Chapter one

Ten years. It had been ten years, give or take a few months, since Catherine had seen Tony in person.

Sure they had spoken over the phone every so often when they had free time to do so.

So why was she standing in the street below his building labelled 'Stark Tower'? the better question was why she was even going to attend a party the man was throwing?

Catherine was extremely anti-social. Heck, even meeting a new person for the first time had her panicking.

From where she stood, she could see a line of people waiting to enter the building. They all wore high end clothes; or at least to make it look like they were.

Catherine, on the other hand, wore a pair of jeans and a purple blouse. She had opted for flats, with the hatred for heels. Her brown hair was out, reaching the base of her shoulder blades and straightened.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she quickly retrieved it, thankful for the distraction. It was a message from none other than Tony.

Hey, what are you doing standing there? Come and join the fun.

Catherine looked up and saw said man walking towards her. He held a wide, beaming grin on his face; while Catherine had a small, awkward one.

He stopped beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He led her over to the tower.

"Glad you could make it kit cat. Wasn't sure you were gonna make it," he said, as they entered the elevator. It was thankfully empty.

"I contemplated not even coming; but decided to, due to how long it's been."

"Do you have any luggage?"

"It's all in the car. I'll grab it in the morning."

"Nonchalance. I'll have Happy bring it to your room."

"I don't want to inconvenience him at all."

"Don't be so nice. It's what he's here for."

"But-"

"Ah, ah. Not another word. You are to relax and have fun. Stop worrying for once in your life."

Catherine heaved a sigh.

"Fine," she admitted in defeat.

Tony fist-pumped the air in succession.

"Jarvis."

"On it, Sir," replied a British voice, from the elevator speakers.

Catherine was about to say something, when the elevator doors opened with a ding, that was immediately drowned out by the thumping music coming from the floor.

Her heart thudded against her ribcage as she was pulled into the mass of people.

Tony took her to the bar and poured her a drink. He handed it to her and she took a small sip.

"I have someone to speak to," he said, well more like shouted, so that he could be heard, "Go mingle."

Catherine watched as he moved with ease through the too large of a crowd and stopped before a red haired woman. Catherine tilted her head to the side, trying to remember if she knew the woman.

Not wanting to be pulled out to dance or chat with a stranger, she quickly retreated to a couch; where a few more anti-social people, who looked as if they too had been dragged along, sat. Other than the few nods and 'hello,' the group sat in silence.

Catherine tapped a finger on the edge of her glass in time with the music.

A few times, men had come over to ask her to dance; and, a little less often, women. Each time she had refused.

As the hours dragged on, Catherine realised that Tony wasn't going to come back. She got up from the couch, put her glass down on the bar's bench and scurried off to the elevator.

Stepping onto it, she spoke.

"Jarvis, could you please take me to the floor my room is on?"

"Of course, Miss Catherine."

The elevator whirred to life and she was taken up three floors. When she got out, she found herself on a floor that looked identical to the one she had just come from. The only difference being that there were rooms and a fully functional kitchen.

Catherine went to the kitchen and searched through the fridge for something to eat. Spotting a small container of blueberries, she snatched them and went off to find her room. It only took her a few minutes to find a note on one of the doors, with her name written on it. She entered the room.

Her luggage was sat neatly at the foot of the bed.

Catherine opened her suitcase and pulled out a singlet and pyjama pants. She got changed and crawled into the over-sized bed.

She munched on the blueberries before setting the plastic container on the bedside table and settling down for the night.