Time To Breath

By M J Rutter

Imagine having it all, fame, fortune, a hunky fiancé and on top of that, to be adored by millions. Imagine how it would feel to have it all blow up in your face by way of public humiliation, what would you do?

Waiting by the car stands Hunter Pearson, the limo driver. As his boss and world famous pop star, Sydney Marx runs towards him, he has no idea what has happened. She tells him she needs to get away and he just drives.

She pleads with him to take her away from everything just for a few days and eventually he gives in, taking her to his home. A farm in Up-State New York where his daughter, Callie, lives with his parents. Bringing home visitors is new for loner, Hunter, and when that one visitor is a famous pop star, he is surprised by his family's reaction to her. They adore her and accept her into their home. Hunter is not exactly the host of the year and Sydney has more issues than he would care to know about. Will they find a common ground, or will it all end in fireworks?

• Language: English
• Publisher: M J Rutter
• Release date: Jan 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201747923

Book preview

Chapter One

Sydney

I remember the exact moment my life fell apart. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. So public and so wickedly cruel, my humiliation seemed to be the only thing anyone wanted to talk about and I just wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

My latest CD had hit the number one spot, my music was all over the airwaves and life was perfect, or so I thought. I was caught up in ‘materialistic things’, that’s all I could call them, things. The amount of Grammy’s I had out-weighed the amount of number one hits. My penthouse was one of the biggest in New York. I had the most amazingly, gorgeous man on my arm, we had been engaged a month and we were planning a summer wedding. I was told when to eat, sleep, stay in, go out, what to wear, how to have my hair and believe it or not, when to pee. I hadn’t seen my family since the Holidays and with the schools out for summer break already, the year was flying by.

---

My manager had arranged a huge celebration dinner at a top restaurant in New York City after my latest CD went double platinum. I didn’t really feel like going as Tyler and I had fought all day. It sometimes seemed he loved the lime light more than me. We arrived to hordes of fans screaming at us and as we climbed out of the limo I turned to give them a polite wave, I loved them; I wouldn’t be where I was without them. My blonde hair tickled my shoulders as the warm July breeze caressed it. As we began to walk inside, Tyler took my hand and I melted. Though at the door to the restaurant, he let it go and allowed the door to close almost in my face. He could be like that at times, who am I kidding? It was all the freaking time. Still, my first true love and all that, I gave him way too much benefit of the doubt.

---

Dinner was amazing, though, by now I knew I wasn’t to eat too much with a few interviews lined up over the next few days; I doubted I’d be able to go to the gym. So I ate a few bites and left the rest, even though I could usually clear my plate, I could just see the headlines, ‘Sydney Marx is a greedy pig’.

I excused myself to use the ladies so as not to pick at my plate, as hungry as I felt, I couldn’t sit there and stare at my plate without picking at it, I had zero in the will power department. While I was in the extravagant looking restroom of dark red with warm lights built into the walls and edging the mirrors, I touched up my red lipstick, deciding that the silver dress Tyler had chosen for me, made me look so pale and my hip bones stuck out.

---

I came out of the ladies and proceeded to return to the table, I glanced over at the TV above the bar and saw my picture, nothing new I thought as I had just hit the number one spot on the Billboard list. I was about to shrug it off, when a picture of Tyler appeared, the screen split in half and I recognized his car, video footage of him with another girl appeared.. They got out of the car and I could see the girl had brown hair; he pushed her against the car, kissing her…

---

What?

---

I looked over to the table and he was joking with Ricki, my PA, I looked back at the screen, it was her, he was all over her. I thought we were friends, I thought she knew how much I loved this guy. The air was sucked out of the room very quickly, Sam Carlson, my manager approached and frowned.

You alright, Syd? he asked. I pointed to the screen without taking my eyes off Tyler. He looked up and followed the line of my arm. Jerk, he snapped. Stay there. Stay there? I couldn’t move. Tyler came rushing towards me.

Syd, it’s not like that… he said.

Not like that? Are you freaking kidding me? I roared. I um, I need to go, I frowned and walked back to the table. My entourage of support flapped around me like a flock of seagulls over a discarded burger. I lifted my purse and looked at Ricki, You’re fired, I snapped, lifted my jacket and left the restaurant with Tyler chasing after me.

