only putting down one million. Take it or leave it.”

Beckett couldn’t help but chuckle.

With Vincent’s personality, he’d not only be beating his chest in regret for not snagging a bargain but he’d probably want to throttle his secretary.

“Do as Noella says.”

“Yes.”

Noella picked up the latest financial news, curious about the recent financial trends, but as soon as she grabbed it, she saw the man in a suit on the cover.

Palmer’s face jumped out at her, his half–smile exuding an aura not to be taken lightly.

It looked like he was flaunting something, deliberately showing off a pair of ruby cufflinks on his sleeve. The newspaper even made a special note that they were put on by his fiancée herself.

Noella was speechless. If she remembered correctly, that was ancient history, wasn’t it?

Her phone rang three times before Noella picked up. It was Palmer. She put down the paper, not bothering to avoid Beckett nearby, and answered the call.

“What’s up?”

“Can’t I just miss you?”

Noella was a bit speechless, instinctively ready to hang up.

“But the important thing is I miss you. The unimportant thing is Yvonne got taken by Thorpe’s people. They might’ve mistaken her for the Phantom Surgeon Lunaris.”

“Got it. Anything else?”

“How about the honor of dining with my fiancée tonight? Of course, we could sneak in a quick five– minute chat about Thorpe – can’t take too long. It’s not quite right. I’m not too fond of my fiancée chatting about other men.”

Noella was dumbfounded. Was this guy serious?

Noella thought it over, then coldly rejected, “We can skip dinner and just talk for five minutes.”

“That’s not okay. We haven’t seen each other in days. I’ve been working overtime just for the chance to have a meal with you. If you talk like that, it’s gonna break my heart!”