Hi, readers. This is my first foray into the fic world. I've been an avid reader of them for a long time. I couldn't get this idea out of mind. It's kind of been rattling around for some time, so I started to write and lo and behold, before I even realized I was ten chapters in. Please be kind. Reviews would be very appreciated and I also would love constructive criticism. If anyone knows the movie Overboard with Goldie Hawn, this story is loosely based on that.I really hope you guys enjoy!

The Privileged Princess

The sun set on the beautiful horizon of tree hill. Haley James lounged comfortably on her lounge chair letting the sun hit her face. She loved the feel of the sun tanning her porcelain skin.

She had been exhausted after a long day of shopping. Life was really tiring for an heiress that spent he whole day carousing through the best stores tree hill had to offer.

She tugged at her fire red engine bikini, loosening the strings being sure to let the sun tan her skin without line marks on her body.

She sipped on a martini while flipping through the latest Cosmo to see what this months fashion tips were. Apparently the smoky eye was in and Haley made a point to store that into her repertoire for her next makeup sess with Liz. She had to try it out.

Flipping the magazine page she came across an article asking if you were with your perfect mate. Well duh, of course she was.

She couldn't speak for those other nitwits out there, but Nigel was her perfect soulmate. And he proved it last week when he had presented her with a four karat, pear shaped, blue diamond. It was a first class diamond. No other like it in the entire world. One and only kinda diamond for a one of a kind kinda girl. She was the best and she deserved the best.

She had been shocked to say the least. They'd been together for two plus years and Haley was beginning to think he wasn't ever going to pop the question. She felt impatient waiting on him, but finally last week when they were having dinner, he suddenly ask the question she had been anxiously awaiting.

Her crazy mother Lydia James was of course thrilled beyond words. She immediately set out to invite everyone who was anyone to celebrate the engagement of her only daughter.

Not being one to shy away from a party, Haley went to work designing the decor, the menu, and the lighting. It had to be a impeccable light so that everyone could envy the glow of her ring. She wanted to make sure that all the girls who she attended school with would get an up close and personal front row seat to see her ring. They may have been her friends, but Haley knew she could never pass up the opportunity to show off the newest bauble in her collection.

"Haley!," Lydia called out interrupting her me time. "Oh, there you are. I wanted to know if you wanted lobster or crab on the dinner menu for the main entree'."

Haley rolled her eyes behind the expensive sunglasses on her face. Her mother really could be so idiotic at times. Asking her something so ridiculous. Lobster or crab? They were rich, why not both.

"Mother, just have both," she said irritated. "Give the masses a choice. I want no expense spared for this event."

"Ok, dear. I'll let cook know. Is there anything else you want specifically for this soiree?"

"I want the ten ice sculptures that we talked about. That little twit Kerry Covington had five at her wedding shower and no way am I allowing her to outdo me. Make it fifteen," she decided. "Let's see her compete with that."

"Got it," Lydia checked in her list.

"And mother, do me a favor."

"Anything baby," she cooed. Lydia only ever wanted to make her only child feel special and no know she was the greatest thing in the world, much like her mother.

Lydia was a well respected socialite, and her mission in life was to guide Haley along those same paths so she could one day find her a rich husband, and grow their already massive fortune.

Lydia had made her way through an abundance of wealthy suitors. She had been married a total of five times, each husband seemingly just as rich as the last. Lydia had massed a fortune in her divorce settlements over the years, and that wasn't even counting what she got from Haley's father, Jimmy, during their divorce. He and Lydia had jointly founded James Enterprises and there was no prenup prior to the marriage since the company wasn't even in existence until five years into their union. When her mother had realized her father was shagging some young harpy, Lydia had made out in the settlement like a fat cat.

"Un-invite father. I don't want to be bothered with his insistence of me working for him in New York. I don't have the time or patience to be sitting under his board of governors, those pervs. Every single one of them has some young mistress hanging on their shriveled up di..."

"Haley!," Lydia cut her off. "Refined respected women don't speak with such language."

"Whatever. Just do it, mother."

"But Haley, he's your father. He's paying for this whole thing," Lydia insisted.

"I don't care. It's my party, and I want what I want. Will you do this for me, mother?," she asked pulling her sunglasses off and tossing them on the end table beside her.

"Very well, dear. I'll make some excuse to get him to miss the party," she said leaving the boat deck.

Haley was left alone in her resting chair, pissed that Lydia had disrupted her quiet peaceful time. She slammed the magazine down into the table before she begin screaming frustratingly to Nigel.

"Nigey! Nigey!," she yelled.

He came coming a minute later to see her sitting upright in the chair not looking to happy.

"Yes, dear," he started to coddle taking the seat beside her. "What's the matter, foofy?", he said calling her by the name he often used when they first started dating.

"I'm not happy, Nigey," she flopped back pouting. "Mother was here bothering me. All I want is the party of all parties, but she insists on bugging me about it every ten minutes," she complained.

"Well, she wants it perfect, doll. Give the ol' girl a break. She only wants what best for you."

