AN: I'll try to upload a new chapter once a week or more, enjoy and reviews are love!
Chapter One: Keeping Up Appearances
They were a secret within a prestigious society. Upper class New Yorkers didn't know they existed, for all they knew they were one of them; old money and even older blood. The parties they attended were ones with grand catering and gorgeous ball gowns.
The summers were spent in the Hamptons while their winters were spent skiing in the Swiss Alps. It was all about the money and the image. Appearance is everything and who you are and where you come from defines your life. Here is where you're made, live, and potentially die off. This night like many nights before wasn't any different. A Halloween masquerade was taking place at the Sheraton's Mansion. Their hotel chain made them infamous along with their history and current family gossip.
Edward, the oldest of the Cullen children stood off to the side wearing an immaculate suite tailored just for him fitting him like a glove. He took a sip from his drink as he scanned his surroundings, the cool champagne slid down his throat and he felt relieved that he was getting some sort of escape. For over a hundred years he'd been attending the same parties with newer generations of the families. Some of the families he'd known since they first became rich, others just newly became millionaires or billionaires. Looking out onto the ballroom floor he saw his sister, Rosalie twirling with a gentleman, her new game perhaps.
For years, literally, she'd been getting men to follow her and then right when they'd fall madly in love with her she'd drop them like they didn't exist. It was the only thing that kept her entertained. Boredom had set in around 50 years after they had been changed, they saw the same old society dwelling and the same old conversations, they needed excitement and it couldn't come soon enough.
"New meat" he heard Alice, his youngest sister whisper to him in his mind. He turned towards where she was looking and saw a girl he'd never seen before. Her hair was a deep burgundy swept to one side in a low curled pony tail. She wore a deep red and gold ball gown and held a porcelain gold mask in one hand.
"I haven't seen them around here." Edward didn't have to turn around to see his brother behind him.
"Many of these people are new money Emmett."
"Aw have a little fun Edward; it's always you and your high society talk."
"Her last names Swan sh-"
"I want to keep this interesting." He quieted Alice from telling him anymore. If he was going to have any fun then he should start now.
"Eddy, you've got a look of mischief on your face. I think I like where this is going." Edward gave his brother a small smirk.
"It's called a conquest. Why should Rosalie get all the fun?"
"You're creating your own game I see." Edward placed his empty champagne flute on a tray that a passing waiter held. Licking his lips to taste the last of the champagne he was ready to head over to his new challenge until he met the eye of an old acquaintance, a really old one.
She stood off to the side leaning against the wall looking at his with a raised eyebrow expecting him to come over and the good little boy that he was he changed directions and headed her way and before he could get to her she turned and left the ballroom. Edward followed. Shaking his head Emmett knew that Catherine would always be a problem, she'd been the first day Edward met her so many years ago and she still was one now.
Deciding he wanted to dance he cut into Rosalie's arms and smiled. "Having fun?"
"Barely." She rolled her eyes.
Emmett let out a deep chuckle then leaned in towards her ear and whispered, "You know it can be so simple, you and I."
"Simple isn't my forte."
He gave a small smile but wasn't defeated. He'd been trying for the past 10 decades to convince her that they'd be perfect together, but she wouldn't have any of it. He spun her around the floor a few times before he went off to tend to business.
Rosalie gave him a lingering look with sad eyes. She knew that they'd be perfect together, hell it'd be a fairytale ending but she was just scared that in the long run she'd hurt him, like she has so many others. She didn't want him to be a conquest, he meant too much to her.
That's why she had to let him go. Another song began to play and the couples rejoined and twirled in synchronized circles on the dance floor. A perfect harmonious waltz. Too bad that the perfection was close to ending and that everything might just come out into the open sooner than thought.
***
Their deep breathing was drowned by the instruments playing in the ballroom.
"You're really a bad influence."
"You love it." Charlotte's wild eyes gleamed with mischief. She could always entice Edward whenever she was around. She brought his lips dangerously close to hers, but before she could get him any closer they heard his name being faintly called, "Edward!"
He let out a low growl; he knew he had to get back to the party. He called back, "Coming mother!"
Turing back towards Charlotte he gave her a hard kiss and told her, "I'll see you soon."
"I love how good you keep up appearances." He gave her a smirk and left with a blur. As he reached his mother he saw the disapproving look on her face. When he reached her she reached up to fix his crooked tie and she gave him a knowing stare. Mouthing 'sorry' he turned to concentrate on who his mother wanted him to meet.
"This is Renee Swan her parents are the du Pont's." Edward looked at the woman and said hello.
"I have a daughter your age." Renee looked around the ballroom but couldn't find her daughter, "I swear she was just here a minute ago. Anyways you two would get along she's new in town."
"I'm sure we would, now if you'd excuse me." He left the conversation for the 'adults' and headed out of the ballroom. He left Charlotte in the coat check for that?! Opening the French doors to the side he breathed in the fresh air, not that he needed it.
Leaning on the balcony he checked his watch, it was a quarter to midnight a few more minutes and then they'd be out of here. He caught a glimpse of shimmering gold below him and he saw the girl who he was suppose to be introduced to below. She was waiting at the front doors of the mansion. He was about to make a move when he heard the rev of an engine and in a matter of seconds a sleek car pulled up. S
he opened the door to the passenger side and got in, but careful not to get her dress caught. The car pulled out but before it drove off the window opened and she threw out the mask, shattering into pieces as it hit the ground. Edward smiled as he realized, 'This girl is more interesting than I thought.'