He had rushed to her apartment, found her in her bathroom, hysterical, wrapped in a towel and begging him to get her out of there.
The need to destroy Drew Stanton rode him often. The little bastard still worked for him, but only because the son of a bitch was still paying her alimony. And if Timothy heard of any more shenanigans going on where Kia's charity functions were concerned, some heads were going to roll.
Not that his daughter deigned to tell him about it. No, he had to play games to learn the information from others. She was too independent, too determined. She always had been.
"She's getting cheeky, Timothy," Celia pointed out.
"Yes, I heard it." He nodded, giving his daughter a mock glare. "Perhaps we should go shopping with her, Celia. A family effort, so to speak, so she doesn't take too long making up her mind."
Finally, a spark of laughter lit Kia's gemlike eyes, and she lowered her head, a light laugh passing her lips.
"You two are impossible," she groaned.
"We're parents," he reminded her. "Now, eat your food. I heard your aunt has you busy with the party tomorrow night. Don't let her wear you down."
"And your dress arrived here by mistake Friday," her mother informed her. "You can take it home with you tonight. We'll send Farrell with a limo to pick you up. You are not arriving in a cab. I don't want to hear about it."
"Yes, Mom." She almost rolled her eyes, but caught her father watching her.
He was almost grinning, hoping to catch her.
"There's a nice young man at Delacourte-Conovers you might like," he told her smoothly. "Very handsome gentleman, I'm told. Related to those two young hellions, Lucian and Devril. Daniel Conover."
Kia stared back at her father warningly.
"Well, he has strong features." Timothy shrugged. "He'd sire strong boys."
She just stared.
He cleared his throat. "You could use an escort to the party."
She laid her fork beside her plate.
"Well, fine. I've said my piece. Don't upset your mother by leaving."
He dug into his own food, and Kia ignored the comments about other couples' grandchildren, sons-in-law, and various family affairs.
She ignored it, because listening to it only made the ache deeper. It made her remember the night Chase had forgotten to put on a condom after she'd asked to come in her mouth and then afterward nearly spilled inside her. And that wasn't something she needed to remember in front of her father.
Her parents could read minds. It was creepy.
Celia wanted to weep for her baby, though. Kia was the pride of her life, and she was so alone. It broke her heart, worried her into the night. If she and Timothy were gone, who would protect their most precious possession, their greatest accomplishment in life? Who would protect Kia against the world, the cruelties of life, and the loneliness and hurt that filled her? Who would watch over their little girl?
Cecilia glanced at her husband and saw the same concerns in his face. Kia had hidden for far too long after her divorce. They had had hope the other night when she left the ball with the Falladay boy.
Chase Falladay was a handsome, honest young man, and Celia had always liked him. Ian Sinclair always spoke highly of him and his brother.
Of course, there were those nasty rumors that went around about them, but there were always nasty rumors. One had to trust that their daughter was making certain they were unfounded.
"How's your aunt's little party going?" Timothy finally questioned Kia.
The party was a joint effort by him and his sister. Rutherford Logistics, Timothy's company, and Edgewood Computer Security Service worked together to hold a benefit ball to raise money for a small women and children's shelter for Christmas.
Kia nodded. "Everything's ready to go. I'm meeting with the caterers again in the morning as well as the hotel staff." She checked her watch. "I'll be stopping by today after brunch to make certain all the decorations arrived as well."
Kia let the conversation flow around her. She finished the light meal and thanked the maid for more coffee. But her mind wasn't here. Her heart wasn't here today.
It was with Chase. To Kia, that was the height of her own stupidity. Because he had made it abundantly clear, he didn't want to be with her.
"You're not happy," Timothy said, interrupting her thoughts, his hand lifting so his index finger could tap the tip of her nose. "I always know when something's bothering you, Kia girl. You sure you don't want to talk about it?"
"I'm fine, Daddy." She tried to smile back at him, but he knew her, this strong, large-boned man with his gentle brown eyes and thick gray hair.
"You could move back home," he said as he watched her. "House is too big for just me and your mom."
She shook her head. "I like the apartment."
He nodded at that. "Your mother's worried."
He always blamed her mother for worrying, but Kia knew he was worried as well.
"I just need to get some priorities together," she finally said. "I'm learning how to live again, Daddy. That isn't so bad, is it?"
"He hurt you."
And to that Kia shook her head. "No, Daddy, I never loved him enough to be hurt by him," she said. "And that's very sad, because I married him. I never want that again. I want—" She stared around the house and blinked back her tears before she looked back up at her father. "I want what you and Mom have always had. I want to love someone more than I love me. And I want someone to love me more than themselves. Isn't that how it should be?"
Timothy swallowed tightly. He loved Celia and the daughter she had given him more than his own life, his pride, or the holdings he had acquired in his life. They were the center of his being, and the joy they brought him was immeasurable. It was exactly what he wanted for her.
"That's how it should be, sweetheart." He pulled her into his embrace and kissed the top of her head gently. "Exactly how it should be."
And he prayed she would find it before her heart was scarred to the point that she no longer wanted it.
Finally, he forced himself to let go of that worry. She was safe, if not as happy as he wished. And she was still a vital part of Rutherford Logistics.
"Did you get the cost projections on the new account?" he asked her, watching as her expression altered subtly.