Koray, known to most as Orpheus, was Agatha’s older brother and four years her senior. With short, dark hair that framed his face in a tousled yet refined manner, he had a striking presence, one that some members of the gang even claimed rivaled his sister’s beauty. His piercing eyes, intense and unwavering, seemed to convey a sense of deep resolve, earning him an air of almost aristocratic elegance and authority. Despite this outward appearance, Koray’s personality was far more reserved.

As a true introvert, he was accustomed to working behind the scenes, making critical decisions with quiet precision rather than seeking the spotlight, unlike his sister. For example, when they were younger, their parents had bought an empty lot to use as a refuge for their people. Agatha had loved playing there, because she had just read a book about Mycoremediation; a process that uses fungi to restore balance in damaged environments.

She had been fascinated by how fungi can break down various pollutants, including heavy metals, organic chemicals, and even pharmaceuticals by absorbing them. And even he had been invested, until his sweet little sister proposed that if they were to do it with edible mushrooms, they could make pizzas to poison their victims.

She had said it with such fascination in her eyes that he had started crying, only to be calmed down when their parents promised him they would never feed him mushrooms again. And finally, years after overcoming his trauma caused by toxic mushrooms, Agatha inherited the lot, and decided to rebuild, as she now saw it as little more than wasted space; no longer any desire to play there.

They decided to turn it into a simple parking lot—a front for laundering money with the expectation of minimal profit, but it quickly exceeded all expectations. The business thrived, bringing in far more revenue than anticipated.

Before long, their growing success allowed them to purchase a building to house their people, even securing a penthouse for themselves. But they didn’t stop there. With their influence continuing to expand, they transformed an empty lot into a high-end club, aptly named The Star Fall.

Koray, Agatha’s introverted brother, never expected to enjoy himself when he was tasked with dealing with Donovan at the club. Before heading out, he consulted with his sister— a master of poisons— on how to handle the situation. She had suggested slipping Zolpidem, a medication used to treat insomnia in adults, into Donovan’s drink, knowing the dangerous potential when mixed with alcohol. Agatha’s reasoning was cold, calculated: If it went wrong, it could be lethal.

But Koray had different thoughts. He figured simply getting Donovan to drink more than he could handle would be enough. Agatha relented, not seeing the need for her direct involvement. The job was too simple, too straightforward, for her to waste her time on it. She remained in the warehouse, buried in the pile of paperwork waiting for her attention.

Orpheus, ever the strategist, knew he couldn’t take any chances. He donned a blond wig, slipped on a pair of glasses, and picked a sharp, inconspicuous outfit to disguise himself. His goal was simple: avoid being recognized by Donovan. Even if the chances of him remembering were slim, he wasn’t going to leave anything to fate. Once everything was in place, he headed out, ready to take care of Donovan and ease his sister’s anxieties.

At first, he wasn’t sure how to approach him. But in the movies he liked, spies always seemed to start by offering their target a drink before prying for information. It was a classic tactic—and one worth trying, and if it didn’t work, he had plenty of backup plans to fall back on.

Koray quickly spotted Donovan near the bar, his red hair catching the neon lights in a way that made him look otherworldly. There was no trace of the panic he had shown just moments ago. Intrigued but cautious, Koray sauntered over, leaning casually against the counter. His expression remained effortlessly smooth, betraying none of the quiet curiosity and concern stirring inside him. As he chatted with Asher, the bartender, he subtly filled him in on the situation, ensuring he’d know how to help.

The bartender mentioned that when the guy had first ordered a drink from him, he seemed distant—like he was looking for a distraction from something. He had tried asking what was wrong, but Donovan refused to talk, so he eventually left him alone. Now, everything seemed to click into place. Koray realized that a direct approach might work best. With a playful smirk, he leaned in and said, “Hey, handsome, may I buy you a drink?”

Donovan was startled, he wasn’t expecting anyone to approach a depressed looking guy in a club, when there were so many better options. But he was in fact looking for a drink, and a handsome man had just offered. He was allowed to say yes, wasn’t he? He laughed, a musical sound that seemed to blend seamlessly with the thumping bass, Koray thought.

He didn’t know how to answer. He was completely captivated by this stranger, even though he was the complete opposite of the person he liked. “Why?” He truly couldn’t comprehend the reason why this handsome stranger was talking to him.

“Well, you’re hot, and I’m feeling lonely so I hope you’ll accept my company.” After Donovan agreed, Koray gestured to the bartender, who began mixing a drink behind the counter. They boy was glad he had gotten someone to talk to, he needed to clear his mind from whatever had just happened to him. “So, what are we having? I’m not too fond of alcohol, I prefer sweet things.”

Oh, that was not good, Koray could only hope Donovan would accept the drink. “It’ll be a surprise from my friend here,” they soon received the drinks from Asher and they both took a sip, after clinking their glasses together. He winced slightly at the unexpected kick of the drink, making Koray laugh. “Oof, this is strong.”

“Is it? I guess I’m just really good at drinking.” He suspected Asher had likely made Donovan’s drink extra strong, or even tampered with it, while his own drink was a virgin one.

But Koray was a skilled actor, and he knew exactly how to play the role of being drunk and captivated. As the night wore on, so did the conversation between the two. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade—the music and the crowd becoming distant background noise.

Koray’s smile softened, a trace of something more genuine breaking through his playful exterior. He hadn’t expected to actually enjoy spending time with the intruder.

“Well, Donovan,” he murmured, his fingers lightly brushing the redhead’s, “you might be more interesting than I gave you credit for.”

Donovan felt his heart race as their eyes locked, the connection between them undeniable. At that moment, he realized that returning to The Star Fall had been the best decision he’d made in a long time. It had been a long time since someone had managed to make him forget about his crush, but sadly, he wouldn’t remember anything the next day.