Phillip groaned when he opened his eyes, his head pounding from the night before, last night he had just returned from London where he toured with his newest play.
His brother and cousins had taken him out to celebrate and he had drank way too much and definitely done things he shouldn't have done, same as usual.
He fell a weight on his arm and wasn't surprised to see his arm wrapped around a mystery girl he didn't recognise asleep under the shirts.
He winced as he carefully extracted his arm from under her, he held his breath until his arm was free and she was still asleep, rewarding a sigh of relief.
He instinctively reached out for his bottle of whiskey he kept on the night stand, he smiled to see it was a new unopened bottle.
He cracked the lid and took a sip gasping at the familiar burn.
There was an aggressive knock at the door, "Phillip? Get up! It's the day of your premiere and you have that charity gala tonight" he yelled through the door.
He gave Phillip precisely 2 seconds before he swung the door and walked in, he groaned when he saw Phillip naked, only barely covered by the sheets with a naked girl next to him.
"When're you going to grow up?" His father asked, Phillip took another sip of the whiskey, "nice to see you again too father" he retorted in annoyance.
His father walked into the room and dropped a tuxedo on Phillip's drawers, "I would've sent one of the servants to wake you but today is far too important for you to mess up, I won't allow it, so get up!" He barked before walking out again with a slam of the door.
Phillip recoiled at the sound and slunk out of bed. He heard a rustle of the sheets as the girl woke up, "good morning Phil" she grinned behind him.
He didn't even turn to look her as he made his way across the room in his starkers, "you need to leave, your clothes are on the floor by the bed" he said, pulling on his undergarments.
The girl frowned, "go? Why do I need to go?" She asked, Phillip turned to her as he began to get dressed, "please, don't misunderstand this for anything more than it was, a one-night fling. That is all" he said coldly.
The girl pulled the sheets up around her chest, "did last night mean nothing to you?" She asked.
Phillip rolled his eyes and made his way other to his wallet, lying on his end table, "are you a prostitute or just a bar slut?" He asked pulling a wad of notes from his wallet.
The girl scoffed angrily, "excuse me?" She asked, Phillip sighed, "oh it doesn't matter either way, here's 200. You cannot tell anyone about last night, take this for your silence" he thrusted the money at her.
She dressed quickly and accepted the money, "you're a real jerk Carlyle" she said angrily.
Phillip laughed dryly, "yep, I've been told. Thank you for last night, bye" he shoved her out the door, closing it behind her.
He walked over to his mirror and looked at himself in disgust, he had just come back from London the night before boat and then train. He had had no time to change his clothes or fix his appearance and so he looked a mess.
Especially after the night Phillip had had the night before. All he could remember was drinking way too many mysterious drinks, going with his cousins to their favourite opium den where he smoked far too much. He had also sniffed a magical white powder that made him feel like he could do anything.
He wasn't quite sure at what point in the night he had picked up the pretty young blonde he had just evicted from his bed, nor how they got there for that matter.
Phillip pulled on last night's slacks as he glared at his reflection in the mirror. He looked awful, his face was a pale shade of grey, heavy bags circled his eyes, his hair was scruffy and uncut and he had a 5 O'clock shadow creeping along his jaw.
He would call a servant to help clean him up before tonight's event. He was a disgusting excuse for a man.
He hated himself and this pathetic life he was living but he couldn't break out of this circle of drinking, drugs and one night stands only to kick the girls out the next morning.
A few hours later he was looking better on the outside at least, he had been given a foul-tasting medicine that somehow seemed to make his skin glow a healthy white once more.
His hair had been cut and styled into a short smart pompadour, his face now washed and freshly shaved, the bags had disappeared from his eyes. He almost looked healthy.
All that ruined it was the dead look in his blue eyes, he couldn't do anything about that. They say the eyes are the doorway to the soul and he fully believed that, no matter what he did or how he looked on the outside he always felt dull and empty within.
His eyes constantly held the slightly glazed over, emotionless look inside them, mirroring Phillip's emotions perfectly.
Phillip sighed again at himself as he tied his bowtie, there was a singular knock at the door, "Master Carlyle?" A servant called.
Phillip didn't turn, "come in" he called, a female servant, Eva, walked in.
She curtseyed politely, "Mr Carlyle says the carriage is arriving shortly and he wants you to wait in the drawing room with him and your brother" she announced.
Phillip clenched his jaw, before he turned and offered Eva a fake smile, "great, thank you Eva, you may go" he dismissed.
She curtseyed again, "yes Sir" she said, quickly retreating out the door again.
