I Sleep To Earn, I Rejected His All-Nighter

The company's daily revenue rose and fell with the number of hours I slept. If I got just six hours of sleep, the company barely managed to break even. With eight hours, the finance team would rake in a cool million. And if I hit the 10-hour mark, the legal department could land contracts worth tens of millions. Two years ago, I battled three sleepless nights in a row, and chaos erupted as three projects went off the rails. The chairman almost ended up in the hospital from stress. After witnessing the fallout firsthand, he quickly arranged for me to have a private office complete with a king-sized bed. It came stocked with an aroma diffuser, blackout shades, white noise machines, and everything I could possibly need. They even brought in a massage therapist and a sleep consultant to ensure I was well taken care of. My sole performance indicator was to get quality sleep. Every month, I had no responsibilities, yet I still pocketed a million-dollar salary. ***** The newcomers at the company whispered that I was just a lazy opportunist who had gotten in through connections. Before the chairman jetted off for a coronary artery bypass grafting surgery overseas, he made it clear to all the executives, "Anyone can put in extra hours, but Scarlett must not burn the midnight oil." Yet, as soon as he was out the door, the new director, Jenny York, stormed into my break room. She switched off the aroma diffuser, yanked the covers off me, and tossed my ID badge onto the table like it was trash. "The company funds your lifestyle, not so you can nap all day. You're revising the roadshow PPT tonight. If it's not done, no one's leaving this office." I had just lowered my eye mask when she barged in. The aroma diffuser was sending out a gentle mist. The blackout curtains were drawn tight. The white noise machine was softly humming, making the space feel like a cozy cave. She lingered in the doorway for a moment before bursting into laughter, "So Mr. Scott really does give you special treatment, and you actually treat the office like a hotel." With a sharp click, she flipped on the overhead light. The blinding brightness poured in, momentarily disorienting me and tightening my chest, making it hard to catch my breath. My sleep consultant, Mary, quickly stepped in front of me. "Ms. York, Scarlett has a scheduled nap time from three to five in the afternoon, personally approved by Mr. Scott. No one is allowed to interrupt her." "Scheduled nap time?" Jenny said, strutting across the room in her high heels. She unplugged the aroma diffuser and snatched up my silk eye mask. "An employee locking herself in for a daytime snooze and needing a babysitter? She certainly thinks she's more important than Mr. Scott." I sat up on the edge of the bed, my throat feeling parched. "Ms. York, I need my sleep uninterrupted." She stared at me as if I had just cracked a joke, her eyes gliding over the bed, the carpet, the sleep aid lamp, and the massage chair before finally settling on my face. "Scarlett, I heard all about you on my first day here. The company's million-dollar mascot who does nothing but nap while everyone else runs around after you." Before long, a small crowd had gathered at the door. A few new management trainees peeked in, murmuring quietly. "Is this the special role everyone talks about?" "My desk isn't even as big as her bed." "Sleeping and still raking in a million? Mr. Scott must be doing charity work." Mary's face went pale with concern. "You all need to stop spreading rumors. Scarlett isn't just a freeloader. She plays an important role in the company." Jenny's smile turned even frostier. "Important enough for the company to give her a bed, an aroma diffuser, a massage therapist, and a whole team of you waiting on her?" She snatched my ID badge and slammed it against the glass door. "Starlight Waves takes care of employees, not pampered pets." I felt a tightness in my fingers. "Mr. Scott specifically said that no one was to disturb my break room for the next few days." "Really?" She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing with impatience. "Scarlett, I can't stand people like you who don't contribute but love to hide behind their superiors. Since I joined Starlight Waves, no one has been allowed to lounge around and get paid." Standing tall, she gestured to the project team outside. "The final version of the roadshow PPT needs to be completely redone by eight tonight." The project manager was caught off guard. "Ms. York, this version was already approved by the board last night..." "I said redo it." The corridor outside the conference room went dead silent. Jenny's gaze snapped back to me. "You'll take care of it." My throat constricted. "I need to be in bed before nine tonight." "Then get it done early." "I can't stay up all night." She let out a derisive laugh. "People like you, who've grown accustomed to comfort, can't handle even a bit of pressure. The company doesn't pay you to lounge around in bed like some kind of trophy." Mary stepped in, trying to calm the situation. "Ms. York, Scarlett's different. Her sleep..." "Different? Why?" Jenny shot back, shaking off Mary's hand, her voice escalating. "If a young person is earning a million a year, they should have the attitude to match! She shouldn't even think about sleeping today. Tonight, she won't even be allowed to rest in a chair!" The clock on the wall ticked away relentlessly. I realized at that moment that my night was already doomed. Jenny gestured to two security guards. "Clear out Conference Room A and move her computer over there. If the roadshow PPT isn't wrapped up tonight, no one is leaving." As she reached the door, she turned back to shoot me one last glance. "By the way, make sure administration takes that bed out of here tomorrow. This isn't a retirement home. We don't need such luxuries." Mary's face drained of color. I fixed my gaze on my bed, feeling a heavy weight settle in my chest. What she was moving wasn't just a bed. She was altering the very future of Starlight Waves.