Author's Note: Hello, fair people! I started nitpicking my way through this story now that it's almost done, and here is the first chapter refreshed and revitalized. Well, not really, but I spruced it up a bit. Hope you like it.

For new readers, my name is Emma the NazgulQueen. Nazgul, should you be Lord of the Rings-impaired, are a race of soulless, evil beings. But don't worry, I only get really evil if you don't review. :)

So read, enjoy, and review!

Emma the NazgulQueen

Disclaimer: I should mention that Goodbye, Hello, is indeed a Beatles song. And Telera, the country in the story, is utterly made-up. It's in Europe, they speak English, and it's small. :)

Goodbye, Hello

Introduction

Once upon a time, in a faraway land…well, unless you live in the tri-state area, because then it really isn't all that faraway, but anyways, ahem, what was I saying? Oh yes…in the city of New York, there lived a fair maiden whose gentle manners and courteous charm won over all whom she met.

"Hey! Get the hell out of the way, that was my cab!"

Well, maybe not. But she was fair. Her name was Susanna, and she was of a fierce, independent nature, which suited the lifestyle she led.

"5th and 59th, and speed it up." Susanna was on her way to work at the posh Brittania department store where she was head of all things fashion.

"I should've taken my bike," she grumbled as she looked with dismay at the heavy traffic jam ahead of her. She kicked herself mentally for not taking her motorcycle.

Twenty minutes later, she was still stuck in the same spot on 45th street.

"I give up," she said. She fumbled in her briefcase and retrieved her wallet.

"Here," she said angrily, slamming a fifty into the dazed cabbie's hand. She then got out of the cab and slammed the door shut. Cursing herself for wearing stilettos, she walked as quickly as she could, snaking herself around the slow tourists and hobos. As she stood waiting to cross the street to the store, her phone rang.

"Susanna Bennet here, how may I help you?" she said.

"Miss Bennet, it's me." It was Susanna's secretary.

"I'm sorry, Darcy, it's the damn traffic," she said as she finally got to cross the street. "I'm on my way in now."

"Good, because the people from Valentino are here and they need to get to London by noon."

Susanna hung up and hurried into the store. The glittering chandeliers and ceiling-high mirrors glinted in the morning sun as she ran to the elevators.

"Come on, come on," she muttered. The doors finally opened and she hurried in, pushing the button for level 10. It rose up, and the doors opened again to reveal a stylish lobby.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet," the woman at the desk said.

"G'Mornin'," Susanna hurriedly replied as she practically ran down the hall to the left. At the end of the hall stood another desk in front of two great doors.

"Good morning, Miss Bennet," another woman at a desk said.

Susanna didn't reply as she threw open the doors and hurried inside.

"Good morning, gentlemen," she said, quite out of breath.

Two very chic men stood in her office, looking hassled and impatient. Susanna walked around to her desk, threw her briefcase on it, and sat down.

"Please, sit," she said, motioning to the two chairs situated in front of the desk. Darcy, a thin, nervous young woman hovered next to Susanna.

"Darcy, be a dear and get me some coffee?" Susanna said to her.

"Right away Miss Bennet," Darcy said, and hurried away.

"I am so sorry gentlemen, I was stuck in traffic," Susanna said, turning to the two men.

"It is fine," the obviously elder one said in a thick Italian accent. "But we will need to hurry this up."

"Of course. Now, I was in Milan for your fall line, and may I say, it is fantastic," she said.

"Thank you."

"Well, I can make this short and sweet. We would like to buy the whole line," she said, opening a side drawer and retrieving some papers.

The men smiled widely. "Thank you, Miss Bennet."

She smiled as well. She handed them the papers. "If you be so kind as to take these to my assistant Miss Clevell, she will finalize it."

They all stood, and each shook hands with her. Thanking her again, they left the office.

Susanna sighed and sat back down in her big leather chair.

"I hurried all the way for that?" she mumbled. She swung around and put her feet on the sill of the enormous bay window that looked out onto 5th Avenue. She crossed her legs and smoothed out the knee-length black leather skirt she had on. She wore a crisp, white blouse rolled to her elbows with a small diamond solitaire necklace. Her dark brown hair was slightly wavy today and fell to her shoulders. She leaned her head back on the chair and looked around at her impeccably clean office. It was the largest office on the floor; her big mahogany desk stood by the window, with two plush chairs in front. File cabinets stood behind a glass divider, surrounded by hibiscus plants. A flat screen television could come down from the ceiling, and a handsome sofa stood against the cream-colored walls.

"Here's your coffee, Miss Bennet, I am so sorry it took so long." The door opened and Darcy hurried in, a mug of coffee in her hand. Susanna swung around to face the desk, glad for the aroma of coffee.

She blew on it to cool and said, "Any messages, Darcy?"

