The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

"That person might not even have to be a guy!" Linnea declared with conviction. "I've seen enough men letting women down while I was volunteering abroad. If Mr. Pollack could treasure you, that would be fantastic. If not, he should be dumped! There are so many people in the world; you should find the best one out there!"

Noella looked at Linnea for a moment and then burst into laughter. "The one I chose might not be the best. but he's definitely the right one for me. Like, choosing you as my secretary is the best fit for me. Isn't it?” Linnea blushed! Did Noella just say... she was the best fit for her?!

She stuttered, "I'll do my best! I know about the thing with Yvonne Schnabel, how you aren’t too fond of her, I... I might be her sister, but I'm definitely not like her!"

"You don't look like her."

Linnea felt a bit disappointed, "The Schnabel family compare me to her because we were found in the same place and both taken in by the Schnabel family."

It inevitably made them a point of comparison. Especially since Yvonne, with Ashlyn's instigation, had been making a show of power within the Schnabel family, often suppressing Linnea both overtly and covertly. It was nothing but saying she wasn't a child of the Schnabel family and should get out!

Recalling those moments made Linnea feel unbearable! What if Ms. Schnabel, because of those matters, looked down on her like the other children from the sidelines of the Schnabel family..

Noella's voice echoed not far from her. "You're not like her, at least she wouldn't use the money she earned from part-time jobs to sponsor scholarships for impoverished girls. May I ask why you only sponsor girls?"

Linnea didn't expect Noella to know about her deeds! She never thought to publicize her secret sponsorship, not even the Schnabel family knew!

"Because boys not attending school often choose not to, but girls in the mountains don't have the chance. I want to help them see the world beyond their mountains! I was lucky to meet my grandparents, but they weren't as fortunate!" Finding Noella listening intently, Linnea finally felt at ease. “It's nothing much, I don't earn a lot. Repaying the Schnabel family’s kindness is impossible, so I do what I can!"

“Count me in then. I'll transfer funds to your account, I'll handle the finances for the scholarships, but you'll select the candidates. Will it bother you?” Linnea quickly shook her head!

"No, not at all. Ms. Schnabel, your joining this cause is wonderful!"

"Then it's settled.”

"Thank you, Ms. Schnabel!”

Linnea danced with joy, then realizing she might be losing her composure, quickly exited the garden

Mizar swung down from a tree near Noella, watching Linnea leave.

"Boss, I did some digging; she's kind of the black sheep in the Schnabel family.”

"Go on.”

"Because she was adopted, Linnea isn't exactly favored in the Schnabel family. Many kids from the sidelines don't treat her well. She was bullied by Yvonne as a child.”

Noella already had an idea from Linnea's earlier hints that her past with the Schnabel family wasn't exactly pleasant. "Boss, just be careful, okay?”

“Careful of what?”

Mizar patted Noella's shoulder, solemnly saying. "Boss, have you been told you could swing both ways?"Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Noella glanced at Mizar.

"I suppose I could, especially with someone like you. Breaded and deep-fried, you'd be quite the snack."

Mizar shivered and, with a scream, ran off.

At dusk.

Palmer gata few calls in the afternoorvand, after a heartfelt = goodbye with Noella, boarded the next flight out to handle international business for the Pollack Group.

Linnea knocked on the office door, "Ms. Schnabel, it's six o'clock, are you continuing to work?"

"Let's call it a day.” Noella stretched and handed Linnea the neatly arranged projects. "Follow the procedures, and if there's any issue, give me a call." Noella had managed to arrange all the recent work in just an afternoon! Even the hotel's kitchen menu was revamped!

"Ms. Schnabel, won't you be visiting the hotel lately?"

"No, I've got a science conference to attend, might be a while before I return."

Actually, if not for a sudden decision, Noella probably wouldn't have visited the hotel today. But since she was here, she efficiently handled what could be done.

Linnea's eyes brightened!

"A science conference, could I join you?"

"Interested in science?”

"I'm applying for schools, still undecided on a few topics!"

The science summit would host researchers from various projects, some even funded by the Schnabel family. It wasn't a bad idea for Linnea to tag along.

"I'll get you an entry ticket."

"Thank you, Ms. Schnabel!”

Imperial University.

The autumn breeze was cool, and Oriana wrapped her coat tighter around herself, sniffing

Finally spotting a familiar car, she complained as she got in, "Linnea, what took you so long? I called you ages ago!”

Linnea glanced at her. "I'm at work. How do you expect me to come and pick you up?”

Oriana and Linnea had been friends for years, having spent part of their childhood living next door to each other. They grew up together!

Linnea drove a modest sedan, and Oriana made a face. "Your family is loaded. Why don't you drive something nicer? The car your brother drove last time was top-notch!”

Linnea responded coolly, "Yeah. my family has money, not issues. That car is his, not mine. You think I should just take it?”

Oriana's face fell into a pout.

“What am Fgoing to do? The school is really « going to kick me out! It’ SJ wall Noella’s 3 fault. If she hadn't beers sO relentiess, I wouldn't be in thissmess. She's-such a small-town girlso petty!" ~ -

Hearing the familiar name, Linnea furrowed her brows. "What are you talking about? Why are you getting expelled?" Oriana quickly recounted the incident at school, though her version made her sound like the victim, embellishing the story to her advantage. To hear her tell it, she was just a poor girl bullied by the wealthy Noella, making Noella’s actions seem utterly reprehensible.

"But it doesn't matter, Garrick is going to arrange a new department head, and I refuse to believe all the teachers will side with the Schnabel family!

Linnea, younave to help me! You» know so many influencers, right? Just say I was bullied by Ms, Noélla of the Schnabel family! I refuse to believe it won't make waves!"

“You want to use those influencers to spread bad things about Noella?" "It's not spreading bad things, it’s the truth! Linnea, we've been friends since we were kids. Don’t you believe me?"

Linnea was bombarded by Oriana's incessant complaints. She pulled the car over to the side of the road and looked at Oriana with a stern face. "Get out of my car!"