The Killer Queen

Noella in the car wore an air of indifference, her eyes clear, captivating and spirited. Her lips. parted ever so slightly, a coolness radiating from her poised figure, at once stunning and aloof. Walden felt a curious itch in his heart at the sight of her. “Ms. Schnabel, I truly wish to befriend you. Mr. Pollack just isn’t right for you. Have you considered giving me a chance?”

The words had barely left his mouth when Erek thought the guy must be off his rocker. Their boss had laid it out plain as day, and yet here he was, pretending to be clueless?

That was just boring! On the spot, Erek coughed twice and whipped out his phone, beginning his performance with gusto.

“Mr. Pollack! This is Ms. Noella’s driver. We’ve met before. Ms. Noella had to swing by the bank to retrieve some items. Ran into some joker who had the nerve to suggest Ms. Noella should ditch you!”

Smiling, Erek turned to Walden, “Walden, care to chat with Mr. Pollack? He seems keen on making your acquaintance.”

Walden couldn’t believe even Noella’s driver lacked such tact. To think he had the gall to call Palmer to his face!

If Palmer learned he was brazenly hitting on his girl, would Walden even have a leg to stand on? Meeting Noella’s cool gaze, Walden clenched his teeth, “I have a feeling our paths will cross. again, and when they do, you’ll regret your choice today.”

Walden then strode away.

Erek handed the phone to Noella, and Palmer’s voice emerged from the receiver, “Why didn’t you tell me someone was bothering you? Walden? I’ve kept it in mind.”

“I’m fine; it was just a random encounter on the street.

“To think I didn’t know you were going to the bank today, and Walden ‘happens to be there? Quite the tactic!” Palmer adjusted his tie, his eyes glinting coldly at the documents before him, yet his voice exceedingly softened, “Join me for lunch today?”

“Can’t, I’ve got some things to take care of.”

“How about dinner then?”

“I have to return to the lab tonight.”

“Then let’s do a late–night snack; I’ll come get you.”

As the conversation unfolded, Noella couldn’t help but detect a whine in Palmer’s tone, as if he were almost…pouting.

07:33

But then she thought, the formidable CEO of the Pollack Group wouldn’t even know how to pout, right?

“Hurry up and agree, I have a meeting. If my people hear me talking like this, there goes my authority,” Palmer urged.

Noella could hardly picture the company staff’s reaction to Palmer’s tone; it would be quite the scene. Helplessly, she nodded, “Alright.”

After hanging up, Palmer’s voice instantly dropped a couple of degrees, icy and stern.

“Annie, bring up all recent dealings with the Gruber family.”

“Yes, Mr. Pollack. Are we cutting ties with them?”

A cold smile played on Palmer’s lips as his eyes narrowed menacingly. “We are going to outbid the Gruber family on every deal. They dare to hassle my fiancée; they will pay.”

Annie realized the gravity of the situation. Someone from the Gruber family had harassed their boss’s future wife!

Sweet and graceful Ms. Noella, stuck dealing with those relentless Gruber folks? The thought was unbearable!

“Yes, Mr. Pollack! Rest assured, I shall defend Ms. Noella to my last breath!”

Palmer raised his head and glanced at Annie, his gaze fleeting.

Annie quickly corrected herself, “Ms. Noella can only be my boss’s future wife! With an outstanding fiancé like you, Mr. Pollack, no man could ever take her away.”

That was close. She’d almost forgotten how jealous their boss could be, and she was just an ordinary employee admiring Ms. Noella. She wondered how much jealousy Palmer would have to swallow facing all of Noella’s brothers. The thought left a sour taste in Annie’s mouth.

Palmer turned away, giving a slight nod, his phone’s screen saver a picture of Noella – he seemed unable to get enough of her. As for those who dared to bother her, he would not let a single one off the hook.

Inside Rising Glory Bank, Noella, with the key to the safety deposit box, recovered the items left by her grandmother. Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

The box held simple jewelry, among them a jade bracelet her grandmother had always worn. There was also a letter.

[Noella, if you are reading this, I am no longer here. Everything here is for you, my dear. There are many things I’ve kept from you to protect you.

You have always been the apple of my eye. I hope you’ll always be healthy and happy.

After I’m gone, don’t go back to the Lambert family. They haven’t been kind to you, and I won’t

07:33

bless them. If you can, find your own family. Don’t mind those who treat you poorly; I will always watch over you.]

The letter was succinct but flooded Noella with emotions. She wept.

Grandma, when had she written this letter, and with what feelings had she come here alone to secure her possessions?

She must have feared the Lambert family would fight her for these items, hence she prepared everything in advance and entrusted it to Maddox.

These were her grandmother’s lifelong treasures. Noella had seen that jade bracelet when she was just a girl.

Vincent had once demanded that her grandmother sell it to fund his business ventures.

Grandma had refused, and Noella had never seen the bracelet since, thinking perhaps Vincent had taken it.

But in truth, her grandmother had left her most precious possessions to Noella! Grandma had always known Noella wasn’t a Lambert by blood!

In the end, Grandma had been thinking of her all along. Tears streamed down Noella’s cheeks, her voice choked with emotion.

“Grandma, you said there were many things you didn’t tell me; what are they? It’s okay, I’ll find out about the things you didn’t want to tell me on my own.”

Wiping away her tears, Noella carefully packed up everything in front of her and placed it back in the safety deposit box.

Then, after a moment’s thought, she reopened the box, took out a jade bracelet, and slipped it onto her wrist. It was as if Grandma was with her all along.

As she stepped out of the vault room, the bank manager approached.

“Ms. Schnabel, there’s six million in this passbook, and it’s in your name. You have the right to manage it.”

Six million?

How could Grandma have had so much money? No wonder Vincent was still fixated on the fortune Grandma had left behind!

“Give me the passbook. Keep everything else in the safety deposit box as is, and don’t touch the money.”

“It’s your call, Ms. Schnabel.”

Rising Glory Bank was under the purview of the Schnabel family, and the bank’s manager treated Noella with the same respect as his own boss.

In fact, he seemed to revere her even more! Everyone knew that winning over Ms. Schnabel was as good as winning over Mr. Schnabel himself!

“Ms. Schnabel, per Mr. Schnabel’s orders, our bank has allocated shares to you, so please feel free to direct me as you wish!”

She had shares in Rising Glory Bank too? That must have been Beckett’s doing. The Schnabel family were just like Grandma, always trying to give her what they thought was best for her.

Noella stepped out of the bank, glancing at the bracelet on her wrist. It was luminous and smooth, a comforting presence that made her feel as though Grandma was still by her side.