the world is not enough.

Her penthouse was quiet, too quiet. Audrea gave Arthur and Martha the weekend off after last night’s dinner so that she can have the place to herself for some peace and quiet, and so that the couple can have a nice time with their two kids. Of course, Martha fussed about how Audrea would not have anything to eat. Then again, Martha’s standard of ‘anything’ would be a perfectly prepared and home-cooked meal, but Audrea assured the woman that she was going to be alright.

But she supposed Martha could never be stopped from worrying because the next thing she knew, a man showed up at her doorstep with a big grin on his face as he took off his sunglasses. “What are you doing here?”

Phillip was lounging on his sofa, his tablet on his lap and his left arm stretched out on the backrest, when the phone rang throughout his townhouse. He picked it up and found himself talking to Audrea’s maid who was asking to talk to his maid. Phillip knew well that Martha would not have called if it weren’t an urgent matter, not like she was best friends his maid. Martha wanted for his maid to prepare a home-cooked meal for the heiress who was spending the day alone today. The French maid already had a high speculation that her employer had already skipped breakfast and just like that, Phillip assured her that it was going to be okay. Instead of asking his maid, though, Phillip decided to stop by her penthouse himself.

“Your nanny sent for me as her substitute,” he smirked cheekily. “Can I come in?” He asked. 

charles waited patiently while phillip was on the phone, with enough decency to pretend he couldn’t overhear the man talk. if he tried, he could probably also hear audrey on the other line, given the volume of her voice. he was sipping his espresso, looking out the window to enjoy the view from the hotel restaurant, only glancing back to the other once the phone had been put away. then, since he did consider phillip a friend, he couldn’t help but inquire. “everything okay, phillip?”

Looking away from the man in front of him, Phillip was slightly embarrassed that he had to be arguing in front of Charles. He never expected his marriage to be something like this –– he always pictured a loving wife and mutual understandings instead of constant argument. Then again, that’s probably what he gets for marrying someone out of pity instead of love. “Yes,” the man gave a little nod. “Nothing to worry about, really,” he denied.

not wanting to BLATANTLY eavesdrop on his conversation, though it was of course difficult not to overhear since they were sat across from each other, izabel simply busied herself for the time, answering a work email or two. it made her partly glad she didn’t have an angry spouse of her own to deal with. bringing the glass of wine to her lips for a sip just as phillip ended the call, faint curiosity across tanned features, though she was also never one to pry into others business. “kind of sounds like you might need a little – or a lot more than just that glass right now.” 

Philip could care less if someone really heard his conversation, honestly he could not stop Audrey from yelling so loud, so maybe the entire New York City should know that there is strife in the household of who once was one of Manhattan’s most romantic couple. Then again the romance was probably only real ocming from Audrey –– he had always been faking it all along, and now everything is catching up to him. “I really do. I might need the entire bottle,” he chuckled, joking. Phillip never really get drunk for fun or to fill his leisure time. He looked at his glass and then raised it for the bartender to refill it.

     “ you could just go on phil, nothing i don’t know about. us girls generally don’t hide from our fellow female buddies that men in our lives are giving us hard times. you call that gossip, we call that support system. ” a grimace mixed with a humorous expression could be seen over celeste’s features. “ someone just hearing this out could say, ‘ oh look at her, giving the poor guy hell ’ but is it just like that? i don’t think auds is the only one to blame here, phillip. ” cece claimed as she watched him tilting the bourbon down.

He rolled his eyes jokingly. “You know, it would be nice if you were on my side once in a while, Celeste,” Phillip said. Of course Phillip knew that Audrey would have told Celeste everything –– probably even told Celeste first before anyone else. “You know it’s really nice to know that you know everything that is wrong with my marriage –– it’s comforting,” the man said, flagging a waiter to order some food for himself because he was starving. “I’m not saying she’s the only one to blame, after all she’s not the only one in the marriage –– I am too. But you intrigued me; tell me what you know. Maybe you can be a couple’s counselor for both of us.”

Lexi tried not to listen as the man dining next to her was arguing with someone on the phone. She felt sad for him but she remembered what it was like to argue with her own husband. She gave him a small smile when he got off the phone. “Let me guess. You two arguing alot,” She said with  a soft smile.

He suddenly made eye contact with the woman and glanced away for a little bit before finally truly meeting her eyes. He chuckled a little at her smile. “I guess you could say that. Well, only lately anyway.”

Marcus had come to lunch with Phillip as it had been a while since he had seen the man and he felt it was about time they caught up. As he sat listening to the man he felt for him, although he had never been through anything like it before, he had been around long enough to understand these things were never easy on anyone and most of the time it was never a one-way street. Looking at him he put his hand out. “ Let me try to talk to her.” He replied just before the man hung up. Marcus had a strong British accent it was something he always made sure he held on to.

Phillip came to Marcus today for a haircut; he could never stand it whenever his sideburns were getting too long, so he wanted a little trim. He was one of Marcus’ faithful clients and ever since Phillip discovered him, he never went anywhere else. Marcus quickly became one of the people whose company he enjoyed; even Audrey liked to have Marcus as her hairdresser whenever she was invited to events. They always had the best time with him. He raised an eyebrow at Marcus and handed the phone to him. “Be careful,” he whispered slightly loudly as a joke, pouring more of his bourbon from the decanter.

