He stepped out of his office around 4:00 AM and into the dark, empty cubicle space. Leaning against his doorframe, he loosened his tie. His suit-coat hung over his arm.

It was done. William would remain the executive manager at the London Division Shinigami Dispatch and he owed it all to his assistant. Without her, it would've never been possible.

He stepped forward towards the only light in the huddle of cubicles.

She left the light on for me, he mused as he went to retrieve the papers his assistant would have completed by now.

As he came into view of her workspace his tired eyes widened in surprise. Giana was still at her desk. He had told her to go home the moment she had completed her work, but there she was. He walked closer, then stopped in realization.

Oh, she was asleep.

The young woman's head was resting on her arm, while her hand limply held a pen. Stepping closer, he observed how her scarlet hair-now loose-spilled all across her desk and how her left cheek was smushed against her arm, giving her face a pudgier child-like appearance. Also, she had nearly completed all of the gigantic stack of papers she had taken from him, only three or four more were left blank.

At this he gave a soft smile, which then fled as he realized what he must do next. With an awkward step closer to her, he lightly rested his hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Giana?" He inquired softly. "Giana? Wake up. Wake up!"

He shook a little harder, then a little harder, but each time to no avail. She must have been exhausted. Nothing shy of a slap to the face seemed to be capable of waking her, but that was obviously out of the question.

Perhaps he would allow her to sleep a bit longer while he tended to the few reports she had been unable to complete. But the longer he looked at her, the more he decided that he couldn't just leave her the way she was. The way she was resting with her back and neck bent was sure to leave a crick in both.

After a moment of uncertain debate, an eagerly generous part of William that he had never noticed before insisted that he do something to save her back and neck. After all, she had helped him keep his position. He owed her some thanks. With hesitant movements, he moved closer and slid his arms under her.

He did his best to maintain a neutral mindset that stated he was just being practical, but the newer emotional side of him screamed something else. True he was a bit terrified that she would wake up and find herself in his arms, but that was overshadowed by the lovely distraction of her scarlet head resting on his shoulder. As he carried her back to the office, he marveled at how close he was to her and how wondrous it felt. He laid her down with great care on the cushioned divan and brushed the fiery hair out of her face before returning to his desk with her papers that needed completing. Perhaps at some point before he was done, she would wake and he would be spared having to interrupt her slumber. Occasionally, however, he would glance back at the sleeping woman in his office, distracted once again.