Dirty Little Secret

Chapter 20

Two days later
Stark Industries
9:15am

Kristina rushes into the lobby. She overslept then got caught in traffic. She hurries to the elevator & clicks her floor. When the doors open to her floor, Tony is waiting for her.
"You're late. You're never late", he says. She gets off.

"I know. I'm sorry." She explains what happened as he walks her to her office.
"Don't let it happen again", he says walking to his office. She gets settled in her office & grabs her gift. She goes to knock on Tony's door.

"Come in, Kristina", he says. She walks in, closing the door. She walks over to him as he looks up.
"Got a surprise for you", she says. He looks like he's about to say something as she hands it to him.
"So help me God Tony, if you say you don't like to be handed things....I will hit you."

He laughs. He takes the present & unwraps it.
"A photo album, huh?", he says looking at her.
"Open it." He does. The first photo is her silhouette naked on the beach at sundown.
He looks at her.
"When did you take these?" She smiles, "When I told you me & Genevieve were going sightseeing."

Next one is her under a waterfall. The photos get sexier every time he flips the page.
"You like it?", she asks. He looks at her.

"Are you serious? I fucking love it! Thank you!", he says. They kiss when suddenly her phone rings.
"No, don't get it", he says. She pulls away & answers.

"Hey dad", she says.
"Hi. I don't mean to bother but are you busy?", he asks.
"Not at the moment. What's up?"
She looks over at Tony & mouths, 'sorry'.

"I know this is last minute but I need you here tomorrow. It's really important."
"Dad, what's going on?" He pauses, collecting himself.
"Dad? You still there?"
He clears his throat.
"Yeah, I'm still here. Sorry. It's really important & I would rather explain face to face."

"Dad, you're scaring me. What's wrong? Why can't you tell me now?"
"It would be easier to tell you when you get here tomorrow. Could Tony fly you out?"
She lowers her voice.
"My dad needs me in New York tomorrow. Could I use the plane, please?"

He nods.
"Yeah, just let me know what time. Do you want me to go with?"
"Kristina?"
"I'm here, dad. Sorry, I was talking to Tony."
"It's fine. I need you to meet me at the house at 8am. Ok?"

"Yeah dad. I'll work out all the details. I don't like this, dad. If it's important why would you just tell me?"
"As I've said, it would be better face to face, ok? I gotta go but I love you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Love you too dad. Bye." They hang up.
"What was that about?", Tony asks.
"I'm not sure. He won't tell me. Which is bad." She sits down.
"Your instincts are telling you that something is wrong, right?"
She nods.
He rubs her back.
"Everything will be alright. Ok?", he says.

She hugs him.
"You're amazing you know that?", she says. He kisses her.
"I know", he smiles. She laughs.
"This is why I don't like complimenting you", she jokes. He chuckles.
_________________________________________________________________________

The following morning
Malibu Private Airport Hanger
2am

Kristina arrives at the airport with Genevieve. Tony greets her.
"Morning baby", he says.
"Morning. I didn't realize you were coming", she says.
"Well, you know. Moral support & all", he says kissing her head. They board the plane & take off. Nearly five hours later, they arrive in Buffalo.

Tony arranged for a car to get them & they drive to Kristina's childhood home. Tony kisses her hand.
"Everything's going to be ok." She nods.

They arrive & knock on the door.
"Kristina. Oh, hello Tony & Genevieve."
Kristina & her dad hug.
"Come in", he says.
They walk into the living room. He sits down.
"Dad, I need you to explain what's going on."

He sighs.
"I can't. I need you to come with me to the doctors."
"Dad please. This is scaring me." He comes over & hugs her. He gets up & tells them all to come to the doctors with him. He drives & they're at the hospital in twenty-five minutes.

Everyone gets out once her dad parks.
"Tony. Genevieve, I need you both to wait here please", he says. Kristina & her dad head up to the eighth floor. They get off the elevator & are taken in quickly.

The nurse knocks on the door & lets them in.
"Ah, David Ruiz. Good to see you again", the doctor says smiling. She comes over & shakes his hand.
"This must be Kristina", she says.
"I am."
They shake hands.
"Come sit, please."

"Kristina has your father told you anything about this visit?", she asks.
"Not at all. No." She passes her dad's file to Kristina. The doctor comes around & pulls up a chair.
"Your father came in for his yearly physical when we noticed something."

Kristina pulls out the scans. The doctor points her finger & begins to explain.
"So he has pancreatic cancer? What stage?", Kristina asks.
"He is stage two. Good thing is, we caught it early. He has a good fighting chance."

She begins to cry. She looks over at her dad.
"Why couldn't you tell me? You battled it before, dad." She tries not to get angry.
"This is why I needed to do this in person", he explains. The doctor explains the tumor removal surgery & goes into detail about their game plan.

After about thirty minutes, Kristina & her dad thank the doctor & proceed to the elevator. Kristina hugs her dad.
"I can't lose you too dad. I already lost mommy." He pulls her away.
"Look at me. You heard the doctor. I have a fighting chance. Come on, be optimistic like your old man." She wipes away a tear & they step off the elevator.

Tony & Genevieve stand up when they see Kristina & David approach.
"I'll explain at the house, ok?", she says. They nod & follow them to the parking lot.