   YEARS & YEARS   her mother spent persuading her to see the stability of marriage.  The upside of being tied to the one same person for decades was the favourite song her mother liked to sing.  A dated & frankly sexist stance,  but the only one Dasha’s late mother performed.  Unable to stand on her own two feet, though she did try,  fated to stumble and fall back into dust. With a promise to be anything but, the tall-standing Dasha is apart from this identity in every which way.  Especially the marriage part.  The conversation- overheard & not at all her business- is another knock from the hammer nailing marriage in its place:  as a mistake.   Words will not be so intense, as suitable Dasha is for conversation:           “  I’m glad I’m not on the receiving end of that…  “     The stranger with the dark eyes shifts,  facing him as a good socialite would. Leaning over her table, closer to his, so he will catch these words that fall to him.    “   I won’t pry, but I will offer you another drink and because you’re going home to that, you will accept.  So pick your poison.  “ 

He inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm his own anger. It was visible by the way his hand was shaking slightly, but he tried to hide it by shoving them into his pockets. The man sniggered when the woman commented his call; he sniggered more towards his own pathetic situation rather than her comment. “Well, then this must be your lucky day,” he said. He raised his eyebrows, surprised that she was being nice to him. “I think I’ll just have another one of these,” Phillip said. He wanted to change it –– it was quite a pricey drink, but he really needed the bourbon.

Randy laughed looking at the man. “Thank you.” He replied as he stood up looking at him. “ Well you’ve come to the right place, name’s Randy Greenwood.” He replied as he stuck his hand out.  “ How can I help you.”

“Phillip Langham,” he welcomed the hand outstretched to him and shook it. “My employee got into some trouble the other day with a guest who accused him of stealing things and now the entire hotel is being sued. I’ve looked through it and I know that he would not have done it –– he is one of my most faithful employee and I think his salary sustained him enough for him not to steal things,” Phillip said. “So I was wondering if you could help me.”

Audrea watched as Phillip accepted the phone call and then she glanced up at the waiter who placed their food in front of them. Audrea ordered herself a pan-seared salmon on a bed of quinoa topped with sour cream, and it was one of her favourite dishes in this restaurant. She was slicing through her salmon when Phillip mentioned her sister’s name and they locked eyes. The reason they were having lunch together was exactly because of the fight he was having with Audrey. When he hung up, Audrea was swallowing her food. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” She asked. “I mean, you having lunch with me when you’re in a fight with her.”

Phillip looked through the glass window next to their seats and then towards his medium-rare steak and french fries. He flagged the waiter and asked for more bourbon from the bartender. He had texted the blonde this morning to ask her to come to lunch with him, although he did not exactly tell her what it was about until he picked her up at the office. “Why?” He asked and then listened to her elaboration. “Hey, she may be your sister but let’s address the elephant in the room here, you’re always on my side,” he smirked.

a huge ass gif bc phillip is extra like that. anyway,

( robert downey jr | male | he/him ) is that ( phillip langham ) walking around the streets of new york city? i heard the ( forty-three ) year old tends to be ( witty ) & ( proud ). last time i heard, the ( real estate businessman / owner of langham estates ) was blasting ( highway to hell by ac/dc ) in their apartment. the tabloids whisper that ( he is in love with his wife’s youngest sister )! let’s hope it’s not true. ( calista | 21 | she/her | gmt+8 )

Holding his phone to his ear Randy rolled his eyes looking at the other. “ Gran I miss you too, but I really have to go, I will come to see you as soon as I can. Speak to you soon love you.” He replied before hanging up the phone. “Sorry about that, now how can I help you?”

“That was adorable,” Phillip commented. Maybe it was sarcasm, maybe it wasn’t, he couldn’t even figure it out himself. “Phillip Langham,” he introduced himself. “I’m actually looking for a defense attorney.” He had called in yesterday and was told to come to the headquarters himself.

his conversation partner had started talking over ten minutes ago, and it was about eight minutes ago that abraxas had lost interest. he’d nodded when the other’s voice called for it, smiled occasionally ( though less and less as time passed ), and had even cleared his throat a few times in the hopes of speeding the other’s tale. but, to no avail. and while he could usually deal with this sort of situation well, it had been a day of disappointments at work, and the last thing he wanted was for his evening to be spoiled as well. “i’m sorry,” he interrupted eventually, deciding his time could be much better spent. “is there a point to this story? or were you simply never taught not to ramble?”

Phillip had texted Brax that he would be a little late coming to the meeting they were having. Maybe it was not such a good idea to leave Brax alone with the couple who supposedly had a deal to make for the two businessmen, because he could see Brax’s unamused face from a mile away before he arrived to the table. Hearing the younger man’s snide comment, Phillip cleared his throat before taking a seat. “Sorry for being late,” he strike up a more cheerful tone than Brax. “What did I miss?” Phillip asked as he sat down, trying to lighten the mood.

she sat by herself at the music lounge & bar, wondering whatever the hell she was doing all alone. maybe it was the way the jazz music played, or maybe it was the way the whiskey ran down her throat icy & sour – she had no time for pretty fruity drinks. whoever was it that sat beside her probably had no idea she was the adriana reinaldi, now so faded and so distraught. she merely wanted a companion, although adriana knew there was no better company than her own & the craving for an exchange of words left a roaring hole in her soul.

Done with his meetings for the day, Phillip wanted to celebrate the outcome of the productive day. He had managed to seal the deal on buying an airline and it was one of his successful ventures this month and Phillip couldn’t be happier. “Bourbon,” he ordered from the bartender from the edge of the bar, before whipping his phone out of his pocket to text his wife about the day. He glanced up when his drink was placed in front of him and saw a familiar young blonde in his peripherals. Taking his drink with him, he decided to approach her. “If it isn’t Adriana Reinaldi,” he greeted. “I don’t think we talked much during your brunch. How are you?” He took a seat next to her.