Anne found W.D hanging out in the ring with the rest of their friends, he and Constantine seemed to be laughing at something Lettie said, her hands outstretched as she laughed with them, "I'm just saying" she exclaimed.
Anne walked up to them all, "hey guys, what're you laughing about?" She asked, "oh well we were just talking about-" Charles began with a smirk, "No! I don't think this conversation is appropriate for Anne's ears" Constantine surged forward covering Charles' mouth.
The group howled with laughter at Anne's innocent expression, "well what is it?" She demanded, Lettie laughed, "no no no, Anne we love you but there are just somethings not fit to be talked about by a lady" she said kindly.
Anne put her hand on her hip, "well you're a lady" she argued, Charles snorted, "barely" he joked resulting in a playful smack on the head from Lettie.
Anne looked to W.D, "what were you talking about?" She demanded, he shook his head "I'll tell you when you're older Annie" he laughed patting her head, "I am not a child! I am 21 years old, I am a woman!" She insisted.
Constantine sighed and slapped his knees, "okay" he said and stood up, he made his way over to Anne and whispered something in her ear.
Anne's eyes widened and she went bright red, "oh my god! You guys are disgusting!" She gasped, resulting in everyone howling with anger once more, "hey we warned you" Charles said.
Anne shook her head, "ugh whatever, W.D can I talk to you?" She asked, he nodded, "yeah, what's up?" He asked.
Anne wrung her hands nervously, "I need a favour" she said slowly, he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, "what is it?" He asked.
Anne glanced at Constantine, the others were pretending to talk but Anne knew they were secretly listening in on their conversation, "so I was talking to Phillip Carlyle and he mentioned he's bought a new apartment near here and he said it would be really great if you and Constantine could possibly-" she started.
"No. Absolutely not" W.D cut in, shaking his head. Anne sighed and threw up her arms, "what? Why not?" She asked.
He scoffed, "I don't like the man" he stated, Anne frowned, "oh come on, what's wrong with Phillip?" She asked.
He laughed bitterly, "let's see… He's rich, he's snobby and I don't like the way he looks at you" he said counting off on his fingers, "P.T's rich" Anne pointed out.
W.D shook his head, "no, not like Carlyle he isn't. Nobody's rich like Carlyle". Anne remembered the piles of money he had stacked on his desk… "So? He has a little more money than the rest of us, why should that matter?" She argued defensively.
W.D sighed and rested his hand on Anne's shoulder, "look sis, I get it, he's attractive and new and exciting but he's not who you think he is" he said gently.
Anne pulled her shoulder away, "everyone keeps saying that but what does that mean?" She asked.
W.D turned to the others for support, "Anne we've found a couple newspaper articles we think you might like to take a look at" Lettie said.
Anne frowned, "okay…" She said slowly, "Charles, go get the newspapers" she said. Charles stood and raced away to retrieve the aforementioned newspapers.
Lettie also stood and made her way over to Anne, she took her hands gently, "I know you like Mr Carlyle, and it's great that you've began to explore your options, courting is a very important part of any young woman's life but Phillip Carlyle is a…" she searched for the words, "dissolute man" she decided.
Anne frowned, "what're you implying?" She asked, Lettie sighed, "you're a nice girl Anne, you deserve a man as sweet and caring as you" she said.
Charles returned with a small bundle of newspapers, "here" he said, handing them to Lettie. Lettie took the pile and began to read the headlines aloud, "Phillip Carlyle spotted drunk and disorderly on Broadway after failing to show up at own premiere" she read.
"Okay so he was seen drunk once" Anne defended, Constantine took a newspaper, "Phillip Carlyle found drunk in gutters outside Manhattan bar" he read.
Anne threw her hands up, "maybe the man likes to drink but what's the problem with that?" She cried.
Charles took another newspaper, "Phillip Carlyle rumoured to have spent the night with famous actress Adah Isaacs Menken" he read pointedly.
Anne opened and closed her mouth, "okay but-" she started, W.D cut her off reading aloud another, "Phillip Carlyle seen leaving actress Emma Abbott's home" he read.
Anne tried to talk again but was interrupted by Lettie, "Phillip Carlyle has affair with lead actress in newest play" she read, "Phillip Carlyle reported to have spent night with prostitute from the Collect" Constantine read.
Anne sighed, "fine! I see the point you're making but Mr Carlyle's not like that" she said in exasperation, "this barely scratches the surface" Charles said, holding up the newspaper.
Anne shook her head, "I don't care, I see something in him, deep down I know he's a good, gentle man. Just because none of you can see it doesn't mean that I can't, have none of you seen how his eyes change when he looks at me?" She asked.
W.D picked up another newspaper, "do you mean when he looks at you like this?" He asked, he showed her a picture taken of Phillip walking down the street a girl in one arm a bottle of whiskey in the other. He looked at her with lust and hunger, it was clear what they were on their way to do.
Anne took a step back and shook her head, "no! Not like that, he isn't like that. When he looks at me I see emotion in his eyes, his eyes that seem to never hold anything in them at any other time, do you not see it?" She asked.
Lettie took Anne's hands, "oh honey. Men are pigs, he's only letting you believe what he wants you to believe. He isn't like us, he's just looking for some temporary fun, he'll have his way with you and toss you aside like all the other girls he's ever been involved with. There's a reason he's a bachelor, Phillip Carlyle doesn't do relationships" she said delicately.
Anne felt irritated at her friends, she knew they were trying to help her but they wouldn't listen. They didn't see the same Phillip Carlyle she did, the Phillip Carlyle she knew he was inside.
"I'm telling you, it isn't like that and besides all I'm asking for is you all to help him move out of the theatre. Where's the harm in that? He just needs some strong hands to help him move furniture and the sorts I can imagine, he says he'll pay" she retorted.
W.D scoffed, "so what? He thinks he can just get us to do his dirty work for him? Throw some filthy money at us and make us dance like puppets?" He asked angrily.
"The money could really help us D, why are you so determined to make Phillip Carlyle the bad guy? All he's done is ask for your help" Anne yelled, their friends watched them silently, the situation was tense. It felt like if they uttered one word one of them was bound to blow up.
W.D and Anne stared intensely at each other, W.D may be Anne's older brother but when Anne wanted something she got it, with her fiery spirit W.D had a difficult time fighting with his sister.
Anne's stare was hard and hot, W.D could see the fire in her eyes, he sighed "fine I'll help him but I won't take his money and as for Phillip Carlyle himself. We've all warned you Anne, don't be surprised when he hurts you like we know he will" he said roughly.