"I actually do recognize you" he admitted honestly. "I have seen your picture and I have heard our mutual friend talk about you many times" he said honestly. He saw no reason to hold things back from her. "Well he hasn't returned from a recent trip to his homeland, but you are more than welcome to hang around this place and wait on him" he continued. "We could even get you your own lab".
Thor had mentioned her intelligence many times, and Tony wanted her to be able to be here when Thor came back. And this was the best way he could come up with to let her be around. He had also heard about what had happened to her when Shield stole her research and he wanted to reassure her that it wouldn't happen here. "And your research will be safe here....anything you discover will be safe in our labs" he promised honestly.
He knew what it was like to have people try to stifle your discoveries and creations and he would never do that to another scientist.