Sometimes Moments (Sometimes Moments, #1)(63)

Peyton sighed and covered her face with her hands. “What the hell do I do?” she asked herself, hoping to come up with an answer.

“You stand tall and show him that he needs the hotel, not the other way round.”

Peyton looked up to see Jenny standing at the door with her arms crossed over her chest.

“You know how important the pub is,” Peyton said, holding the termination paper up to her.

“Yes, but you have still have one of the most important businesses that still believes in you. And sometimes, Peyton, that’s all it takes. Just one,” Jenny said.

“Jenny, this is where, as your friend, I tell you to take the Hyatt position. I can’t keep this place alive for much longer. I have enough to pay everyone severance pay…unless I find a new owner and negotiate them keeping the same staff,” Peyton said, placing the letter on the desk and shaking her head.

Jenny leaned in close. “We’re going to be okay. You’re overthinking this. None of us will be here without you running this place, Peyton. Our loyalty is to you. If only Jay knew the importance of loyalty... Then he would never have done this to you. Talk of what he’s done is starting to travel around town. The next move is yours. Whatever you do, we support you. As long as you’re here, Peyton, we will be here.”

Jenny’s support had Peyton’s tears forming. “I let you all down. I’m so sorry.”

“You didn’t, Peyton. Listen to me,” Jenny said as she took her hands. “We didn’t think we’d have jobs after your parents died. With the state you were in, we were sure that was it of this place. But you fought hard—not because of Jay, but because you had people who love you and support you.”

Peyton smiled. She would figure out a way through this. She didn’t need the pub. She would just find a new partnership, even if that meant outside of town.

“And I know Callum would support you. He may not have physically been here, but I know he would have been by your side. The way he looked at you when you were teenagers… A love like that doesn’t go away in time. You’ve never been alone, Peyton. We’ve been here. We will always be here. No matter your choice, we will support you. You come first to us—then the hotel. Realise that order. I may not be your mother, but I see you as my daughter and I will always treat you like one. I’ve never tried to replace your mother. She was a wonderful woman. But I have tried to be the maternal figure you needed all these years.”

Peyton removed her hands from Jenny’s and quickly wiped away the tears that were running down her cheeks. “Thank you, Jenny. I promise I will do everything in my power to make this hotel succeed. Not only for my parents, but for all of us. For everyone who believes in The Spencer-Dayle.”

Jenny stood up and brushed the tear that had escaped away. “I’ll always be proud of you, Peyton.”

“Thanks, Jenny. For being here when you could have easily left,” Peyton said and picked up the pub’s letter.

“I wanted to watch you grow and make this place beautiful. I owed it to your parents to be the one to do it when they couldn’t,” Jenny said before she walked out of the office and the bell rang to signal she’d left the hotel.

The moment Peyton was alone, she reached for the closest pen and read through the termination contract between The Spencer-Dayle and Daylesford Pub. There was no need to contact the hotel’s lawyer. She didn’t want to go into arbitration or court over it. Jay was not only terminating the relationship between their businesses, but also their friendship.

Peyton looked through the pages to see that the hotel hadn’t fulfilled its obligations in providing a reputable image for both organisations. She shook her head and placed the tip of the ballpoint on the paper. Then she took a deep breath and signed Peyton Spencer on the dotted line and added the date.



Peyton stood at the door of the pub. Her heart was beating so fast and hard that she was scared it would force itself out of her chest. But she needed to do this. She needed to prove just what she was capable of as a business owner. This wasn’t a game. This was her hotel’s future that Jay had meddled with. If he was upset with her being with Callum, then he needed to take it out on her, not the hotel. But he had known it would hurt and that was why he had done it.

You can do this, Peyton.

She placed her hand on the door and pushed it open. The loud pub quietened the moment she took three steps inside. Countless pairs of eyes were on her, but she ignored them. Instead, she locked eyes with Jay.

He looked surprised to see her. Whispers could be heard around her, but Peyton tuned them out as she walked towards the counter.

“Mads isn’t here. She just left with her folks,” he said, wiping down the wood counter.

Before Peyton could say anything, Jay’s father walked from the door to behind the counter, holding a clipboard.

“Jay, where are the invoices from today’s del— Oh, hello, Peyton.” He smiled.

Peyton looked at him, wondering why he was being so sweet to her. He sounded genuine, considering that now the hotel and pub were no longer associated with each other.

To be nice, Peyton gave him a tight smile and said, “Hello, Mr Preston.”

“What the hell do you want?” Jay growled, annoyed.

Mr Preston dropped the clipboard on the counter with a bang. “I didn’t raise you to speak to women like that, Jayden. You apologise to Miss Peyton.”