The Killer Queen

Palmer’s voice carried a deep, magnetic quality, blending seamlessly with the strumming of the guitar.

In Palmer’s hands, the classical guitar produced tones of dignified mellowness, akin to a gentleman softly reciting verses of poetry The piece, neither overly long nor too brief, revealed Palmer’s limited familiarity with musical instruments, his technique somewhat unpolished. Yet, as his long, smooth fingers caressed the strings, bathed in sunlight streaming through the office windows, their distinct knuckles glinted like gold.

As the melody ended, Noella felt her heart flutter in time with the guitar strings.

“My first time playing. I’ll perform better for you when I get the chance.*

Noella averted her gaze, lowering her eyes to conceal her emotions. “Don’t play until your hand is healed. And… your left hand seems quite deft”

If she remembered correctly, he was using his left hand earlier in the office when he wrote with her pen.

A few annotations had appeared on the financial statements of the music store, all circled by Palmer, pointing out the bugs in the reports.

With such proficiency, how could he have the nerve to ask her to feed him this morning?

That look of contentment on Sexton’s face when he saw them earlier now made Noella’s cheeks burn with embarrassment.

She stared coldly at Palmer. “What are you, a toddler?”

She didn’t need anyone to feed her when she was three, let alone engage in such nonsensical antics.

Palmer set aside his guitar and leaned in close to Noella, their proximity close enough for their breaths to mingle.

“If I were three, could I kiss you, Noella?”

Noella stood up abruptly, fists clenched. “Shameless! Palmer, have you no decency?”

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If the employees of the Pollack Group could see their aloof CEO acting like a clingy brat, spouting such lines, their jaws would probably hit the floor!

Watching Noella storm out of the office, the door slamming shut with a thud, a pleased smile played on Palmer’s lips.

“I forgot to mention, besides learning the guitar at school, I also learned that if you want to win over a girl you like, you can’t worry about preserving your image.”

Noella strode out of the office, only calming down once she reached the cool blast of the air conditioner.

Was Palmer really that shameless? She didn’t understand how he could say those things so nonchalantly!

Her mind was in disarray, and at that moment, her phone rang.

Yasbel’s voice came through. “Boss, I need your help. I think I’ve got myself into a real pickle.”

“What’s wrong?” wrong?”

“Your brother Stirling has been oddly attentive to me these past few days. I suspect he might have untoward intentions, but I can’t think of anything I’ve said that could’ve led him on.”

In an effort to avoid misunderstandings with the male actors, Yasbel would even announce she was going to “blanch herself” instead of taking a shower, just to maintain professional boundaries.

Noella massaged her temples. “You’re overthinking it. Stirling told me that since we get along, he’ll be looking out for you a bit. Your kind belongs in a zoo, not in Stirling’s league.”

“Well, that’s a relief. I was worried I’d accidentally become a heartbreaker, especially with those creepy looks from your brother.”

“He’s nearsighted; he looks at dogs with the same affection.”

There was a pause. “You’ve really upped your insult game, Boss! Oh, and one of the actresses on set mentioned she bought a large piece of nephrite recently. Aren’t we out of that stuff?”

“Imperfections. Look into who’s been collecting the rejects we don’t want.”

While Polaris Star controlled the largest nephrite supply, they only dealt with high quality stones, rejecting even slightly flawed ones. The nephrite on the zither earlier was of particularly low quality.

“There are only a few families who deal in nephrite. I’ll check it out.”

After hanging up, Kiera, the store’s new manager, approached Noella with a respectful tone. “Ms. Schnabel, there’s a woman outside who wants to see you. Do you know her?”

Noella’s gaze swept past the rows of instruments to the familiar figure at the door.

10:32

dunt surprise

ford Rosenberg’s mother, Linsey.

nsey had tracked her down. Though imperial City was vast, it wasn’t impossible to find someone if you

Kiera walked to

regretful. Tm sorry, malam, but Ms. Schnabel says she doesn’t recognize you.” NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.

Ms Schubert

A spark of shrewdness appeared in Linsey’s eyes. The music store she stood in was the largest in imperial City. If Noella really was the owner, she wouldn’t have to worry about her livelihood.

The Rosenberg family had recently gone bankrupt, and their businesses were inexplicably thwarted, leading Linsey to promptly divorce Zachary Rosenberg. After all, her family still had some money. There was no way she’d end up on the streets with that wretch

And now, to stumble upon Noella!

“Then I just shop. That’s allowed, right?”

“Of course. What kind of instruments are you interested in? I’ll show you.”

Linsey’s eyes scanned the instruments and their price tags, the rows of zeros sending a shock through her

The cheapest instrument here cost twenty thousand? How on earth did Noella acquire this music store?

“Is this store solely owned by Ms. Schnabel?”

“Yes, and the gallery next door, as well as the stores across the street, are all solely owned by Ms. Schnabel.”

So, was Noella wealthy now?

Delighted, Linsey hurriedly called Milford.

“Milford, listen to me. I’d never steer you wrong. You go look into Noellia, and forget about Briony who’s about to land in jail”

“Got it, gotta go

Milford wasn’t discreet as he took the call, and finong, lying before him, tumed deathly pale at his words.

“Milford, what the heck does your mom mean? five grot your bun in the overs. You can just leave me in the lurch!”

Briony couldn’t fathom why she found herself at the scene of Vincent’s car wreck. The moment her eyes flew open, the harrowing sigha of Vincent’s mangled body nearly made her faint

If it hadn’t been for the pregnancy test coming back positive night then, she might’ve been behind bars by now,

Milford was visibly imitated. “Briony, whether that kid is mine is still up in the ant. For all I know, you could’ve been seeing someone

else‘

Briony bristled, staring at Milford in sheer disbelief. “What are you sanng? How could you even doubt me? Of course, it’s your child? Tve got a ton of work back at the office. I gotta jet. Take care of yourself”

Milford was up and out before Briony had the chance to utter another word

Briony clutched her belly, resentment written all over her face as she watched Milford’s retreating figure.

The Rosenbergs were bankrupt. Where was he off to? A company? He was probably heading straight to Noellaf

But she had to keep the baby, no matter what. If she didn’t, it was back to the stammer for her