She followed the force pulling her head back and looked up at a towering figure.
Still half-asleep and a little dazed, she blinked until Edmond Halley's face came into focus.
Why was Edmond here?
Was she dreaming?
But this dream felt entirely too real. Edmond was pulling her hair, and it hurt!
She reached up, snatching the strand of hair back from his grip, and demanded, "What are you doing? That hurts!"
Edmond said, "Sleeping on the job, Sheila. Is this your professional attitude?"
Sheila shook her head, finally snapping awake.
She had fallen asleep?
She had fallen asleep in Edmond's study?
What a disaster!
She hurriedly stood up, and the thin blanket draped over her slipped down.
She quickly reached out and grabbed it.
Had she covered herself with a blanket before falling asleep?
"Aren't you going to explain yourself?"
Pushing aside her confusion about the blanket, Sheila hurried to answer his question. "I'm sorry... I was just a little exhausted today. It won't happen again!"
"It's only your first day on the job, and you're already slacking off." Edmond's voice was ice-cold. "Since it's your first offense, I'll let it slide. But if there's a next time..."
"I promise, it won't happen again!" she quickly assured him.
"Promises are useless," Edmond replied. "If you do it again, I'll add an extra day to your employment contract for every offense."
Sheila gritted her teeth. "Fine!"
She definitely wouldn't mess up again!
"Enough. Go to bed," Edmond said.
Operating on pure reflex, she started heading for the door.
"Leave the blanket," Edmond ordered.
"Oh." She quickly folded the blanket into a neat square and placed it on the sofa.
Reaching the door, she paused and looked back. "Are you not going to sleep yet?"
"I'll be resting shortly."
"Do you need water for the night?" she asked, then paused. "I have a suggestion..."
"Speak."
"Do you have an insulated tumbler? I could fill it with warm water and leave it on your nightstand. That way, if you get thirsty in the middle of the night..."
Edmond raised his eyes, fixing her with a stare.

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