"Oh! Yes…" the girl fumbled for some Post-Its in her pocket. "The Pink Label rep from Oscar de la Renta called and invited you to the show in Paris…" she put the paper down for Susanna to see. "The Versace Jeans Couture shipment can't come in until late August… and Vogue wants you to call them about a column in the next issue."

"Is that it?" Susanna asked, sipping her coffee.

"Yes…oh wait, no. Your mother called." Darcy bit her lip, knowing this was bad news.

Susanna rolled her eyes, but allowed Darcy to continue.

"She wants you to come to Telera as soon as possible, the eldest prince is getting married," Darcy said, unsuccessfully trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.

Susanna sighed. "Fine, I'll call her. Anything else?"

"You have a meeting at noon with Mr. Simmons, and Miss Zyan wants you to come to the club at 3:00."

"Thank you, Darcy."

The young woman practically curtsied and then left the room. Susanna sighed heavily, but picked up the phone and dialed.

"Hello, the Bennet household."

"Hi, is Giselle around?" Susanna said to the dull, haughty butler.

"May I ask who is calling?"

"Susanna."

"Right away, Miss Susanna."

A few moments pause and then Susanna's mother's high-pitched voice came through the receiver.

"Susanna, my darling!" she said in a much too warm voice.

"Good morning, Mother." Susanna replied dully.

"Morning! Good gracious, it's 2:00 in the afternoon!"

Susanna rested her chin in her free hand. "Yes, Mother. I was told you called."

"Yes, I did. You simply won't believe it, but Roberto is finally getting married!"

"How wonderful," Susanna said flatly, not especially caring.

"Isn't it?" Mrs. Bennet gushed, not picking up her daughter's sarcasm.

"Who is she?"

"Oh, she's a wonderful girl. You might remember her…that Connor girl."

"Alberta?" Susanna asked, remembering the awkward, gangly girl she had shared a governess with.

"Yes! Isn't that just splendid? Of course, the count and the countess are quite thrilled. You'll come, won't you?" her mother, the duchess, said, her voice inviting bordering on threatening.

Susanna sighed. She often tried as hard as she could from going home, but she knew it would be useless this time.

"When is it?" she finally relented.

"It's in two weeks, August the 20th."

"Alright, I'll come. But I don't expect I can stay long," Susanna said quickly.

"Oh darling, I cannot wait to see you! Call one of your fashion friends and get a very fine dress. Have them ship it here separately so it won't get ruined."

"Yes, Mother."

"Well, I will see you then!" her mother said, her voice dripping in false excitement.

"Goodbye, Mother."

"Goodbye, dear."

Susanna hung up the phone with a click. No sooner had she set it down but it rang again.

"Susanna Bennet," she said automatically.

"Suzy!" came a bright voice.

Susanna smiled. "Good morning, Vivian," she said to her best friend.

"You're coming at 3, right?"

"Yes, but I'll have to change first."

"Oh, whatever. Who were you talking to? I tried to call you a few moments ago."

"My mother," Susanna said resentfully.

"Oh, dear." Vivian knew that meant trouble.

"I have to go home in a few weeks for a wedding," Susanna explained.

"The prince's wedding?" Vivian shrieked.

"Yes, unfortunately."

"Unfortunately? Suzy, that will be the prime fashion event of the season!" Vivian said enviously.

"Yes, but I will actually have to converse with them," Susanna tried to explain.

"Oh, Suzy, it's only one night," Vivian reasurred her.

"I suppose so," Susanna replied, not really believing her.

"Well, I have to run. See you at 3:00!"

"See you."

Susanna hung up the phone again and pushed a small button.

"Darcy, can you call around and find me an extremely fancy evening gown?" she said into the intercom.

"What for, Miss Bennet?" Darcy asked politely.

"I have to go to a wedding." Lucky me, she thought.

"Right away, Miss Bennet."

"Thank you, Darcy."

Susanna swung again to face the window, but then thought of something and swung back around.

"Oh, and Darcy?"

"Yes, Miss Bennet?"

"Could you get me a blueberry muffin?"

"Straight away, Miss Bennet," Darcy said with amusement.

"Thank you, Darcy."

She sighed and was going to swing back around, but suddenly the television came sliding down from her ceiling. No matter how long she worked here, that always managed to make her jump.

"Good morning, Susanna." Her boss' face appeared on the screen.

"Good morning, Mr. Simmons."

"I know we have a staff meeting at noon, but I had to ask you if you were going to Prince Roberto's wedding."

"Yes, sir, I leave in two weeks."

"I thought you hated going back home." He was a bald man with a thin black mustache, and right now he looked surprised.

"I do," Susanna grumbled.

"I still don't understand why you left. To think…giving up being a duchess for New York," he said in a disbelieving voice.

