"Wake up, sleeping beauty!" Quade's voice sliced through the air, cutting through the fog of your mid-afternoon slumber. His sharp tone was accompanied by an equally forceful shake, jolting you from yet another unintended desk nap. His persistent shaking forced you to reluctantly rejoin the conscious world, the remnants of sleep clinging stubbornly to your mind. In the dimly lit underground office, time seemed to flow differently, devoid of the usual cues provided by natural light.

You squinted at the clock mounted on the wall, its hands ticking away with relentless precision, the only reliable measure of time in the windowless office. High noon had long passed while you remained blissfully unaware, cocooned in the embrace of sleep. Quade's expression betrayed his irritation as you struggled to shake off the drowsiness, rubbing your eyes in a feeble attempt to regain focus.

"Is this going to be a regular thing now?" His tone was a blend of exasperation and concern, hinting at the mounting pile of work left unattended while you indulged in impromptu siestas at your desk. You could see the weariness etched into the lines of his face, evidence of the countless times he'd found himself in this exact scenario, playing the role of both your assistant and enforcer in your battle against the ever-encroaching tide of exhaustion.