The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 13

"Ms. Pierce, you have a delivery. If you would please get it off my desk, I'd appreciate it." Ms. Forest said, interrupting Cassandra's train of thought.

Cassandra set aside the small stack of scrolls she'd been working on and peeled her gloves off.

The librarian sniffed primly and pushed a long narrow gold box across the desk to Cassandra. "Apparently, you have an admirer." She said as if the idea were the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Cassandra was in too good a mood to let Ms. Forest's cattiness bother her. She took the box and headed for the elevator. It was nearly time for her lunch date with Arthur and she had to get ready. Carefully lifting the lid on the box, she peered inside.

In a bed of delicate tissue lay a dozen long stemmed red roses. A small card dangled from a glittery green ribbon along the bouquet.

Cassandra spun the card around to read it. 'For the sweetest rose in the garden.' The elegant handwriting was unfamiliar which meant someone else had written the note for Arthur.

Odd, as he usually wrote his love notes himself. Shrugging, she entered the penthouse to find Loki in front of the television streaming Game of Thrones. "Someone's turning into a couch potato."

Loki glanced over the back of the sofa, the recessed ceiling lights casting a glossy sheen over his raven hair. "I thought you were working."

"When Tony heard I had a date with Arthur, he gave me the afternoon off. He's as eager to get to the bottom of things as I am." Cassandra explained peeling off her shoes and tossing them onto the marble floor. "I'm just here to get ready."

Rooting around behind the bar, Cassandra discovered a crystal vase. She filled it with water and arranged the roses into a neat configuration.

Loki watched her carefully almost as if he were judging her reaction. He tugged at the collar of his button-down green shirt, loosening the top few buttons revealing the strong column of his throat and a touch of well-tone chest. "Roses again?"

"Arthur does seem to have a fixation with them." Cassandra agreed, stepping back to admire the effect of the flowers on the bar. Better than the lava lamp at least. "Although, this is the first time he's sent me red roses."

"What do you see in that man?" Loki said with an edge to his voice.

"Nothing."

He rose from the sofa holding a thick manila folder, expression unusually grave. "Before you rush off to do Fury's bidding out of a sense of duty, I think you should read this first."

Cassandra held his gaze for a second hoping to read something in his eyes, but the sapphire depths gave nothing away. She flipped the folder open almost afraid to read its contents. She forced herself to scan the first page in the stack. Her breath caught in her throat. "What the hell is this?"

"The dossier Fury compiled on you." Loki flipped to the next page when she just stood there. "SHIELD has everything on you. Every little secret or transgression."

Cassandra returned her gaze to the page. She quickly thumbed through the top layer. It was true. Bank statements, her credit reports, even her tax forms.

Anger burst to life in Cassandra's chest. Never had she felt so violated in her life. Every detail of her life right here in hard copy. How dare SHIELD do this? It was one thing to research a suspect's criminal history but to invade every aspect of her life was unacceptable.

"Why give this to me now?" Cassandra demanded, oscillating between anger and humiliation. Loki had read this. Every single detail of her life and said nothing all this time.