Chapter 221
Under the bright streetlights, two shadows fell, their outlines merging as if they were nestled close in an intimate embrace.
The peculiar romanticism cast by the overlapping lights, coupled with the voice still echoing in Noella’s ears, made her heart skip a
beat.
It must be from when she went a little too hard in the scuffle earlier, the adrenaline probably sped up her heartbeat!
Noella steadied herself and looked away. With purposeful strides, she headed toward a parked car. “I need to make a run to the underground auction.”
Palmer followed Noella, smoothly opening the driver’s side door. “I’ll drive my fiancée there. Heard there’s some juicy intel up for grabs tonight, and we’re just in time.”
–
His wrist was wrapped in a bandage – not a serious injury, but not ideal for driving.
As
doctor, Noella didn’t want her patient risking further harm right in front of her.
She pressed down on Palmer’s hand. “Take a seat. I’ll drive.”
“Didn’t you mention your driver’s license test is still on the to–do list?”
Noella had already nudged Palmer into the passenger seat and buckled up like a pro, her gaze steady on the road ahead.
“The route to the auction is off the radar, no worries.”
The auction, nestled deep within the urban jungle, operated in a legal gray area where no one batted an eye at the law!
Besides, it was hidden behind the Polaris Star’s own underground fight club, with all surrounding surveillance firmly under their control.
Noella floored the gas pedal, and the car lurched into motion!
Palmer watched Noella with admiration. She managed to look adorable even when focused on driving!
Half an hour later, Noella and Palmer arrived at the underground auction.
Noella opened the car’s glove box, retrieving two masks and handing one to Palmer.
She donned her mask, and Palmer tied it securely behind her head with his slender fingers.
After ensuring Noella’s identity was concealed, he relaxed.
“Thanks.”
“To show your gratitude, my fiancée, please help me with mine.”
Noella couldn’t very well refuse such a request. It was only polite. She took Palmer’s mask, securing it on him.
Palmer chuckled, taking Noella’s hand. “Let’s go. Spotted a few familiar faces earlier; tonight should be quite intriguing.”
“The Pollack family?”
The young lady beside him was clad in a sleek and elegant suit, her demeanor cool and detached, exuding an aura of untouchable grace. Her raven hair was pinned up, revealing her slender neck – a commanding presence reminiscent of a queen. Despite the mask, her appearance still drew lingering glances!
Palmer shielded her from the intrusive eyes. “Yes, they seem to have an interest in tonight’s offerings too.”
It wasn’t unusual for the Pollack family to frequent the underground auction, especially tonight with the buzz that had built up for weeks. Palmer had received his invitation a month ago, but knowing Noella would attend, he preferred her company over engaging in the cutthroat bidding war.
Every time he saw her, Palmer’s gaze was glued to Noella, not wanting to miss a moment.
The auction staff, dressed not in traditional attire but rather in crisp uniforms, treated the pair with utmost respect. The quality of their invitations and the air they exuded told the staffer they were not to be trifled with.
“Esteemed guests, please follow me,”
They were led to a private booth. For security, the door was veiled.
The staffer handed them an electronic tablet. “Tonight’s auction items are listed here. Should you find something of interest, simply place your bid on this device, All bids from private booths will be displayed, ensuring total anonymity.”
Noella nodded. “Thank you.”
Once the staffer left and the curtain was drawn, the booth dimmed.
Palmer removed his mask and began absentmindedly playing with Noella’s hair.
1/2
10:32
Noella frowned slightly. “You’re messing up my hair.”
It had been neatly done, but Palmer’s fiddling had caused a few strands to stray. Yet, he looked Innocently at her.
She sighed. How childish could he be? Playing with her hair at his age!
Palmer glanced at her hair. “Allow me to fix it for you.”
He delicately removed the fairpin from her hair, his fingers gently combing through the soft strands before carefully pinning it back in place. Unbeknownst to Noella, the hairpin she now wore was different from the one she had before.
Palmer admired his handiwork, his eyes filled with tender fondness. He had longed to replace that hairpin. He knew his fiancée was stoic yet deeply loyal. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have cherished the hairpin from Ulrich so dearly. She honored her family in her own way, but he hoped the hairpin she wore would be one he had given her.
Noella was too focused on the electronic tablet to notice the swap. “It seems last auction’s fiasco and tonight’s high stakes have prompted a change in how things are done.”
“You mean the robbery that wiped out two gangs outside the last auction?”
Such news wasn’t a secret among their circles. Raids for auction items were common, but seldom on such a grand scale.
Palmer loosened his tie and settled into the sofa, his arm casually draped behind Noella, almost as if he was holding her.
“Curious about who ended up with the last item?”
“You know?”
“Of course. The item’s details were confidential. It wasn’t easy for those gangs to get the intel and show up in time.”
With a wry smile playing at the corners of his mouth, Palmer watched Noella’s reaction unfold.
“Was it you who spilled the beans?”
“Guilty as charged. After all, it’s all in the family with the Pollack Group–think of it as housekeeping for me.”
The Pollack family was an empire with deep roots and a multitude of factions–over a dozen, to be precise. For Palmer to tighten his grip on the family reigns, he needed to sweep away any riff–raff!
Noella lifted her gaze to the man before her.
The dim light of the private booth barely illuminated their surroundings, except for a lone lamp casting a warm glow upon his striking features.
“I guess it’s a case of ‘when two dogs fight for a bone, a third runs away with it.”
Since Palmer had brought it up, the prize must have surely ended up in his hands!
“Sharp as ever, my fiancée! As a reward, tonight you can buy whatever your heart desires, on
dime.”
Noella shifted her gaze away.
Why was this man so keen on dishing out rewards all the time? Was he simply too flush with cash, or just bored out of his mind?