"It's a lot less glamorous than it sounds, Mr. Simmons," she groused, beginning to tap her pen on the desk.

"Well… Have you found a dress?" he changed the subject.

"My assistant is working on it."

"Good. I want a full report and pictures," he ordered.

"Alright, sir."

"And Susanna?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Try to have fun," he said with a smile.

Susanna rolled her eyes. "I will, sir."

He winked at her, and then the screen went blank and slid itself back up into the ceiling.

Susanna sighed. This was looking to be her longest August ever.

"Roberto, I'm happy for you, I really am."

"But what?"

"Nothing!"

The two princes of Telera were playing golf on their bazillion-acre estate. I exaggerate, but you get the idea.

"You're keeping something from me, Ryan," Roberto said. He was a handsome man, in his mid-30's, with slick, jet-black hair and a thin mustache. His dark, olive skin complimented his deep brown eyes, and he looked very fit in his tidy golfing clothes.

His younger brother, on the other hand, had fair skin, sparkling green eyes, and sandy blonde, slightly curly hair. In his late 20s, he was quite well-built, and wore faded jeans and a crisp white polo shirt. He took a swing and sent the ball clear into a nearby pond.

"You are pathetic," Roberto said. Ryan just smiled.

"That's why I have you to teach me!" he said jovially, placing another ball on the tee.

"At this rate, there won't be any more golf balls in all of Telera."

"That's not saying much," Ryan said with mischievous smile.

"Hey! We may be an island, but Telera is quite big compared to other European countries," Roberto protested.

"Oh, sure. We're about as big as America's smallest state," Ryan joked.

"Hey!" Roberto exclaimed again. "I will have you know we are as big as Pennsylvania, one of America's… somewhat large states."

Ryan laughed. "Take it easy," he said, setting himself up for another swing.

"Well, at least I have some national pride," Roberto said. "At least I'm getting married."

"Oh yeah, when your 36. You could've gotten married way earlier, my brother."

Roberto snorted. "No, I couldn't have, because I didn't meet Alberta until I was 32."

"We've known Alberta since we were ten!" Ryan said incredulously.

"Yes, but she went away and didn't come back until I was 32," Roberto explained with an air of superiority.

"Same difference," Ryan said, before taking another big swing. This one fared hardly any better; it hit a tree before landing in a sand pit.

"You're hopeless," Roberto commented again. Ryan glared at him.

"Well, you sure as hell aren't helping," he grumbled.

"No, I'm having far too much fun watching you fail."

Ryan just grunted, and changed the subject. "So, who's coming to the wedding?"

"Everyone," Roberto said simply.

"Everyone?"

"Yes, everyone."

Ryan sighed, leaning on his golf club.

"And you know who is included in that everyone?" Roberto said slyly.

"Who?"

"Susanna Bennet."

Ryan grunted again. "That annoyance? I thought she was in New York."

"She is. But you know what her mother is like."

Ryan rolled his eyes, thinking of the outspoken Susanna, whom he had never gotten along with and probably never would. She was too… quarrelsome. And far too cynical for his taste.

"Besides," Roberto continued, "maybe she's better."

Ryan laughed sarcastically. "Yeah right. Last time she was here she called me a haughty, conceited, egotistical snob and poured a glass of wine on my new suit, and then proceeded to ride her God-awful motorcycle through my garden."

"Well, you never know."

"Please, she'll never change," Ryan argued.

"She is beautiful, though."

"Sure, but she's also rude and callous and despicable and…" Ryan ranted.

"Alright, alright," Roberto cut him off, laughing. "You've made your point."

"Let's go back inside, maybe we'll be allowed to help with something."

"I doubt it."

Laughing, they walked together back into their castle.

"Darcy?"

"Yes, Miss Bennet?"

"Have you found a dress yet?"

"Yes, I set up three fittings for you on Friday with Versace, Vera Wang, and Chanel. I expect some more calls soon."

"Thanks. I'm leaving for the day, so can you make sure those Gucci files get sent?"

"Yes, Miss Bennet."

It was 2:00, and Susanna left the office and through the now-crowded store. Stepping outside and putting on her sunglasses, she decided it was a beautiful day and that she would walk home.

She reached her apartment building on Park Avenue and greeted the doorman, who ushered her inside. She got in the elevator with an elderly woman, Mrs. DuValliand, a rich socialite who carried her small poodle with her wherever she went.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. DuValliand," Susanna said politely.

"Hello, Susanna, dear. Beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Gorgeous."

They fell silent and waited patiently as the elevator made its way up. At the 32nd floor, it stopped and Susanna bid Mrs. DuValliand a good day, and stepped out. The lobby to her 3-story penthouse had marble floors and a small chandelier. She fumbled for her key and went inside.

