Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 10: No More Space

Mariella couldn't help but sneer in frustration.

This time, she didn't rush to hang up, but shot back sharply, "Arrogant jerk, go to hell!"

"What?! What did you say?" Harvey's eyes widened in surprise.

"I said go to hell! You stupid idiot!" Mariella decisively hung up and added his number to her blacklist.

Lucky had already started barking furiously.

He heard that jerk's voice and wanted nothing more than to sink his teeth into him!

It was that jerk who had provoked his owner to abandon him. He wanted to tear him apart!

"Lucky, settle down." Mariella turned and reached back to soothe the dog in the back seat. "From now on, I'll never let that trash hurt you again. Never."

Lucky finally received the promise of loyalty from his owner. Feeling both wronged and overjoyed, tears welled up in his eyes.

...

In the VIP ward of a private hospital, the seriously injured Kingston was released on bail.

Harvey was also bailed out.

It had cost the Grahams and the Shepherds a fortune in money and favors. Coordinating everything to secure Kingston's and Harvey's release had been exhausting. But Jennifer was still stuck in the police station.

After all, no one wanted to spend that much money for an assistant and go around begging for favors. In Harvey's eyes, she wasn't worth it.

Kingston lay on the hospital bed, wrapped like a mummy, cursing Mariella relentlessly in impotent fury.

Harvey and the Shepherds stood nearby.

Mariella's voice came clearly from the phone.

"Arrogant jerk, go to hell!

"I said go to hell! You stupid idiot!"

If anyone hadn't heard it themselves, no one present would have believed Mariella had actually said that to Harvey.

Kingston even forgot to keep swearing.

Harvey's face turned red and pale in turns. He muttered, "Has Mariella been possessed or something?"

Roxanna clenched her delicate fingers, her voice trembling with unshed tears. "She must have misunderstood the relationship between us. That's why she's so extreme..."

"Wasn't Mariella Harvey's lapdog? How did she suddenly get so tough?" Kingston found it unbelievable.

At the same time, he recalled Mariella's dragon-like speed and fierce moves. She seemed like a completely different person, sending chills down his spine.

Fannie hurriedly scolded, "She's still your sister and Harvey's girlfriend. Even if she says or does something extreme, you need to treat her politely for your dad and Harvey's sake."

Fuming with anger, Kingston ignored his fear and snapped, "She's nothing! Don't think I'm afraid just because she suddenly knows how to fight. When I see her again, I'll have the dog bite her..."

But thinking of his own dog already being dead made his hatred for Mariella even stronger.

Connor was so furious that he felt like his head might explode. He turned to Harvey and said, "That ungrateful girl has gone mad! If you don't teach her a lesson soon, she'll kill us next!"

Harvey's temples throbbed, his chest burning with anger.

"Harvey, she's still your fiancée. You should forgive her," Roxanna advised sensibly.

He clenched his fists and said coldly, "I'm breaking off the engagement!"

Kingston snorted. "Just breaking off the engagement? That's too easy for her!"

A flash of cruelty passed in Harvey's eyes. "I'll make her pay!"

Once she was no longer his fiancée, he wouldn't have to hold back.

He would punish her mercilessly, ruin her reputation, and see how she'd survive the fallout.

...

Chandler did live up to his background as a retired special forces soldier. He was impressively efficient.

Mariella drove with Lucky to the newly rented facility and found that both the location and environment perfectly matched her requirements.

It was a closed club with five floors, which wasn't far from Celestine Ridge.

There was plenty of open space for team drills, and ample private rooms with attached bathrooms for dorms.

Chandler had also rented three seven-seat vans, low-profile yet comfortable, perfect for commuting with the team.

Mariella admired his efficiency while he presented a long bill.

"The rent for the space is steep. It's 160,000 for half a month, with the lease signed. Then there's the cost for the vans, hiring temporary staff to clean and organize, purchasing training equipment, setting up dorms, and installing security cameras. Add the deposits and rush fees, and the total comes to 620,000. We've already paid 470,000. Once everything is set, the remaining balance will be paid."

Mariella gave him a thumbs-up. "Spend what needs to be spent. You know so well how impatient I am!"

Speed was her only concern; saving money didn't matter.

Chandler's decisive style was perfectly in tune with her.

Seeing her smile so warmly, he was a little taken aback.

He expected complaints about the bill or for her to scold him for spending too much.

He had even prepared a retort. If she wanted things done fast and perfectly, she had to pay for it.

But she didn't complain at all. Instead, she kept praising him, making him feel a little embarrassed.

Chandler returned her card, but she waved him off.

"Keep the rest of the money for me. If anything else is needed for the facility, buy it as you see fit. Just give me the receipts afterward."

"Woof!" Lucky barked, asserting his presence.

Chandler glanced at the imposing black shepherd.

"Let me introduce him. This is my pet, Lucky." Mariella introduced them. "Lucky, this is my newly hired bodyguard captain, Chandler Zimmer. You two will be spending a lot of time together from now on!"

"Woof!" Lucky happily accepted Chandler, unlike his earlier dislike of Harvey.

Chandler studied the dog and praised, "Good dog."

"Woof!" Feeling validated, Lucky liked Chandler even more and wagged his big tail.

Mariella then introduced Lucky to the other five bodyguards.

Lucky sniffed their hands and memorized their scents. "Woof!"

She handed Lucky to Chandler. "While you train the bodyguards, train the dog too. When new teammates arrive, introduce them to him."

She was about to leave when Chandler called out, "Wait."

Mariella stopped, turned around, and raised an eyebrow.

"You should take a bodyguard with you," he reminded her.

She had hired so many, yet she was still going out alone.

Mariella smiled. "See? I told you—you're a responsible bodyguard captain."

The other bodyguards preferred to avoid trouble. If the employer didn't give orders, they were more than happy to slack off.

Chandler was different. He was genuinely responsible.

"Which one will you take?" Chandler asked, ready to call the five bodyguards over.

Mariella waved him off. "No need. You take them for drills first. Once Mr. Judd gathers the rest of the team, send someone to bring them over. You'll handle all future arrangements."

She was busy stockpiling supplies, so having a bodyguard along was inconvenient.

Chandler gave her a long look and nodded silently.

...

Mariella went to the outdoor gear store again.

This time, she stocked ten boxes of water purification tablets, 20 portable water filters, and 500 replacement filters. She also bought ten outdoor diesel generators and 20 triangular bayonets.

Besides, she purchased 20 of each item: hiking boots, softshell jackets, and hiking backpacks.

She loaded everything into the pickup bed and went to the outdoor water sports store again.

Some items had been temporarily out of stock yesterday, but the owner promised to source them from elsewhere.

When Mariella arrived, everything except the escape pods was ready.

She bought ten small motorboats with cabins, ten heavy-duty drones, ten small drones, 20 wetsuits, and 50 oxygen tanks. She also bought 50 bulletproof vests and 50 high-power walkie-talkies.

Satisfied, she paid without haggling.

The store owner was thrilled. She clearly had money to burn.

Except for the ten small motorboats needing delivery, he helped move the rest into the pickup truck and gave her a business card.

"Escape pods are made of special aerospace materials, have a limited supply, and require at least two weeks' booking. I'll expedite it for you. You can pick them up in five days. If there's anything else you need, just call me. I'll get it for you."

Mariella drove back to the garage and loaded all the supplies into her storage space.

The two-bedroom apartment was stuffed to the ceiling, and even the bathroom and kitchen were nearly filled.

Once the ten small motorboats arrived, there simply wouldn't be room.

Mariella realized she'd have to move part of the supplies to the rented facility to free up space for more stockpiling.