The Killer Queen ( Noella Briony ) novel Chapter 438

At the edge of the restaurant, the sound of cutlery clinking against plates was abruptly replaced by a thud as a hitman hit the floor, a steak knife and fork previously resting innocently by a diner's plate now lodged threateningly against the necks of two burly men at the next table.

A chorus of gasps filled the air!

By then, the man responsible was already strolling out of the diner, as casual as if he'd just finished a meal.

Receiving Palmer's message, Noella couldn't help but smirk.

Her phone rang immediately after.

"There are about a dozen hitmen in the diner."

"And another dozen on the first floor."

The information relayed by Polaris Star weighed heavily on Noella.

To think they sent such a force just to take out Stirling? Anyone would think the hitmen's guild was on some kind of team-building exercise!

After formulating a plan, Noella snapped her phone shut.

From Horatio's vantage point, Noella's stormy expression was clear as day, sending shivers down his spine.

A Noella this furious was often a Noella with murder on her mind.

Horatio muttered to himself, "That Soaring Bird really hit the jackpot to piss off Noella like this. Must've been some kind of karmic luck!"

...

On the first deck of the cruise ship, in Stirling's room.

His agent said, "Stirling, we're shooting on the deck next. Here's your outfit."

Glancing at the tuxedo laid out on the bed, Stirling waved it off impatiently.

For some reason, he couldn't shake a feeling of unease, sensing many eyes on him wherever he went that day!

His agent suggested, "Maybe they're all fans of yours, Stirling?"

"I don't recall ever having a fanbase of burly white men in their thirties."

His movies and shows weren't exactly the type to appeal to that demographic!

The agent joked, "You're selling yourself short, Stirling. Online, you're hailed as the epitome of Asian male beauty."

Stirling shot back warily, "Cut it out!"

Was he talking about Asian beauty or some western popularity contest?

Thinking about those gazes, Stirling felt increasingly uncomfortable, his instincts telling him those men were targeting him...

This was not good.

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation, and the agent went to answer it.

Yasbel entered, holding a large bottle of champagne, making herself at home without invitation.

"Mr. Schnabel still up for a shoot?" she asked nonchalantly.

"...Shouldn't I be?"

This shoot was for an international top-tier magazine, aiming for the cover of the New Year edition—a high-profile gig.

Yasbel poured herself a glass of champagne and snapped her fingers.

"Don't mind me, carry on with your shoot. I'm just here to watch. My boss sent me."

Knowing Noella sent her, Stirling didn't know whether to feel disappointed or relieved. His gaze lingered on Yasbel, "Why are you on this ship?"

"Followed a girl here, just happened to see you too, so I thought I'd drop by."

Had it not been for following the kidnappers of Dalia, Yasbel wouldn't have stumbled upon Stirling surrounded by no less than thirty top-tier assassins.

Stirling, on high alert, asked, "Following a girl? You're not into women, are you…?"

Yasbel, offended, threw her glass of champagne in Stirling's face!

Cursing, she snapped, "Shut up! If you can't speak nicely, don't speak at all! Go do your photoshoot!"

Hastily, Stirling grabbed the tuxedo to get changed.

Yasbel, unbothered, checked the room for any surveillance, pulling out her phone.

"Boss, five bugs and two cameras in Stirling's room."