The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 226

Glancing at the designer outfits hugging the frames of Noella and Malvina, the shopkeeper knew instantaneously that these were ladies with deep pockets!

Rich folks, especially young heiresses, were his favorite—they were the easiest to dupe, swallowing any story he spun.

"Ladies, looking for some fine jade? Everything in my store is top-shelf material!" he boasted, his face a grotesque mask of greed despite his attempt at a welcoming smile.

Noella observed the hands of the shopkeeper. They lacked the calluses of a man who'd done time in the underworld, let alone the skilled hands of a true jade connoisseur. Clearly, he was a charlatan hired to swindle unsuspecting customers.

Sensing their silence, the shopkeeper feared letting two cash cows slip through his fingers. "Our pieces are unique treasures you can't find just anywhere. Take this bangle, for instance—it's top-of-the-line Glassy Type!"

Noella eyed the bangle in his hand, a chunk of resin masquerading as luxury. "A high-end piece made of plastic?"

The shopkeeper's hands trembled—a giveaway.

How had the girl discerned the fraud?

Maintaining his composure, he flashed another smile. "Ah, I see you have an eye for quality, miss. Then perhaps this piece will meet your standards. Genuine Glassy Type!"

Noella arched a brow. "Glassy Type made of actual glass?"

The shopkeeper's smile faltered. His counterfeits were usually top-notch, but this young lady saw through them with just a glance? In the past, when daughters of fortune came shopping for jade, they'd be fobbed off with resin or glass imitations. However, it seemed they had encountered a true connoisseur this time.

The shopkeeper's demeanor shifted as he scrutinized Noella.

She appeared young, barely twenty, perhaps a novice in the world of jade, having picked up a trick or two from her family's dealings? If she truly understood the value of jade, she wouldn't have set foot in his shop—something any genuine aficionado would know. After all, not a single item in his store was a genuine Glassy Type.

"You're not here to shop? Then what do you want?" he asked, a hint of hostility creeping into his voice.

Noella's gaze was icy as she replied, "We're looking for the real boss of this establishment."

"I am the boss. What business do you have with me?"

"You're not."

Even a shop dedicated to selling fakes wouldn't have a clueless man at the helm.

With a dismissive glance, Noella took Malvina by the arm and they left.

The shopkeeper watched them leave, sensing something amiss.

Had these two young women come merely to cause trouble? If they were looking for a fight, he wouldn't let them leave unscathed.

His expression deepened as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

After narrating the events, the person on the other end chuckled coldly. "Tail them. See which store they enter. If someone's trying to mess with me, make sure they never return home!"

As Noella and Malvina appeared on the surveillance feed, the caller's gaze shifted to a man shrouded in the shadows.

The middle-aged man who'd just issued threats suddenly wore a different expression.

"Mr. Larson Pollack, that girl is Palmer Pollack's darling. You really want to cross her here?"