It had started to rain as I hurried up the street to where I could see the limo parked. The driver was leaning against the outside of the car, texting on his cell. He saw me and abruptly stood.

I need to go, I told him.

Sure, he nodded and opened the door.

Sydney, Tyler called out running towards me. Do not get in that car.

Please, get me out of here, I can’t think.

You got it. The driver said and hurried around to the driver’s door, he climbed in and I slammed the door shut. He revved the engine and we hurried through the wet streets of New York.

---

His cell rang and he answered it on hands free,

Hello? He said and looked at me in the rearview mirror. Uh, yes, I can be back in like, thirty minutes. Sure, bye. He looked in the mirror again. I have to take the limo back, he said.

Back to where? I asked.

To my boss, he has requested I return it. He explained. It’s alright, if you don’t mind, I can pick up my car and then take you home.

Are you sure?

Positive, he smiled, his eyes lit up. I’m Hunter, by the way, Hunter Pearson.

Nice to meet you, Hunter, I replied and lifted my cell, it was buzzing like crazy so I switched it off. I didn’t really want to see or speak to anyone.

Are you alright, Miss. Uh…

Sydney, I sighed, and no, I am far from alright.

Wanna talk about it?

Not right now, I replied and looked out of the window.

---

We drove across Manhattan and headed for Brooklyn, once we got over the bridge he turned off the road and into an alley. I swallowed anxiously because I barely knew this guy and there was nothing to stop him taking me if he wanted too. I pulled my phone from my purse and held it in my hand. He turned into a car lot and stopped in front of an office.

I just need to hand the keys in; my car is the blue Ford Taurus over by the white limo. I’ll meet you there, okay? I nodded and watched as he climbed out.

I hurried towards the car and waited for him to return. The rain had stopped and the air seemed fresher but still felt as warm. I crossed my arms over my chest, still clutching my phone in my hand. I looked over to the office as he waved with a smile he removed his hat and in the light of the office I could see he had wheat colored hair, falling in bangs across his forehead with darker sideburns and eyebrows. I wondered briefly if he dyed his hair, and as I think about a guy going to a hair stylist to get their hair dyed, he trots over to me jingling his car keys.

Ready? he asked.

Yes, uh, you need to head back over towards Manhattan, that’s where my apartment is, I explained as he unlocked the doors.

Okay, he smiled again, his smile was so friendly that I couldn’t help but reciprocate. His car smelled of vanilla and leather, the worn, cream, leather seats had a few scratches in them, but I remembered my first car not looking so hot and imagined that the pay of a limo driver was barely above minimum wage. With that in mind, I planned to give him a huge tip. So, you must be pretty pleased with your CD? he stated as we drove, the soft music drowned out the sound of the wheels on the road.

Yeah, I have some great fans, I smiled.

I’d say, number one in six countries, world tours coming up. Do you ever get time to breathe?

Honestly? No. I admitted.

How is your fiancé getting home?

Mmm, right now, I couldn’t really care less. And you are the first person to know this; Tyler is no longer my fiancé, I added.

Sorry, he shrugged.

Why, you didn’t make him screw around with my best friend, did you?

What a loser, to have you, I mean, sorry is that rude?

No, Hunter, not at all. We rode in silence briefly. To be honest with you, and if you tell anyone, I’ll deny it, I was never really that happy with him. I had my suspicions and I am sure she won’t be the last.

I am sorry, Sydney, no one deserves to get cheated on. He said sincerely.

No, I agreed, still, it happens.

All too often if you ask me, he added as we turned onto Fifth Avenue.

I could see about sixty reporters standing outside my apartment building. Police officers were holding them back and I could see my manager talking with Ricki and Tyler was standing there with his phone in his hand, resting against his ear.

Looks like they want a statement, Hunter said as we approached.

Hunter, please keep going, I begged. I can’t face them.

But, I…

Please, Hunter, just take me to a motel out of the city, I’ll pay you, just please get me away from here.

Sydney, you need to sort this out with them, they’ll get an APB out on you and I’ll get arrested. He explained.

