The next chapter! I'm sorry that it took me so long to write it, but my life keeps me incredibly busy at the moment. I'll try to write the next chapter sooner!

I hope you like this chapter even if it's a little short. Please let me know what you think, that would be awesome!

The song to this chapter is 'I Knew I Loved You' by Savage Garden.

I don't own the characters or places!

Tony

After Virginia Potts arrived at the party, I tried my best to focus on something else and not stare at her any longer. However, it turned out to be incredibly difficult and I just didn't understand why.

The moment our eyes first met, my heart had started to beat furiously in my chest. It nearly felt like I was nervous for whatever reason. Normally, that never happened to me. And there was also no reason to be nervous. Yes, that woman was ridiculously beautiful with her red hair, the green eyes and the blue dress, but she was also the person who could ruin everything I've been working for in the past years!

Was I scared of her? I didn't think so. Instead, it rather felt like I couldn't wait to meet her, which was... stupid? Risky? The worst idea I had in months? Most probably all of it. Because I couldn't let her ruin the reputation of my show. It wasn't just because of me. Other lives also depended on our success.

I tried to focus on the conversation Phillip started with Obadiah, but it was hard. I wasn't even sure what they were talking about until Obadiah excused himself and Phillip stared at me darkly.

"Tony, what's wrong?" He hissed, looking around to make sure that no one was listening to our conversation.

"Nothing." I replied immediately and smiled at him, even if I knew that it must look fake. "Just our next show."

Phillip sighed deeply. "Are you really thinking about how we can impress that woman right now? Here, in the middle of this party?" He shook his head. "You should focus on other things instead. Like winning more people for the show. That's why we're here in the first place, remember?"

I nodded reluctantly. "Fine." I agreed and turned around to do just that. I knew that Phillip was right. We needed more people to come to the show! We were already very successful, but who knew how long that would last?

In the next hour, I walked around and talked to different people. I used all my charm and to my surprise, it was going well. I knew that many didn't like to see me on such occasions, especially after I also stole the son of the Carlyle's, which had been quite a scandal back then. Knowing that not all the rich and influential people in New York despised me for that was good.

It took me some time to realise that my feet were carrying me in a certain direction. The ballroom was really big and I'd been heading nowhere in particular – at least that's what I thought. Until I realized that I was constantly moving to one of the corners, right where a beautiful woman in a blue dress was standing together with her companion.

I knew that this was another stupid idea of mine, but I couldn't help it. I grabbed another drink that was offered to me and breathed in deeply. After making sure that not too many people were watching, I headed in the direction of Ms. Potts and her... uncle? I wasn't so sure, but they were somewhere related.

I walked slowly and greeted a few people on my way, always a slight smile on my lips. I knew that not all of them liked me, but I didn't care. That kept me from staring at her too much. Her companion noticed me first and she followed his gaze soon. From the corner of my eyes, I saw that she stiffened once she saw me. I wasn't sure why, though. But most probably she already knew who I was and had heard something about my show. That's why she was here in the first place, wasn't she?

When I got closer, I felt free to watch her more closely. I didn't know that it was possible, but she looked even prettier up close. There were indeed freckles on her face and her red hair seemed to shine in the light. The most impressing thing were her green eyes, though. Green like emeralds. They narrowed slightly when she noticed me looking at her, but I didn't look away, even if it wasn't polite to stare at a woman like that. Somehow, I couldn't help myself.

"Good evening to you." I said once I was close enough and stopped in front of them, leaving a distance between their table and myself. "You must be Ms. Potts. It's an honour to meet you." I bowed my head and turned to Phil. "And Mr. Coulson." He was her uncle, I remembered it again!

"It's good to meet you too, Mr. …?" Mr. Coulson raised his eyebrows and I laughed, mostly at my own stupidity. I'd completely forgotten to introduce myself, being used to the fact that everyone knew who I was without asking.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Tony Stark." I smiled widely at them, but didn't make any attempt to shake their hands. I'd never liked those gestures.

I watched both of them closely and couldn't help feeling a little satisfied when they slowly realized who was standing in front of them. After all, I was the reason they were in New York. The man looked calm and like he'd expected it somehow, but was there surprise in her eyes? Mixed with something else I couldn't quite place.

"Mr. Stark." Mr. Coulson smiled politely. "We've heard many things about you."

I chuckled. "I hope only the good ones." I was sure that they must have also heard the bad stories about me. Normally, those were the only stories of interest for others.

"That depends." Ms. Potts threw in, looking at me with interest on her face.

I quirked an eyebrow. "On what?"

"What you consider as good." She smiled, making me laugh. I already suspected that she had a way with words from what I'd read in her article, but she was also smart! And had a sharp tongue. If she didn't have the intention to ruin me, I might even like her.

"Then I have to say that I also heard many things about you, Ms. Potts." I threw in, wanting to see her reaction to my words.

"I hope not the good ones." She said simply, making me grin. She was really something! Somehow, I knew that she could never be compared to the other women I'd met before. Well, maybe except for Anne. She also had a sharp tongue.

"The worst." I replied simply and without an explanation.

"We heard that you have a show here in New York." Mr. Coulson threw in.

