Phoebe's Dad had passed away when she was a kid and she had been raised by her mom. Then her mother passed away too when she was in college.
"I'm just saying. Stop being mad at him and just talk to him..." Phoebe continued. "See if you guys can work something out"
Kimberly nodded. "You know sometimes you talk like you are a reasonable person" she said smiling. "But I know you well enough to know that you are not"
Phoebe picked up a pillow and threw it at her. Kimberly laughed.
-----------------------
Three days later, Kimberly walked downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. Her father was there and so was one of his bodyguards. She noticed they were always around since she came back. Her father had always wanted her to have one, but she had adamantly refused. She had insisted that she didn't need them. He was the billionaire, she had told her father so he was the one who needed bodyguards following him around. And when Hillary saw that he couldn't change her mind, he had let her be.
"Good morning, Dad" Kimberly said, as she put some pancakes the cook Emily had prepared on her plate.
"Good morning, pumpkin" Hillary said as he watched her. Kimberly hadn't tried to leave as she had said, but she had been avoiding him. He didn't like that. And he didn't like knowing that she was not happy with him. He knew she was right. She couldn't keep staying indoors. But all he wanted was to keep his daughter safe.
She took a carton of milk from the fridge and two glasses. Then she sat down after pouring the milk into the glasses and pushing one to her father.
The room was silent as they ate.
"Still mad at me, huh?" Hillary asked, grinning.
Kimberly stared at him "Yeah I am" she said without mincing words. She wanted to maintain her tough look, but she couldn't when her father had that look on his face. She began to laugh and Hillary joined her.
"Oh, damn it" she said, still laughing.
"You just couldn't keep it in, could you?" Hillary asked, smiling.
"I couldn't. You knew I couldn't" Kimberly said. "Stop it, Dad. I'm mad at you... Seriously"
"Fine. Fine" Hillary said. He motioned with his hand to the bodyguard who stood at the door and the man left.
"I have been thinking about what you said," Hillary continued. "And you are right. I shouldn't try to keep you here. You are an independent, strong young woman, just like your mother. And it isn't fair to you if I try to hold you back from doing anything you want. Your mother wouldn't want that. And that is why I have decided that you can go back to your apartment"
Kimberly smiled. Happiness written all over her face. She reached across the table and took his hand. She knew that he didn't want her to leave but that he was doing it because he always made sure that she got what she wanted and that she was happy.
"Thank you so much, Dad," Kimberly said beaming. "I'm so glad you thought about it... And I promise I will try to be very careful"
"Let me finish. I'm not done, sweetie" Hillary said.
Kimberly smiled at him and withdrew her hand. She poured herself a cup of water from the jug and began to drink it.
The bodyguard that went out returned, but Kimberly didn't turn around to look.
"So, dad, what were you going to say?" she asked.
"You are not going to like what I'm about to say dear. But I want you to keep in mind that this is for your own good. I want you to meet someone... Well, technically, you already met him. This is just for… you know... Formalities..."
Kimberly blinked at him. Wondering what her father was trying to say. But already judging from the way he was beating around the bush that she was definitely, just as he said, not going to like what she was about to hear.
"This is Asher Adams," her father said finally. "He's going to be your bodyguard from now on.
Kimberly's eyes widened in disbelief. The water she had just swallowed went down the wrong pipe and she began to choke. She started to cough and it took some seconds to finally calm her down.
Great. Just great. She thought. Just when she thought she had the annoying man out of her life for good. She followed her father's eyes and turned. Her eyes met instantly with Asher Adam's dark ones. He stared right back at her... A grin... She couldn't decide what it was.. On his face. She had really thought she was never going to see the man again.
She turned her attention back to her father. "I'm sorry dad, what did you just say?"
"You heard me all right," Hillary said. "The only way I'm letting you leave here to return to your apartment is if you agree to having Asher Adams there with you as your bodyguard. Like I said before, I'm not taking chances with your life and I'm going to do everything I can to keep you safe"
Kimberly didn't say anything. She just stared wide eyed at her father.
"Now I'm sorry for just springing this on you out of the blue" Hillary continued. "But it's for your own good. Asher was able to find you and return you to me unharmed, and I trust that he is going to keep you safe"
"That's not going to happ...." Kimberly began, and then she paused and turned to Asher and her father's bodyguard, whose name was David. "Can I talk to my father.... In private?" she asked, her eyes on Asher, though she was referring to David. She glared at him.
Hillary nodded at them, and they turned and left the room.
Kimberly turned to her father. "Dad, that is not going to happen"
"I wasn't asking. You have no say in this. I'm your father and I'm going to protect you. It's my duty to protect you. Now you disagreed with me before, and I'm just trying to create an opportunity for the both of us to get what we want."
"What I want? This is far from what I want. I can't have him following me everywhere" Kimberly protested.