A/N: This is the start the whole "When World's Collide Story for those of you that read it, hope you enjoy.

Maria POV

My biggest problem with being rich was the fact I always had to do things I didn't want to do. For example, tonight I have to go to some stuffy rich people party full of old guys, their gossiping wives, and their very bitchy daughters. To be honest, I don't think it helped that the last time I went to one of these things I punched some girl in the face… Yeah, after that my popularity level dropped severely. I looked at myself in the mirror. My reddish hair was pulled up in a tight (slightly uncomfortable) bun and my black cocktail dress was so tight I could barely move.

"Bruce! I'm not going!" I yelled down the hall.

He stomped into the room "Maria," he sighed "do you have to do this every time? You aren't getting out of this party; you already didn't go to the museum opening you were invited to this month."

"But Bruce!" I whined

"No 'buts'. You are a grown adult and there are certain things expected of you."

I huffed "Fine."

"Good, now go play nice with all the other geniuses."

"Hammer Jr. is so not a genius. I doubt he can even get dressed by himself."

Bruce shook his head in exasperation and walked out of the room.

So I ended up going to the stupid Hammer Tech charity thingy (I actually have no idea what the event is for). I got out of my limo and zipped past the cameras as fast as I could. I walked and absorbed my surroundings. Justin Hammer (Jr.) to my left, open bar to my right, gossipy women straight ahead. I turned to the right and sat right in front of the bartender.

"Can I get a shot of tequila?"

She raised her eyebrows "Sorry, I don't have any."

"Oh, elegant party…right. Um, Vodka martini?"

She smiled "I can do that."

"Actually, can you just put straight Vodka in a martini glass and pretend it's a martini?" I dropped a hundred in her tip jar.

She laughed and filled the glass; she even added olives for good measure. "Preparing for a long night?"

"Very long." I began drinking my "martini" and glancing around the room for the new notch in my bed post. Hmmm, ugly…married… sleazy…been there done that… I was about to settle on an attractive black guy in a really expensive suit when a new man sat at the bar. I crinkled my eyebrows and looked at him. I had never seen him before in my life. He had smooth, jet black hair that looked striking against his ivory complexion and brilliant green eyes. He met my eyes from across the bar and gave me a small smile, I couldn't help but smile back. I stood up and made my way through the crowd to sit in the stool next to him. He turned toward me when I plopped down next to him.

"I've never seen you before." I remarked

He nodded "I'm not really the type to get invited to these sort of things." His voice was incredibly silky and smooth.

"God, I wish I didn't get invited… How come you got invited to this?"

"I made a few good investments here and there, one of them was in Hammer Tech."

"And you made money? With Hammer Tech?"

"Yes," he looked as surprised as I did "the man may be a moron but the government sure does like throwing money at him."

I laughed "Yeah, one of the world's great wonders is how he didn't run that business into the ground."

"Indeed."

"I'm Maria." I reached my hand toward him and he shook it firmly.

"My name is Loki."

Dun dun Daaaaaaaa! Any of you surprised?...no? Well, I can live with that. The story is already posted on AO3 as well as part 2 of the series. Reviews cause happy thoughts.

R&R