better luck tomorrow

C A N O N   P R E V I E W :   K A L Y A   W A T A K E E K U L - R I B E I R O

// ALIVE, 34 // OPEN // SUGGESTED PORTRAYAL — NATHAPOHN TEMIRAK

Kalya was originally a Manager overseeing a fledgling pharmaceutical company recently acquired by Rise Holdings. Due to her strong entrepreneurial spirit, she saw this as an opportunity to even further expand the syndicate's portfolio. Relatively well-versed in chemistry and pharmacology herself, Kalya spearheaded a new venture into the drug trade, severing their need for attaining goods from mainland China and instead developing their own source. The company is now a front for said druglording, and Kalya made such an impression upon upperleadship in the syndicate that they found no fault into placing her in the Managing Director position in the interim during her father's incapacitation.

This is both a blessing and curse for her. While Kalya enjoys her roles in the syndicate, she has been in a volatile relationship with her father since his remarrying following her mother's death after a longtime illness. Kalya did not have a bad relationship with her father while growing up, but the aforementioned ailment added a new level of stress to their relationship that has since been in shambles.

To say Kalya does not like her step-mother, Marguerite Ribeiro, is an understatement. She more loathes her, and even 'hate' is probably not strong enough a word. Kalya is convinced that Marguerite is simply a gold-digging hag and that she was the one who put her father in a coma to begin with.

And she may not be wrong.

But that's just one of many problems she's sorting out. Lately the number of attacks on her life have increased due to her encouragement of Rise Holdings' venture into the drug world. Many competitors fear Rise Holdings' influence while others that they've severed ties with for no longer needing them are holding grudges. Her bodyguard, Ryland Lee has got a lot of work cut out for him.

*Since Rufino Ribeiro’s marriage to Marguerite, Kalya began going by her mother's maiden name, hence the 'Watakeekul'.

C A N O N   P R E V I E W :   I K E D A   Y U U D A I

// ALIVE, 46 // OPEN // SUGGESTED PORTRAYAL — TAKESHI KANESHIRO

A former cop that absolutely went rogue while attempting to infiltrate the Kong clan. He'd been attempting to arrest Edison Kong and manipulate him into providing testimony against the rest of Rise Holdings in turn for a lighter sentence, but following Edison's death, Yuudai found himself wavering.

Now, he's left that old life with the law and has been loyal to Ya Wen Kong's leadership. Yuudai maintains close ties with criminal organizations in Japan that Rise Holdings may have. He is also a liaison between Mei Wei Kong and her fiance, Nakajima Katsuro.

C A N O N   P R E V I E W :   A M A N D I N E   W U

// ALIVE, 43 // OPEN // SUGGESTED PORTRAYAL — BERENICE MARLOHE

Amandine met Ya Wen Kong when she briefly cut ties with the syndicate following her divorce with Zifu Sun's half-brother. During that time, the pair worked heist jobs together back in Europe.

She has since become Ya Wen's Deputy Director and especially relishes her role as advisor to Ya Wen. However, her greed is beginning to bear its teeth.

Amandine happened to observe Ya Wen's daughter's, Mei Wei Kong, low key relationship with one of the clan's "employees", Carlos Velasco. Secretly aware that he is actually an undercover cop working on infiltrating the syndicate, Amandine has not yet shared any of this information with Ya Wen, thinking that she may be able to leverage this later on into an attempt to overthrow Ya Wen and take the faction for herself.

C A N O N   P R E V I E W :   D U A R T E   &   S A N C H O   C O R D E R O

// ALIVE, 25 // OPEN // SUGGESTED PORTRAYAL — ROBIN LOO

Twin brothers, Duarte and Sancho Cordero, both serve the Cordero family simultaneously as Deputy Director to their mother, Lina Cordero, and co-heads of the gang specially affiliated with the clan, the Cotai Kings. The gang was originally founded by their father, Herminio Cordero, before it was partially-assimilated into Rise Holdings. It gained a resurgence following the twins' ascension into their roles.

The brothers are both equal in strength and intelligence, and are often praised for their quick integration into their roles. Neither have preference between the more "corporate" side of the organization, or getting their hands dirty with more "fieldwork" with the Cotai Kings which is why they are often seen in both roles. Some say they also have the spooky penchant for being able to communicate without vocalizing, which makes them even stronger as co-leaders.

The twin brothers have been getting groomed for the family business, something Herminio felt very passionate about in light of the alleged death of their big sister, Iria Cordero. However, her return has current situations a bit muddled. Although being reassured by others, including their parents, that Iria's return does nothing to affect their futures in the organization, they will only admit to one another that they feel slightly threatened by her return. Even so, they may be justified in this since Iria's motives are ultimately detrimental to the family and RH as a whole.

C A N O N   P R E V I E W :   L I N A   C O R D E R O

// ALIVE, 58 // OPEN // SUGGESTED PORTRAYAL — MING NA WEN

Although not blood-related, Lina and Zifu Sun grew up together and are best friends, following suit after their own fathers who were also essentially partners in crime. The pair of them are no different—Lina's role for Rise Holdings as Executive Chairwoman effectively makes her second in leadership only to Zifu, and it's quite apparent that the two of them hold each others' opinions in high regard.

Lina is known for her sharp wit and even sharper blade—both of which her husband, Herminio Cordero fell in love with those thirty-something years ago. Although embroiled in a frighteningly "family-oriented" business, she does her best to keep work and personal elements separate given the violent, changeable, and delicate nature of her faction's responsibilities. It's nearly impossible to imagine anyone else leading the Cordero clan and its businesses as apt as she. So much so, it's hard to believe that she would have done something like fake her first child's death to keep her safe.