Hey everyone, so here's my new story! I hope you enjoy:


Jackson Avery rolled his shoulders, trying to relax. He'd been furiously preparing for this presentation for the past month, going over all the facts and figures, checking and double-checking sure that his presentation tools were all ready. He doesn't mind public speaking, even if he's still not comfortable being filmed while presenting. Overall though, a healthy feeling of adrenaline is pumping in his veins.

"Is there any further business?" Harper Avery, his grandfather and the CEO of the Avery Hotel Group, looked around at his other board members.

"Jackson a proposal... don't you?," Catherine said with a slight smirk. Jackson can hear the unspoken "baby" at the end of her sentence, and is incredibly grateful that it remained unspoken. His mother was always encouraging him to get more involved in the family business, and he could tell she relished the fact that he was not only getting more involved, but that he was taking the initiative. Jackson stands up and casually adjusts his suit jacket. "I have a proposal. I'd like to develop a new Avery Hotel and Resort on the West Coast." And with that, he began.


45 minutes later, Jackson has broken down the facts and figures, presented his spreadsheet. Now, it's time to turn on the "Avery Sparkle" as one of his friends from business school dubbed his charm when it comes to convincing an investor or a client of something.

Wrapping up, Jackson continued, "The Pacific Northwest is the perfect place for further development, and there's untapped potential. This is a seaside, coastal town, located near Seattle. Between Seattle and Vancouver, two major metropolitan areas, there's culture to be found, from shopping, theater, museums, 4 star restaurants- you name it. But outside the city proper, there's also scenic views, with a wide variety of outdoor adventures. National parks, fishing, white water rafting-there's something for everyone; it's the best of both worlds. And Avery Hotels has, until this point, been focused primarily on the East Coast. I'd like this project to continue our expansion on the West Coast."

One of the board members, Oliver Keaton, shakes his head. "There's still LA, San Francisco. We do have a West Coast presence, even if we're not as strong there as we are on the East Coast." Jackson had expected some pushback from Oliver. He had broken up with his daughter Mara six months prior, and while the relationship ended relatively amicably, it seems Oliver still held a grudge.

"Is there any serious competition in the region?" Catherine asked as she tapped her pen against the table.

Jackson shook his head and smiled. "If you look in the back of your folder, you'll find a brochure. There's a little B & B, but it can't compare to an Avery Hotel. Their location is unparalleled, however. We're probably going to have to buy them out." While when he was first starting out at the Avery Hotel Group, he may have had some reservations about buying out small businesses, but those were long gone. When you're a shark, and you smell blood in the water… you have to strike.

Harper nodded. He'd had his doubts at some points about his grandson; did he have the drive, the ambition to rise within their hotelier empire? But he was glad that it appeared he had been proven wrong. This was a promising initiative from Jackson. "Alright Catherine. You want to take the lead on this one?"

"Actually," Jackson interrupted, eyes darting between his mother and grandfather. "Respectfully, I'd like to be project manager on this one and represent the Avery Hotel Group." He looked around the boardroom, and he can tell that they're all exchanging dubious glances with one another.

"My previous work in helping revitalize both the Palm Beach resort and the Boston flagship hotel shows that my vision for each individual hotel or resort aligns with the greater vision for the Avery Hotel Group. While I respect the traditions we have cultivated," Jackson nods towards his grandfather. "I also believe in innovation. This is my project, and I want to help it take off." He finished firmly, looking around the boardroom, meeting each member's eyes. Jackson has realized over time that in the boardroom, his family and the other members respected shows of strength. This is his chance to prove to his grandfather, his mother, and the rest of them that he's not just a "playboy with a pretty face" with a black Amex card. He double-majored in Economics and History at Harvard, and earned his MBA from the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania's elite business school. He'd been working his ass off at his family's hotel empire, the Avery Hotel Group, and had spent countless hours at worksites and boardrooms across the country.

Harper's shrewd eyes evaluate Jackson for another long moment, before he nods in agreement. "Jackson can be project manager on this one. Go evaluate the landscape out there, and write a report about what you recommend. Now, about the meeting with the Sandersons…"

Jackson tunes out his grandfather for a moment, as he smiles and takes a seat. Overall very satisfied with the outcome of his pitch, he soaks in the victory for a moment... but then, it's back to business. He texts his assistant Jo Wilson to go ahead and book a flight for him and her. All that stands in his way of proving to his family and competitors that he's capable to inherit and run the hotel company is a small inn called the Seaside Bed and Breakfast. No matter what, he's not going to let anything or anyone distract or deter him. So really, Jackson thought, taking a sip of his water, what could go wrong?


"Kepner!"

April Kepner sighed as she stretched and rubbed the back of her neck. "I will not murder Alex Karev, I will not murder Alex Karev," she murmured under her breath before continuing the final sweep of the front foyer, carefully maneuvering around the McKenzie kids' toys. April always enjoyed when families with little kids came to stay at the inn. While it often meant more work involved for everyone, seeing their little faces light up with excitement, or hearing little feet scurry across the upstairs hallways always made her day.

"I need more raspberries for my dessert tonight. And I need a whole bunch of other shit, but the raspberries are most important," Alex said as he turned the corner, a grocery list outstretched in his hand. "So I need you to go to the grocery store and the farmer's market."