Hot tears stung my eyes, I am begging you, I cried, don’t make me face them tonight. I can’t think straight and he’ll talk me into taking him back…I can’t. I pleaded. I’ll give you ten grand to take me out of the city. I’ll get it out of the bank tomorrow.

He heaved a sigh, I don’t need your money, he grumbled. Fine, I need to go to my place first though, okay?

Thank you, I sniffed.

When we get there though, you need to at least call your manager and tell him you are safe. He added assertively.

I will, I promised.

---

Once back at his apartment he raced around throwing clothes into a small bag. I gazed around at the one room he lived and slept in. I knew apartments were expensive in New York, but it didn’t occur to me just how tough things were when you weren’t lucky enough to be wealthy or have a few hit songs under your belt.

Within twenty minutes we were back on the road. New York City whizzed by the windows, after we took the interstate my eyes closed and I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Two

Hunter

Sydney Marx was snoring in my car, I couldn’t believe it. Man, she could snore. I almost dropped my cell when she came running toward me and demanded I get her out of there. I had always thought she was a little stuck up and too pretentious, but in that moment, she was desperate and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. I was busy sending my nightly text to Callie, my six year old daughter. She lived with my parents on a farm on the outskirts of Hilton in up-state New York so that I could study law in NYC. Kendra, Callie’s mother, died during childbirth, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had barely graduated high school when she was born and my life was turned upside down. If it weren’t for my parents, they would have taken her away from me.

Kendra went into labor in the early hours of a Friday morning. She developed a high fever during the labor and it caused her to have a seizure, starving her brain of oxygen. She never recovered. Callie was cut out of her in the end and I was so lucky not to lose her too. To be told that your eighteen year old girlfriend had just died and it left you the sole parent of a brand new baby girl, felt like someone had punched a hole right through me.

For the first few days all Callie did was scream, my mom sat up with her a lot at night, but nothing worked. Then my younger brother, Hayden began playing his Foo Fighters CD and Callie stopped crying. Foo Fighters were Kendra’s favorite rock band and she played them all the time in her car. So, I suppose Callie was missing her mommy, by playing the music Kendra liked, we were able to calm her.

My blonde-haired beauty brought so much joy to my life and now I know I would never be able to live without her. Which is why I wanted to go to college, I wanted to give her a better life. My parent’s farm was a fantastic place for her to grow up, but my dream was to have a home of our own, being a lawyer would give me the chance to give her that.

---

So, here I was, driving my car out of New York City with none other than one of the top selling artist of all time, Sydney Marx and she snored like an old man as she slept. I wondered what would have made her run like that, but then she briefly explained about her obnoxious asshole of a boyfriend, Tyler Dashworth, he had been cheating on her with her friend. Pop star or not, she didn’t deserve that, no one did.

When she offered me money to get her out of Dodge I almost took it. The only reason I had such a crummy job was because it paid more than a dishwasher and as I was still waiting to hear when I could start officially at an internship with a prestigious law firm in Boston, until then, I was stuck in New York working the summer instead of enjoying it with my daughter.

I was planning a trip home for the weekend anyway, so dropping her off at a motel would be fine. Only she had promised to speak to her manager and she still hadn’t. I could have gotten arrested for kidnapping or worse, but she begged and cried and I was not going to leave her to face the vultures also known as the press, alone. I wanted to ask her about her life, where she was from, if she had family she could go home to, but she slept soundly and we were already half way to Hilton.

---

After another hour of her sleeping, I stopped at the next gas station for some coffee and to see if she needed the bathroom.

Sydney, I lightly shook her, Sydney. She jumped and opened her eyes, man they were so pretty. She certainly was an attractive girl; actually, she was beautiful with crystal blue eyes, blonde hair and succulent lips.

What time is it? she asked.

Almost eleven, I replied. I need some coffee, can I get you anything?

No, coffee can stain your teeth you know.

Okay, some water then?

Maybe, she looked around, is there a rest room here?

Yeah, I need to get a key though, you wait here, that way no one will recognize you. I told her and left her in the car.

---

I filled up with gas and got coffee and