"That's why you're here, isn't it?" I asked curiously. "To see what I'm capable of."

"We're looking for the real magicians, Mr. Stark." Ms. Potts said and smiled, though it looked a little forced. I wondered why. "Not the good actors."

"Who says that I'm an actor?" I wanted to know, already trying to figure out what was going on in her head. I'd asked myself this question before, back when I'd read the article. Why would a woman criticize magic shows? What did she want to achieve by that?

"I'm not making any conclusions yet. After all, I didn't see your show."

"I'm sure you will love it." I replied simply, hoping that it was true. Otherwise, we would need a really good plan, I realized. If she was as smart as I thought, we could get problems.

"That has to be seen." She didn't look convinced.

"I can't wait."

"You should be careful what you wish for." There was a warning tone in her voice. "I'm a very hard critic."

"So you assume that I should be worried?" I quirked an eyebrow.

"I know it." She kept looking right into my eyes, making no attempt to avert her gaze. I did the same without thinking about it.

"I'm sorry to say that, but you won't scare me that easily, Ms. Potts." I smiled at her and was surprised to feel how true those words were.

"If what you're doing is real, you have no reason to be scared, Mr. Stark."

"Well, then it seems like I can sleep well tonight, without nightmares haunting me."

We kept looking at each other for a few more moments, both too stubborn to look away first.

The moment ended when someone touched my shoulder lightly. It was Phillip and even if there was a smile on his lips, I could see the worry in his eyes immediately. I tried to keep my relaxed posture while I listened to his words. "There's been an... incident. We should leave, Tony. It's important."

I fought the urge to ask what's going on and nodded shortly. When Phillip looked this worried, it couldn't just be a minor incident. It had to be more behind that.

I turned to Ms. Potts and Mr. Coulson and smiled at them. "It seems like I have to excuse myself. Ms. Potts, Mr. Coulson, I'm sure I'll see you soon." After nodding shortly, I turned around and followed Phillip through the crowd without looking back. Luckily, others had started to leave as well – it was later than expected – so our departure didn't attract any attention.

We passed Obadiah on our way outside and he smiled widely at me. "It was good to see you again, Tony. Don't be a stranger."

I smiled back at him. "You could come and visit us, Obadiah."

"I will." He promised before hugging me tightly. "Don't listen to all those people who judge you for your show."

"I never do." I whispered and grinned at him once more. Unfortunately, Phillip cleared his throat behind me so I couldn't stay with Obadiah any longer.

Outside, our carriage was already waiting. Once we were inside, I turned to Phillip and raised my eyebrows. "What's going on? Normally, we're the last ones to leave such parties."

Phillip sighed when he leaned back in his seat. "I just had to get out of there, I'm sorry, Tony."

I frowned at him. "You know that I can tell when you're lying?"

He ran a hand through his hair without saying anything. I tried to be patient and wait until he told me what happened, but I was getting impatient very fast. "You mentioned an incident." I tried again.

"I talked to my parents." He admitted in the end.

"That's never good." I muttered, waiting for him to explain everything. Normally, Phillip and his parents rarely talked when they saw each other on public occasions. It was an unspoken agreement between them. Phillip's parents didn't approve of his doings, just like he didn't like their opinion on many things. If they never mentioned those things, it wouldn't lead to an argument. It had taken them some time to settle on this agreement, but ever since, they didn't argue that much anymore.

"This time, it's even worse." Phillip sighed.

"Would you please just tell me what's going on?" I asked and crossed my arms. "I can't read your mind."

"They invited her." He said and it sounded like it was the end of the world.

I raised my eyebrows. "You have to be more specific than that."

"Ms. Potts. They invited her." Phillip looked unhappy. "Apparently, they want her to ruin the show and make me come back by force."

I stared at him. "They can't be serious."

"They are." Only now I noticed how tired he looked. "I think they'll never understand that there's no way back for me, no matter what happens."

"I don't see the problem, though." I admitted after a few moments of silence. "She didn't come to New York because of your parents but since she's heard of the show. So whatever happens when Ms. Potts writes her article would have happened anyway."

"You know that this is not the end. They'll support her. Make her write even more hateful things. My parents never give up when something has come to their minds." He clenched his fists. "I really hoped that this would stop someday."

"Those things just bother you because you let them." I reminded him. This was a conversation we had before dozens of times. "Let go of the past. Ignore them. It's as easy as that."

"You know that I can see through your mask and realize that it bothers you when people talk about the show in a bad way?" This time, Phillip quirked an eyebrow.

"That's not because of me." I replied without hesitation.

Phillip nodded in understanding. "You don't want all the others to lose the life they have now. With me, it's the same." When he said this, a thoughtful look appeared on his face and somehow, I knew that he was thinking of Anne now.

"We won't let her ruin us, remember?" I leaned forward. "We just need a good plan."

"A plan that is highly dependent on the things she writes." He reminded me.

"I know. But we can make plans anyway. And we have to make sure that the show is good. And convincing." I smiled slightly. "Ms. Potts wants to see a real magician. Let us give her one."

Very slowly, a smile spread on Phillip's lips.