Paloma couldn't help but feel like something was going to happen, whether it be at work or with Loki at home. Either way she couldn't shake this feeling. She boarded the train that would take her to the hospital, she put on her headphones and grabbed a seat while she waited for her stop. Lofi hiphop music was her soundtrack this morning across New York City, listening to the beats helped calm her mind. This meeting with the investor was probably the biggest of the year and they chose her to meet with. Paloma had recently started researching how alien technology could help speed up the healing process of cells damaged by chemotherapy. She and her bosses believe this is why she was chosen, it's new and radical but if it works...she will have saved millions. She'd be a legend, anyone who worked with her as well would go down in history.

Once she arrived at the hospital all eyes were on her. She ran by the coffee stall on the first floor, grabbed her regular, black with 2 sugars. Paloma needed to focus and she needed to be alert, today was not the day for surprises. She had moved the conversation between her and Loki to the back of her mind and made her way to her office to grab her poster board and laptop. She went to unlock the door and noticed it had been unlocked already. This was odd because Paloma never forgot to lock her office, especially with all the research she had stored away. Her blood pressure began to rise as she opened the door expecting a disheveled desk and mess on the floor. What she was greeted with instead was a man dressed in an expensive suit with even more expensive sunglasses and her boss just giggling away at the charming man.
"Melissa, what's going on?" Paloma asked
"Oh, Paloma! There you are, this is Mr. Tony Stark, the investor who wanted to meet with you. I hope you don't mind, we let ourselves in to wait for you." Melissa was laying it on thick, anyone with eyes and who could read knew that Tony Stark was not only undeniably handsome and rich but he was the IronMan. One of the Avengers. But they would also know he is extremely committed to his partner, Pepper Potts. Paloma's eyes grew wide, this is the man who had been stealing all her boyfriend's time away.
I wonder what is headed our way, Paloma thought to herself, going back to what Loki had told her this morning.
"It's an honor to meet you Mr. Stark and thank you for choosing our hospital as an investment, we hope we're doing you proud." Paloma greeted the man with a handshake.
"Please Mr. Stark is my father, call me Tony. And once I heard about your work and new research I knew I needed to meet with you. Melissa, will you give us the room?" Tony spoke to clearly and quickly, if you weren't paying attention you would've thought it was Melissa's idea to leave.

"Alright well thank you again and just call me if you need anything," Melissa smiled a toothy grin and turned to the door, her ginger red hair swinging down her back.

As the door shut Paloma started apologizing for the mess on her desk, the meeting was supposed to be in a boardroom and not her office, but Tony cut her off before she could finish her sentence.

"Dr. Cortez, I know who you are and all about your research, what I don't know is how someone like you got tangled up with Loki. And before you say anything, I do know about your relationship with the God of Mischief and Sass."

Paloma froze. Stunned to say the least, what could he know? Loki said she was a secret.

"I- don't know what to say. What do you mean tangled up with?" Paloma tried to talk her way around the man before giving up any information.

"I had a feeling you'd say something like this, listen Paloma, can I call you Paloma?" she shook her head at Tony. "Great, Loki is a colleague of mine and from the information I've gathered he's been living in your apartment for a while now." Palomas face started to turn white, "I have eyes all over the world Dr. Cortez, I can see everything and when I need eyes on someone, I get it." Tony slowly approached Paloma, making her walk backwards and bump into her desk. He then leaned forward and put his hand on the desk next to her, any other woman and this would be an ideal situation, he's gorgeous, but all she could think about was, is Loki in trouble?

"I don't know what you're alluding to. Tony. But I believe you have me mistaken for someone else. Now if you WANT to discuss my research then I will be more than happy to continue. If not. Then we have nothing to discuss." Paloma felt proud standing her ground, hoping he would take her words for face value.

"Spunky, I like it. But you see Dr. P, I know you're lying, I know you're covering for him. He's not in trouble, I just want to make sure you're doing this because you want to. Not because you have to or he's...making you." Tony took a step back from the Doctor and gave her her space. He noticed the change in her face. He was right, she was seeing Loki...but to what extent?

"Listen Doc," his whole demeanor changed, he no longer wanted to portray this big bad man who could crush this girl instead he wanted to make her know she could trust him, "I know you want to protect him but it's my job to make sure you're protected as well. Loki has been keeping secrets from us for as long as I've known him. You aren't from Asgard, he doesn't regard your life as he would one of theirs. Even then they are his play things."

Paloma knew he was telling the truth, you could see it in his eyes. But Loki wasn't like that with her, things were different. She made him a better man and anyone who saw them together knew that he would never hurt her.

"Loki...is my boyfriend. We've been together for 3 years." She finally confessed to Tony, something about him just made her feel like she could trust him. So she did.

Tony was shocked she was honest with him so quickly. Maybe Loki chose a good one. Someone who could really be an asset to the Avengers and Earth itself. She was a Doctor for God's sake.

"Well Dr. Cortez, I would like to be the first to say Wow. I did not see Loki landing a girlfriend. And also sorry that I have been stealing him away so much. People around the tower have noticed he's in a better mood and by that I mean he only threatens a few people these days rather than everyone. Can we continue this meeting elsewhere...say the Avengers Tower? I believe someone there would love to see you."

Paloma agreed as long as she got to do her presentation and Tony actually considered investing in the hospital for her research rather than who she was seeing.

The pair made their way past everyone, silent and focused, you could hear the whispers as they walked by. Melissa was the only one brave, or stupid, enough to jump in front of them to ask where they were going and before Paloma could speak Tony and his charm took over,

"Dr. Anderson, I was completely captivated by Dr. Cortez's research I demanded she come to Stark Industries and give it there as well so my Board of Directors could hear it and we may be able to invest more than originally planned." He gave her a wink and like that they were on their way. Paloma didn't want to be a secret and now she wasn't; hopefully Loki wouldn't be too mad.