Phillip walked to his end table, opening the drawer to reveal a large pocket flask.
He placed the flask next to his bottle of whiskey which he took a few hurried swigs at. He then filled the flask with the whiskey and shoved the flask in his breast pocket.
His father regarded him with disappointment as he entered the drawing room, he pulled out his pocket watch, "you took 4 minutes to get down here, what took you so long?" He asked.
Phillip bowed his head, "I'm sorry father, is the carriage here yet?" He asked, "not yet, fortunately" his father growled.
Phillip's mother stepped forward tugging on Phillip's jacket, "you dressed up nicely Phillip, isn't that right Howard?" She asked.
Phillip's father merely grumbled in response, "I still don't understand why you insist I come mother" Harvey, Phillip's younger brother complained.
Phillip shrugged, "I don't mind, if you don't want to go" he said, Harvey gestured to Phillip, "no. We are all going to support Phillip's big success, this gala is promoting Phillip's new play, isn't it exciting?" She asked.
Phillip's father scoffed, "he published another silly play, he hardly started his own multimillion business" he said.
Phillip frowned, "and how many plays have you published father?" He asked.
Maybe it was the buzz from the whiskey or maybe it was his arrogant father's sickening attitude but he wanted nothing more than to punch his father square in the face.
He settled for a swig from his flask instead, his mother regarded the flask sadly, "Phillip darling, couldn't you leave the flask behind for one night?" She sighed wearily.
Phillip shoved the flask back in his pocket quickly, "why? I don't have a problem" he shot defensively.
Reginald, another servant walked into the room and bowed, "your carriage awaits Sir" he announced to Phillip's father.
Phillip's father growled, "we don't have time for this nonsense, come on. Thank you Reginald" he nodded to the man.
They arrived outside one of the grandest theatres in New York, Phillip's father walked next to Phillip as they put on their best fake smiles, "this could be big for our family, screw this up and I'll kill you" his father hissed in his ear.
Phillip nodded and smiled to the Braxtons, "I won't screw up" Phillip hissed back through gritted teeth.
He let his father steer him through the theatre with a iron strong grip on his shoulder that was beginning to hurt, Phillip was bombarded with fake upper-class snobs like him.
He hated it, he had to be all fake and polite to every person he was introduced to, luckily the gala was starting soon so he and his family were able to avoid most of the socialising with the excuse that Phillip was the host of the gala and so couldn't be late.
Phillip made his way on stage and cleared his throat, he held a microphone to his mouth, "excuse me ladies and gentlemen" he announced to get everyone's attention.
The chatter died down as everyone turned their focus to Phillip, "thank you" he said charismatically.
He looked, unnerved, out at the hundreds of aristocrats watching him, "it is an honour to be able to host this fine event this evening. Tonight is dedicated to my latest play A Winter's Interjection, I would like to let you know all funding's are going to charity, now to start off the event Madame Loie's school of Ballet will perform a short dance for us" he said gesturing to the young ballerinas who floated delicately onto the stage.
He returned to his seat taking another sip from his flask as he watched the dancers. He couldn't believe children were opening such a prestigious event, "this is going to be a long night" he muttered bitterly to himself.
His mother heard him and slapped his knee scornfully.
After the performances were over Phillip and his family moved out into the foyer to socialise.
Phillip drained glass after glass of expensive champagne from the crystal flutes filled with golden liquid the waiters were handing out.
His mother grabbed his arm as he took another, "Phillip this is Mrs Wendell, Phillip here has just returned from London where his play was a huge success, isn't that right Phillip?" She asked.
Phillip flashed his charming smile at the older woman, "oh mother, you know I don't like to brag. It's a pleasure to meet you Ma'am" Phillip accepted the woman's hand pressing his lips to her knuckle.
Mrs Wendell laughed and fanned herself, "oh my. The pleasure is mine, I've heard you're the youngest playwright to earn your level of fame and success" she said.
Phillip laughed and held up his hands, "what can I tell you, it's true" he laughed lightly, "Phillip here is also one of the most sought-after bachelors in New York this year" his mother butted in.
Mrs Wendell nodded, "I can imagine that's true, Master Carlyle here is after all a rich, attractive young man, let me fetch my daughter, I can introduce the two of you" she disappeared into the crowds.
Harvey laughed next to Phillip, "and Phillip pulls once again" he roared, clapping Phillip on the back, "oh good lord, Howard. Harvey is squiffy, he's had more than enough to drink" Phillip's mother gasped.
Phillip smirked and gave his brother a sly wink, "we shall see" he whispered.
And that was the last thing he remembered of the evening.