"Finally," she said, leaning against the door and throwing off her stilettos. The round room she was now in also had marble floors, a fountain in the center, large hibiscus plants (her favorite flower) and a glittering chandelier. It branched off into several hallways, and Susanna went left and hurried up the spiral stairs that greeted her. She went past the second floor and stopped at the third, where her bedroom appeared before her and she began to undress.

The enormous room held a large, king-sized canopy bed. The walls were a soft lavender, and a large window held a lush window seat. Bookcases, a television, and a large, full-length mirror filled the walls. The plush purple carpet felt good on Susanna's sore feet. She went to a door that stood in the corner. She opened it walked into her massive closet. She walked to where her many pants hung, and picked out a pair of khaki chinos. Hopping to put them on, she next picked out a black boatneck tank. Shoving that on over her head, she grabbed some black pumps with pointed toes. Not wanting to put the shoes on yet, she left the closet and put them on her bed.

She went to her bathroom. The vast bathroom was cream marble, with a glass shower and a large, gold bathtub. She stood in front of the large mirror that was lined with little light bulbs. She took off her work makeup and put on some black mascara, brown eyeshadow, and some deep lipstick called "Blackberry Rum". Her tanned skin didn't need any foundation, so she shut her makeup drawers and worked on her hair. She finally decided on a simple half-up and clasped her thick hair with a large barrette. Deciding she was good to go, she grabbed her shoes and went back downstairs.

She put on her shoes as she got into the elevator, and pressed the button for the garage. She stepped out again into the garage underneath the building, and headed for her bright blue Yamaha motorcycle. Putting her purse in the compartment and securing her helmet, she left the garage and headed out.

The drive to Long Island was fairly easy, and Susanna arrived just on time. Giving her bike to the valet parking, she took off her helmet and ran a hand through her hair. She stood at the drive to a large, handsome mansion, with exquisite gardens and a spacious lawn. Smelling the ocean breeze, she walked around to the back and was escorted to the beachside patio, where her friend Vivian Zyan, a wealthy hotel heiress, sat sipping a martini.

"There you are!" Vivian said as Susanna sat down. Vivian was a thin, petite woman with curly, fiery red hair. Her face was speckled with freckles, and she wore a straw sun hat, linen capris, and a white tank top.

Susanna ordered a Corona and leaned back in the chair, basking her face in the sun.

"So…" Vivian encouraged.

"So what?" Susanna asked, although she knew what Vivian wanted to hear.

"Well, tell me about the wedding!" Vivian urged.

"There's nothing to tell. He's getting married to a countess whose name is Alberta," Susanna explained, with extra emphasis on the name of Alberta.

"Alberta? That poor girl."

"I know. She was in France for years studying…anthropology or something like that," Susanna said, not caring whether she remembered or not.

"Studying? Why? She won't have to do anything as a princess," Vivian said, surprised/

"Nope." The waiter set down her Corona.

"Have you decided what you're going to wear?"

"No. Darcy set some appointments up," Susanna said, her eyes still closed.

"Do you do anything yourself?" Vivian asked with a smile.

"Of course! She only does things that I don't have time for," Susanna said defensively.

"Oh, and you are so busy," Vivian said sarcastically.

"I am!" Susanna cried.

"Oh please, Suzy. You leave work at 2 every day, you go to Italy and France for fashion shows all the time, and now you're taking a week off to go home."

"I am not going for a whole week. Two days, tops," Susanna said resolutely.

"Two days? That's it?"

"That's about all I can stand of my mother."

"She's not so bad," Vivian said, not even believing herself.

"Not so bad? Every time I go she guilt's me into thinking coming here was a bad idea. She scorns me for acquiring an American accent-"

"-Even though you still sound European," Vivian interrupted.

"Not as much as when I first came here, though. Then she tells me my father would be so ashamed if he could see me, riding a motorcycle and pouring wine on the prince."

"You poured wine on the prince?" Vivian squealed.

"The younger one. Roberto I can deal with, but Ryan is the rudest, most inconsiderate jerk I've ever known," Susanna said angrily.

"But I bet he's cute."

"Vivian!" Susanna exclaimed.

"What?"

"I'm trying to make a point!"

"Sorry," Vivian said, but she still had an amused look on her face.

Susanna sighed and looked out at the ocean. The waves were very calming and she leaned back again.

"Oh, but it must be at least a little fun," Vivian said dreamily. "Princes, kings, countesses, dukes, …"

"Boring, insipid, superficial…" Susanna interrupted. "Trust me, it's not as wonderful as it sounds."

Vivian sighed. "You're just stubborn. I'm sure some of them are lovely people."

Susanna snorted. "Good luck trying to find one."

Vivian sighed again, but didn't comment. They sat in silence, listening to the ocean and relaxing in the sun.