Mirror Crown
Xavier's eyes fluttered open as the late afternoon light seeped through the heavy curtains. He had barely slept the night before, restless in the vast, unfamiliar bed. His thoughts kept racing, too much swirling around in his head to allow him any peace.
The room was quiet, except for the distant hum of voices coming from the hallway. He turned his head, checking the time on the bedside clock.
7:15 PM.
His stomach tightened in an instant as memories of the day's events came rushing back. A quick glance around the room reminded him that this wasn't his world. This wasn't his life.
Then it hit him—the dinner date.
Xavier's heart sank. He had completely forgotten about it. Christian's girlfriend was supposed to be here. He hadn't thought about her at all since waking up. He couldn't remember much about her either—what she looked like, what she liked to do, or how Christian treated her. It was all a blur to him.
He bolted up from the bed, panic creeping up his spine. What do I do?
Before he could even think, there was a knock on the door. He froze, heart pounding in his chest.
"Mr. Classic, dinner is ready," a soft voice called from the other side of the door.
Xavier's breath hitched. He knew he had no choice but to go. He had to be Christian, even if he had no idea how to play the part.
"Thank you," Xavier replied quickly, his voice barely above a whisper. He stood up, feeling the weight of his body shift awkwardly on unsteady legs as he tried to collect himself.
Dinner. His girlfriend is waiting. I don't even know what to say to her.
He quickly changed into the clothes laid out for him. He was given a tailored suit, crisp and sharp, something Christian would have undoubtedly worn to dinner. As he buttoned his shirt, his mind raced. What if she could see through him? What if she realized he wasn't Christian?
Focus. You've come this far.
Xavier took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He ran his hands through his hair, making sure it looked as presentable as possible, even if he had no clue what Christian's usual grooming habits were. There was no time for second-guessing now.
After a few moments, he made his way down the grand staircase, his steps hesitant but purposeful. The mansion's halls were lined with fine art, and the scent of freshly prepared food filled the air. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw a lavish dining area, the table set for two. The light from the chandelier overhead cast a warm glow over everything, giving the room an intimate atmosphere.
And then he saw her.
Sitting at the table, with a glass of wine in front of her, was a woman who seemed like she could have stepped out of a dream. Her dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and her eyes were a striking shade of green that caught the light just right. She was dressed elegantly, wearing a simple yet stunning black dress that perfectly complemented her figure.
She looked up as Xavier entered, her expression unreadable at first. Then, as if recognizing him, her face softened.
"Christian," she said softly, a smile forming on her lips. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."
Xavier's breath caught in his throat. Her voice...
He forced a smile onto his face, trying to mimic Christian's demeanor. "I'm sorry, I lost track of time," he said, the words sounding more like a question than a statement. Was that how Christian would respond?
She chuckled lightly, pushing the wine glass aside. "You always say that," she teased, her tone light and affectionate. She stood up and walked toward him, taking his hands in hers. Her touch was warm, familiar, as if she had done this a thousand times before.
Xavier stood frozen for a moment, unsure how to react. What am I supposed to do?
She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek, her lips lingering for just a second longer than what seemed casual. Xavier flinched slightly but quickly regained his composure. She pulled away, her smile still in place, but there was a hint of concern in her eyes now.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle. "You seem a little... off tonight."
Off? Xavier thought. He didn't know how to respond to that. He felt like an imposter in his own skin, but he forced himself to nod, pretending to be Christian as best as he could.
"I'm fine," Xavier replied, his voice steady despite the panic inside him. "Just... a lot on my mind."
The woman's expression softened, and she led him to the table, guiding him to his seat. "I understand. The stress from work must be getting to you. But you're here now. Let's enjoy dinner together."
As they sat down at the lavish table, a server began to bring in the first course—a delicate appetizer Xavier didn't recognize. He tried to focus on the food, on the conversation, anything to keep his mind from spiraling further.
But as she spoke, something in the back of Xavier's mind nagged at him. He realized, with a jolt, that he had no idea what this woman's name was. He didn't know her relationship with Christian. Was she his girlfriend? Was she someone more? He felt like a fool for not remembering, but the truth was, it was all so overwhelming.
She was talking now, but Xavier couldn't focus on her words. His mind was a blur of questions—about her, about his new life, about what the hell he was supposed to do next.
And all the while, the weight of pretending to be Christian Classic grew heavier.