A woman plays baccarat, determined to lose as much money as she can in as short a time as possible. She sees some men walking across the casino floor and walks away in a rush. Howard Stark follows her, concerned, but she brushes him off. The men she saw bump past Stark and he tips over to the floor. He follows the woman out to a limo, telling her he can call on security to help her. The man in the back of the limo with her, Obadiah Stane, tells Stark to bug off. The woman timidly agrees with Stane. He eventually traces her back to her room with Stane. He shows up on her doorstep with an earring she had lost and flirts with her, charming her until Stane's bodyguards show up. The pair disable the bodyguards and impulsively run away together. Stark, who owns the casino and hotel, has his assistants move Stane out of his room. Meanwhile, Howard Stark and Maria take off in his roadster, their first fateful meeting coming to a conclusion.