Chapter 182 Call me by my Name
"Oh!" Hera’s brain was still processing Rafael’s request when he added, "Call me by my name." His tone was authoritative before he turned and walked off toward Luke and the others, leaving Hera standing there, baffled.
In reality, he seemed to be fleeing, unwilling to hear Hera refuse, so he hurried back to his friends, leaving her with no choice but to comply.
Hera tilted her head to the side, attempting to decipher Rafael’s thoughts, but her own mind was drawing blanks. She couldn’t quite grasp what Rafael was up to, but she decided to let it be. As long as it wasn’t working against her, she was fine with it. She resolved to call him Rafael, baby, or whatever he preferred for now, in order to foster a closer relationship with him. After all, his request wasn’t such a big deal, so she opted to go with the flow.
Seeing that everyone was having fun on their own, Hera decided to mix some cocktails she learned from one of the bartenders at her previous workplace. She crafted strong concoctions that also tasted great, ones famous among both men and women. Using vodka and bourbon as the base, she added yogurt drink, crushed berries, mint, and orange peel for decoration. Although it looked like a cocktail women would enjoy, it was a hit with everyone. Hera didn’t stop there; she added more classics like Manhattan, Negroni, and Martini to the tray before placing them on the coffee table in front of her guests.
"I hope you’re all having a good time. Please, help yourselves to these cocktails. They’re on the house," Hera said with a charming smile as she carefully arranged the drinks on the table.
Victor was the first to pick up a glass of martini, savoring the taste before breaking into a smile. Unbeknownst to him, Hera had played a little prank with these cocktails, like a game of Russian roulette. One of them contained the strongest liquor she could find in her bar, and whoever chose that cocktail would surely feel the kick in a few minutes. But by then, they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. Hera found it amusing to watch who would be the unlucky person. She wasn’t worried that others might think she was doing it on purpose to get someone into bed or something; she had some lines prepared just in case.
She wasn’t foolish enough to stoop to that level and sacrifice her own dignity to trap a man. What she was doing wasn’t just a harmless prank; she wanted it to serve as a lesson to the male leads. It was a reminder not to always drink whatever was handed to them, no matter how innocuous the situation seemed, especially in an unfamiliar environment.
She was aware that male leads typically exercise caution in such situations. However, a few instances flashed through her mind where, despite their usual carefulness, circumstances led to them falling vulnerable and being found by Alice while under the influence of an aphrodisiac. Surprisingly, these encounters played a pivotal role in solidifying Alice’s bond with the five male leads, marking significant milestones in their relationship.