"I know! But why can't she just plan it by herself. It's not like she a novice at throwing the most extravagant parties," she whined.

"I'll talk to her, love. No need to worry your pretty little head off," he said running his hand through her impeccable blonde hair. Not a strand was out of place.

"I knew I loved you," she smiled. "Another reason I want to be your wife," she kissed his lips gently.

Nigel Basq was the heir to an oil fortune and what Haley loved most about him was that he was probably almost as rich as her. His father had come up through the family business under the guidance of his own father in the 1940's. The Basq empire had steadily grown each year, and once his father decided to retire, Nigel would lead the business into the future.

Their future kids would be practically royalty, and Haley knew he was the perfect pick to become her betrothed.

Haley had met him during a weekend Italy. He was there conducting business for his family, and Haley was just taking a small little vaca there when they literally bumped into each other during lunch at an exclusive restaurant.

From that moment on they had been inseparable, and the only thing their family and friends could see in their future was a wedding. You could never find two people more perfect for one another than them.

"I meant to tell you, kitten. The company you hired to install your moving shelves, called. Said the worker will be over sometime tomorrow," he relayed.

"Well, that's something at least," she said sinking into her lounge. "I have a little shopping to do tomorrow - so I won't be here when he arrives. Be sure to alert the butler about this. He can oversee the work, I don't have time."

"What do you need, dear?," he asked. "You can't possibly need more shoes. That's why we need the rack now," he sighed.

Haley could be a handful. The girl had a slight addition to shopping, and when money was endlessly at your disposal, that addiction was pressed to the limit.

"I need a dress for the party," she said. She couldn't wear something old that she already had. She had a reputation to uphold. "I have nothing to wear."

"That's fine.I'm gonna go speak to your mother. I'll be sure to whip those party plans into motion. I'll see you later, kitten," he said giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"Thank you, honey," she smiled watching him descend into the boat's cabin.

She closed her eyes and continued to soak up the rays. The sun was beginning to set over the horizon, and she wanted to take in the last bit of it in peace.

"Miss James," she was interrupted.

She sighed opening her eyes to see Tim, the butler, standing over her.

"What do you want?," she angrily bitched.

Tim cringed feeling deathly afraid. He knew from prior to experience that Haley could be tough on her employees, and it was clear she wasn't happy.

"I just wanted to know if you wanted your lunch served out here or in the dining room, ma'am?," he asked timidly.

"I'll be eating with my mother and Mr. Basq in the dining room."

"Very well," he nodded turning to walk away.

"And Tim," she called before he was completely out of her sight. "Tell everyone, including all of your little servant friends to leave me alone, or the next person that interrupts my tan time, will be fired. I'm talking 'never work again' fired," she nastily relayed. "Geez, what does a girl have to do around her to be left alone," she complained slamming her shades back onto her eyes.

Tim quickly rushed from the outside deck afraid of catching more of Haley's wrath. He needed to be warn everyone that the lady of the boat was unhappy, and that he thought it best to stay out of her way for a while. They all needed their jobs, and judging from the misses mood, she was serious about dismissing them from their job if she didn't get what she wanted.

It was some time later when Haley sat with her mother and Nigel at the table. They were eating a lunch of roasted duck and risotto with spring vegetables. Haley had been adamant that the cooks only fix things that she could eat without gaining weight. She had a weight to maintain and designers weren't in the business of letting out dresses every fitting to accommodate a plump bride.

"Oh, this is marvelous," Lydia said. Her head was buried in the paper excitedly reading the article.

"What are you spouting about now, mother?," Haley asked. Nigel fed her a piece of duck before he continued to eat his lunch.

"Just this," she turned the section to Haley. "You've made the society page... Well you and Nigel, " she smiled at her son-in-law. "It says that your wedding is the social event of the year. Can you believe it...of the year. Suck on that Vanderbilt's. My daughter!," she screamed loudly holding up the paper.

Lydia could never pass up the opportunity to show up one of the biggest family's in their circle, the Vanderbilt's. She had a long standing rival against Gloria Vanderbilt, and anytime she could show her up, she would.

"Well, isn't that something," Nigel chuckled getting a kick out of the whole thing.

"Mother, calm down," Haley added. "It's no big deal."

"Well, of course it is. This is the society page, muffin. It's a very big deal," she chirped. "Don't act like you don't care, Haley. I mean didn't you just order me to get you fifteen ice sculptures," she snidely reminded her daughter.

"That's different. Isn't it, Nigey?," she asked trying to get him on her side.

"Yes dear," he dutifully answered.

"How do you figure?," Lydia asked. "I wanna show up those dimwitted Vanderbilts and you wanna show up your high school chums. No different to me, dear. Same song, slightly different tune."

"Do what you want, mother. See if I care," she said getting up and leaving the room. She was completely pissed at her mother. This was her day, her day to show off and make people envious. And now Lydia was ready to take over and use this party as her weapon of choice. Another reason for her to show off and brag, screw Haley. It was what Lydia wanted.