The Killer Queen

Palmer was a bit taken aback – this box had a super tight lock system, the kind where if one messed up the unlocking process, it would seal itself shut forever.

The moment he laid eyes on the box, Palmer got what the old man was driving at.

He was almost completely certain his grandfather was using the unlock–the–box excuse to get him to bring her home and keep her there.

But who would’ve thought? Noella cracked it open just like that, leaving Sexton, who was rubbernecking from the window, utterly gobsmacked!

What the heck was going on with this kid?

Why didn’t Palmer let Noella know the key was at the house and that she needed to follow him home to open the box? Now she had gone and opened it, and all his plotting went down the drain!

Palmer looked at Noella with an extra tender gaze.

Seemed like she was full of more surprises than he had ever imagined!

Noella deftly opened the box to find two things inside: a photo and a key.

The kid in the photo was cute as a button – a mini version of Palmer. Young Palmer was as adorable as a doll, with a chubby, fair face and cherry lips, though… he was dressed in a skirt.

Noella couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the photo. She never imagined Palmer had such a picture from his childhood.

Palmer panicked for a second when he saw the photo.

Why did Grandpa put that picture in the box? Didn’t he say last time that those cross–dressing photos were all destroyed?

When Palmer looked up, he caught Sexton behind the curtain, throwing him a peace sign.

“When was this taken?” Noella asked.

Palmer was a bit resigned but answered anyway.

“When I was three. My mother liked to… do this kind of thing.”

“It’s pretty cute, I’m keeping it.”

Palmer’s expression was a bit bitter.

“I think you could make better choices, like taking a portrait with me. The Pollack Group has a top– notch photography team. You could have lots of pictures you like instead of this one.”

Noella looked up, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Then give me back that photo in your wallet.”

1/4

11:50

Palmer was caught off guard. When did she notice he had a photo of her as a kid in his wallet?

There weren’t many photos of Noella from the Lambert family; the only childhood ones were taken by Old Mrs. Lambert. They were faded, but thinking of them as Noella’s only childhood memories made Palmer’s heart melt. He ended up carefully preserving it, tucking it into his seven–figure leather wallet.

“I have other photos from my childhood.”

“I only want this ‘dress‘ one of you.”

Seeing her insistence, Palmer threw in the towel.

Noella picked up the key from the box, “What’s this key for?”

“It’s for the Pollack ancestral home. Grandpa is telling you he approves of you becoming the future lady of the Pollack family.”

With the wealth and status of the Pollack family, it took more than a key to get into the old house, but the key symbolized absolute ownership.

Noella frowned slightly. “This is too valuable; I can’t take it.”

“Grandpa is watching. If you hand it back to me, he might get upset.” As Palmer said this, he subtly gestured towards Sexton.

Noella looked up to see Sexton practically hanging out of the window, looking like he was about to jump. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Noella! If you don’t take that key, I’ll jump right now, and you, Palmer, you useless lump, can arrange my funeral! I’ve got my coffin all picked out!”

Worried the old man might slip and do something rash, Noella reluctantly accepted the key. Palmer nodded at Sexton, who hopped back in, delighted, and started filming Noella and Palmer together.

It was just too perfect! A match made in heaven!

Palmer said with a soft smile, “Take it. It’s just a key. If not for you, I probably would never have the chance to give it away.”

Though it was just a key, it represented half the empire of the Pollack family.

“Alright, I’ll take it for now. If you want it back, you can come to me.”

“Sorry for the hassle. To make it up to you, let me take you out to eat and share some info about Thorpe.”

Noella was puzzled. She took the key to the Pollack ancestral home, and he was apologizing?

Yet, Palmer’s reasoning left her with no way to refuse.

“Okay.”

11:51

Annie, standing in front of the car, quickly opened the door for Noella, “Miss, please get in.”

Noella’s gaze swept from Annie’s face, noting a red mark, and she was surprised.

Who had the nerve to be so rough with Palmer’s secretary?

“What happened to your face?”

Annie didn’t expect Noella to notice her face, let alone show such concern, and she was nearly in tears from emotion!

Look at that – such a kind and gentle miss, soon to be her boss lady!

“I’m fine; thank you for your concern, miss.”

Noella pulled out a tube of ointment from her pocket and handed it to Annie. “It’ll heal in a week. Be more careful next time.”

Annie, overwhelmed, covered her mouth in disbelief, looking at Noella holding the ointment. She acted as though what she had done was nothing, just casually giving her some ointment.

“Miss… I’ll apply it every day! And when it’s used up, I’ll enshrine the jar and light incense for it every day!”

Noella was speechless. It was just a jar of ointment, no need for all that.

Getting in the car, Palmer took Noella’s hand and admired it.

Seeing Noella’s concern for Annie’s face, his gaze also fell on Annie.

“Annie, what happened?”

“I was downstairs waiting for you and Miss‘ when I ran into Miss Yvonne, wheeling Ashlyn out for some sun. Miss Yvonne seemed to have some doubts about my work abilities and just came at me…”

Annie was pretty miffed. After all, Yvonne was a daughter of the Schnabel family. She thought that a Schnabel girl, no matter how outrageous, would be somewhat like Noella. But nope, Yvonne came at her and slapped her right in the face.

Yvonne even accused her of trying to seduce Palmer, saying she dressed too seductively every day, definitely up to no good, asking if she had been badmouthing her to Palmer.

Annie was speechless!

She would have to be out of my mind to get a crush on her boss while on the clock. It was like a total smear against working stiffs and a slap in the face to her professional integrity. Plus, she was just

wearing a normal business suit and skirt, and it was all below the knees!

Out of the blue, she got slapped, and she was gonna just suck it up and let it slide, but Miss Noella even noticed such a small incident and gave her some medicine.

Such an amazing young lady, kind, gentle, intelligent, and elegant. Annie swore that from now on, she would be her loyal follower!

11:51

Noella didn’t expect Yvonne to have such a big beef with just the secretary by Palmer’s side,

“It’s not just me. The last time Miss Yvonne visited the office, she even said she wanted to fire all our receptionists.”

Looked like Yvonne’s got it in for all the female employees at the Pollack Group.

Palmer caught Noella’s scrutinizing gaze. His survival instincts kicked into high gear, and he quickly clarified. “It wasn’t me who told her to go to the office. She showed up on her own, and I’ve already instructed the company’s security to blacklist her!”

Noella didn’t expect Yvonne to have such a big beef with just the secretary by Palmer’s side.

“It’s not just me. The last time Miss Yvonne visited the office, she even said she wanted to fire all our receptionists.”

Looked like Yvonne’s got it in for all the female employees at the Pollack Group.

Palmer caught Noella’s scrutinizing gaze. His survival instincts kicked into high gear, and he quickly clarified, “It wasn’t me who told her to go to the office. She showed up on her own, and I’ve already instructed the company’s security to blacklist her!”