Olivia woke up from a long nightmare, her head still spinning.
"Ah! I'm alive! Oh, My God! It was just nightmare!"
Her chest was still pounded. The memory of drowning and the suffocating pain in her lungs, still lingered. But her panic didn't last long. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the luxurious room around her, sunlight spilling gently across her face.
Where am I?
That place felt unfamiliar to Olivia. And yet ... somehow, that place was strangely familiar.
Suddenly ....
Clang!
The sound of a tray crashing to the floor jolted her. Olivia whipped her head toward the noise.
"M-Madam!"
A young woman stood frozen, dressed in a black knee length skirt paired with dark stockings. A thin gray apron was tied neatly around her waist, its small pockets holding a handkerchief, keys, or perhaps a notebook. Her hair was tied back into a neat bun, adorned with a small maid's headpiece, a simple yet modern nod to the classic servant attire.
The entire look reflected upper class perfection, as though even the smallest wrinkle in her uniform would be a disgrace.
The young maid's voice trembled as she cried out again, "M-Madam! Young Lady Trixie is awake!" Then she bolted out of the room.
Olivia blinked in confusion.
What? Young Lady Trixie? Young-Lady-Trixie? Who is she? Why she calls me Young Lady Trixie?
Before she could gather her thoughts, an elegant middle aged woman entered with graceful steps. Her hair was styled in a tight bun, and her neck glittered with a necklace of dazzling green gemstones.
"Darling .…" The woman suddenly embraced Olivia, pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Finally, you are awake."
"S-sorry, M-Madam … I think you have mistaken me for someone else. My name is not Trixie. But, I am Olivia," Olivia replied hesitantly. "And … I think I am in the wrong place."
The woman only chuckled softly, her laugh refined and composed. "Darling, it is all right if you have forgotten who you are, beause the doctor said that your temporary memory loss is normal after drowning."
"B-but … you have got the wrong person."
The woman cupped Olivia's cheek tenderly, a sweet smile gracing her lips. "Darling, don't ever leave Mama again. Mama could never live without you."
"B-but ...."
At that moment, a well dressed man in a suit rushed in, he was looking to be around the same age as the woman. His eyes shone with relief as he exclaimed, "Darling! You are finally awake!" He pulled Olivia into a warm embrace, happiness radiating from his expression.
Olivia immediately pushed him away, her instincts screaming that something was wrong. She scrambled off that soft and luxurious bed.
"M-Madam, Sir, you must be mistaken. I am not Trixie, okay? I am Olivia. I nearly drowned earlier while saving my student, her name was Vanessa. Then .…"
Her words trailed off as both of them exchanged bewildered glances.
Why are they looking at me like that?
Then Olivia's gaze fell on a large gilded mirror by her side. Her heart skipped.
Standing in the reflection was a beautiful young woman in pink silk pajamas, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall, her skin looks flawless and radiant.
"H-huh? W-Who is … that?"
The middle aged man chuckled. "That's you, darling. Who else?"
Olivia's lips trembled as she pointed at the reflection. "M-me? That's me?"
"Yes. That's you Trixie, our beloved daughter," answered the man to Olivia.
***
Olivia's mind reeled. How had she ended up in the body of a stranger? And why were these people claiming to be her parents when she had grown up with only her mother and fatherless since birth?
As the elegant woman fed her porridge, Olivia hesitated.
"Mad—uh, I mean … Mama ... and ... Papa .…"
"Yes, darling?" asked that woman.
She hesitated to ask. "May I ask … something?" asked her to them.
The man who claimed to be her father asked back, "What is it you wish to ask, darling?"
Olivia still looked at them in confusion. "Um, I want to ask ... where am I right now?" she whispered.
"You're at home," the man replied. "And this is your bed room."
What? Home? My bed room?
Olivia was shocked to hear that. The room was so spacious for her. Even, the room was larger than her house in the village.
The woman said, "Darling, don't think too much. Just focus on your recovering, right. You were underwater for nearly an hour, it's a miracle you survived."
Olivia's mouth fell open. Now, she was not only shocked by the room and the house. She was even more stunned to know that she had been underwater for an hour. "A-an hour? How is that possible?" asked her.
The woman's eyes softened with regret. "Your foot was caught in the pool drain, and … I didn't realize you were there until it was too late." Her voice trembled, tears glistening in her eyes.
Olivia reached for her hand. "M-Mama…"
"It's all right, darling. If your memories haven't returned yet, call me Madam for now if you'd like."
"N-no, Mama. I … I think I remember a little. Don't be sad. I am fine now."
The woman smiled through her tears. "Yes, darling."
"Mama, Papa," Olivia said suddenly, "Um ... by the way, can I … go for a walk?"
"A walk?" asked the man. "What do you want to go for a walk? Paris? Dubai?"
"N-no!" Olivia blurted. "I just want to walk around the house. Maybe walking around this house can help me to memorize my lost memory."
***
Olivia descended the grand staircase slowly. The steps were polished white marble, the handrails carved from smooth mahogany. Along the walls, golden-framed family portraits lined the way, each face painted in breathtaking detail. Her steps faltered when she saw one of the portraits.
That's … me?
"Darling, come down," the elegant woman urged.
"Y-yes."
Above her, a massive crystal chandelier glittered, casting warm light across the mansion's interior.
From the staircase, Olivia could see the vast living room below. A Persian carpet sprawled across the hardwood floor and circling around plush cream leather sofas.
A glass table sat at the center, a vase of fresh lilies brightening the air with their fragrance.
Several servants stood in neat rows in the living room, bowing their heads respectfully as Olivia appeared on the stairs. Every step she took echoed through the vast space, her presence impossible to ignore.
Damn it … why can't I remember this place? What kind of place is this?
Her fists clenched tight. She had no clues. No answers.
Just then, a butler in a crisp suit approached the elegant woman, he was handing her a letter. "Madam Tamara, Mr. Theo, here this is an invitation dinner from Mr. Brandon for tonight."
Wait, Madam Tamara? Mr. Theo? Mr. Brandon?
Olivia froze. Those names … they were not unfamiliar at all.
Wait! Those are the name of the characters from my latest CEO novel! And … Trixie … Oh My God! Trixie was one of the side characters I created.
Her knees buckled. She nearly collapsed, but Tamara caught her just in time. Theo also reached out to hold his daughter's body.
"Darling, are you all right?" Tamara asked.
Olivia's eyes brimmed with tears. "Mama … Papa, is Mr. Brandon's full name is Brandon Baldwin?"
"Yes, of course."
"A-And me … am I T-Trixie Turner?"
"That's right, darling," Theo answer his daughter's question. "Why?"
Olivia bit her lip. She disbeliefed what happened to her.
No way. It can't be real .… Did I actually trap into my own CEO novel?
***