Rafael’s expression shifted into a blend of frustration and humiliation, unmistakably showing that Cindy held him in low regard. While he recognized Cindy’s courteous demeanor towards Hera as part of her role as a gracious host, the disparity in treatment was like a sharp blow to his pride, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Hera and Athena exchanged a subtle nce, struggling to contain their amusement as they observed the shifting expressions on Rafael’s face. It was undeniably entertaining to witness his reaction.


    Cindy, however, remained focused on attending to her young miss’s food preferences and habits, aiming to deepen her understanding of Hera. She even took note of any potential dietary restrictions to prevent any future mishaps.


    However, finding none, she decided to inquire directly. "Miss Ainsley, do you have any dietary restrictions?"


    Athena interjected jokingly on Hera’s behalf. "Miss Brent, there’s no need to worry. Hera here can eat anything, as long as it’s delicious. So, no need for concern."


    With a yful pout, Hera countered, "Are you suggesting I’m a glutton?" Her expression was endearing, inviting Athena to continue the yful banter.


    "Are you not?" Athena teased with a snort.


    Cindy savored the closeness between the two friends and indulged in their banter as if the entire room belonged solely to them. Meanwhile, Rafael’s growing irritation at being ignored became palpable.


    However, he couldn’t help but notice the exceptional level of attention Cindy was giving Hera, surpassing mere hospitality. Yet, he struggled toprehend why Cindy would be so invested in an ordinary college student. Intrigued, he found himself studying Hera more closely, searching for what might warrant such special treatment.


    <i>’Perhaps it’s her beauty?’</i> Rafael mused internally. <i>’She could easily grace the silver screen as a goddess or a peerless beauty.’</i> The longer he observed her, the more her features appealed to his aesthetic sensibilities, stirring his capitalist instincts once again.


    As his curiosity grew, he couldn’t resist asking, "Miss Ainsley, have you ever considered bing a celebrity?"


    The sudden question interrupted the yful banter between Athena and Hera, drawing their attention to Rafael. They both turned to him simultaneously, curiosity etched on their faces.


    Athena jumped in before Hera could respond, letting out a theatrical sigh. "Oh, please, do tell! I’ve been trying to convince my dear friend here to grace the silver screen for ages. s, she’s just too shy." Athena shrugged dramatically, her eyes sparkling with mischief.


    Hera shook her head with a resigned smile, ustomed to her friend’s ir for the dramatic. She couldn’t help but find amusement in Athena’s antics, even in serious moments.


    "Howe I’ve never seen that shyness in the interview earlier? She acted so well that it appeared so natural," Rafael sneered, his tone dripping with skepticism.


    Athena’s dramatic act came to an abrupt halt, and she fell silent.


    Hera met Rafael’s gaze squarely, her smile unwavering. "Oh, sir, you’re overestimating my capabilities. Those were genuine feelings I experienced during that interview. Although I don’t expect you to understand the feeling of being dumped, I do hope you can rte to being maliciously targeted, given your own experiences throughout your career." Her words were delivered with a calm resolve, devoid of any hint of backing down.


    Then she continued, "If you’re genuinely curious about whether I n on bing a celebrity, well, I couldn’t see myself bing one before. As I mentioned earlier, I was busy making ends meet. Though I’ve now freed myself from working as if my life depended on it, I still have other considerations and obligations to contend with." With a formal smile, she concluded her response.


    "I appreciate the offer, Mr. Briley, but I don’t have any ns to pursue a career in the entertainment industry," Hera respectfully declined with a smile.


    "Then consider it an open invitation. Feel free to reach out if you change your mind," Rafael persisted.


    "I’m afraid I won’t be changing my mind," Hera replied firmly.


    Rafael sighed in frustration, feeling like he was missing out on a lucrative opportunity. "Very well, let’s exchange numbers so I can provide you with the contract details and where you can get itter."


    Observing Hera’s momentarily confused expression, Rafael began to feel a twinge of irritation, sensing she might be misunderstanding him. "Just to rify, I’m referring to the contract pertaining to our earlier agreement regarding my sister."


    Hera’s puzzled expression quickly transformed into a lighthearted realization. "Oh, I see!" she eximed, lightly tapping her nose in a gesture of self-deprecation.


    With a few swift taps on his phone, Rafael navigated to his contacts and handed the device to Hera to input her number. Hera didn’t hesitate, swiftly entering her contact details. Despite her initial misunderstanding, she couldn’t help feeling a touch awkward for jumping to conclusions.


    However, Rafael had ulterior motives for securing Hera’s contact information. While she might not be interested in celebrity status now, he harbored the intention of capitalizing on any future financial difficulties she might face, luring her into a contractual agreement for his benefit. A sly smirk yed across his lips at the prospect of manipting the situation to his advantage. "Sooner orter, you’ll find yourself in my grasp, Hera Ainsley," he mused silently.


    After Hera finished inputting her number into Rafael’s phone, she handed it back to him. Rafael took a moment to ring her phone, ensuring the connection was established correctly. Satisfied when her phone rang, he returned his device to the inner pocket of his suit and offered Hera a smile. "Thank you for your time,dies. I hope I haven’t taken up too much of your evening, and I trust you enjoyed the dishes." He paused momentarily before discreetly pressing the button under the table to summon the server, ensuring the threedies had finished their meal before concluding their meeting.


    When the server arrived, Rafael gestured to him that he would be paying the bill. Shortly after, three additional servers appeared to clear the table. The server who had taken the check returned promptly with the receipt and a card reader, ready for payment.


    Athena remembered to request that the server pack up the remaining food for takeout. "Could you please pack these into clean containers for takeout? Thank you!" she said with a big smile. Although the servers seemed surprised, as it was umon for customers to request leftovers to be packed up, theyplied and sent the food to the kitchen to be packed.


    Even Rafael took a second look at Athena and offered, "If you’d like, you can just ce a new order for takeout. Don’t worry about the bill." His eyebrows raised in surprise as if he were witnessing a new continent appear before him.


    "Nah... I prefer the leftovers," Athena replied casually.


    Rafael shot Athena an odd look, which was hard to describe. Hera notices his expression and finds it amusing. She quickly interjected to save her friend’s image. "Mr. Briley, please don’t misunderstand. As regr college students who live paycheck to paycheck, we live frugally and don’t like to waste leftovers when we eat out. We usually pack them to take home and eat the next day. I suppose you could consider it a normal practice for people like us."


    Instead of his expression easing up, it only became even more odd.


    <i>’Then, did she just intentionally order a lot of food to take out so she can save up some food to store in her fridge?’</i> He thought and looked at Athena in disdain. He is not being petty and he does notck that bit of money but he feels used and now thinks badly of Athena.


    His contemtions remained hidden from Hera and Athena. Even if they were privy to his thoughts, they likely wouldn’t be fazed; perhaps they would simplyugh it off, as their prioritiesy elsewhere.