April jerked the grocery list from his hand. "You could say please."

Alex Karev came highly recommended from his previous references. While he could be temperamental, April knew that a certain volatility was to be expected with chefs in general. Alex had a reputation for creative, inventive, delicious recipes… and he also had a reputation for violent behavior. Usually she could deal with Karev and his mood swings, but today had been a particularly crazy one at the Seaside Bed & Breakfast. They had two families checking in, one checking out, and Arizona had mentioned that some representative was going to stop by today, and that she wanted everything to be running smoothly.

Arizona Robbins owned the B&B and still oversaw all major decisions for the inn, but ever since her wife Callie had given birth to her daughter Sofia, she no longer lived in the inn herself. Arizona and Callie had moved nearby to a quaint little house with a gorgeous front yard and a front porch with a swinging bench- perfect for a kid to grow up in. There was also the added benefit of being two houses down from Sofia's father Mark Sloan and his girlfriend, Lexie Grey. So while Arizona still owned and managed the inn, she left the daily running of it to Alex and April, who lived in the basement and the attic respectively. Alex handled the kitchen, and April handled the rest of the inn, whether it was making sure each room was prepared for the guests, or just being the welcoming face of Seaside.

"I'll head out to town soon- I was going to meet Arizona and Callie there anyway. Do you know what's going on? They seem a bit… worried." April asked in a hushed whisper.

Alex shrugged. "No clue. But you want to know what I'm worried about?" He leaned closer to April and she rolled her eyes.

"What? What are you worried about, Karev?"

"My raspberry pavlova." He bit out. "So let's get to it."

She rolled her eyes and headed to the front door. "I will smack you, Karev. Don't think I won't!" She called over her shoulder. Their bickering could sometimes go too far, but overall, everyone at Seaside Bed & Breakfast and its extended connections had formed their own little crazy family.


Jackson walked along the Main Street of town- and Jackson had to marvel at the fact that there was actually a main street at all. There was a local bookstore called Grey's Bookstore with a quaint coffee shop attached and an old-school movie theater that boasted $2 movie tickets on its marquee with movies that had originally come out in theaters months ago. It was idyllic, really; already, he could see exactly how to present the town to investors. He'd already researched the area extensively, but he liked to get a feel for what a town or a city was truly like by just wandering around, soaking in the sights and the atmosphere. Smiling, his eyes linger on a little boy and a little girl playfully chasing after each other when he collides with a smaller, feminine body.

"Excuse me," Jackson said, reaching out to steady the woman he'd just crashed into. A very pretty redheaded woman was clutching a bundle of bags, one of which split open after their collision.

"Oh, dammit," she said as she looked heavenward.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Here, let me help you," Jackson said, bending down to help gather the dropped items. Never let it be said that Catherine Avery raised an uncouth son. Good etiquette had been taught to him since he could walk. A plastic container of raspberries had popped open and were spilling haphazardly across the sidewalk. Jackson fumbled and caught a couple.

"No, you're fine, it's fine," she replied as she bent down to grab the groceries that had fallen out of her hands. "Sorry, it's been kind of a crazy day."

"Well, I'm usually not this clumsy, honestly," he said. For some reason, it was very important that she know that.

The woman laughed softly, dimples forming on her face. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt," she murmured under her breath.

"I appreciate it." He replied and she giggled again. It was a very nice laugh, light and airy, a kind of laugh that could fill a whole room.

Jackson looks again at the woman, taking note of her shiny red hair and hazel eyes. "I wish I was though. It's not everyday I bump into such a beautiful woman." He grinned ruefully. He stretched out his hand to introduce himself, but then he noticed that his hands were slightly stained red because of his attempt at picking up the fallen raspberries. He could see a subtle blush unfurling on her cheeks, making her eyes seem even brighter. She's looking at him bemusedly, a hint of a smile on her face and that's when he realizes what he said. "I'm sorry. That was incredibly cheesy."

She burst out laughing. "I mean, it wasn't that… no, actually, I'm sorry, you were right. That was inasnely cheesy."

"Anyway, I'm Jackson." He finally said.

She grinned. "April."

They finish gathering the rest of her groceries, but Jackson doesn't move along quite yet. "I'm going to be in town for a little while. Maybe we could bump into each other again sometime? Only next time, on purpose, and without any raspberry casualties," He joked. He hadn't been looking for anything serious since his breakup with Mara, and he wasn't going to be in town that long, but this woman… his fingertips still felt the burn from when he had touched her.

She half-smiled; it was really just a quirk on her mouth, before her eyes widen dramatically. "I'm late." She said suddenly, gazing over his shoulder. Jackson looked around and saw a tall Latina woman standing, tapping her foot impatiently by a car down the side of Main Street. "I'm very late. I- I have to go, but maybe I will see you later?" She bit her lip, and with that she dashed around him and down the street.

"Yeah…" Jackson murmured after her. There was an undeniable sense of… connection, as if they had met each other in another place, another time. Maybe if Jackson was lucky, he'd see her again. This town wasn't that big, after all; the odds had to be in his favor.


April quickly darted down the sidewalk to where Callie was waiting with Arizona and Sofia in their car. April can see the amusement gleaming in the other woman's eyes and she blurts out, "I lost the raspberries."

"Oh trust me, we all saw how the raspberries were lost, right Sofia?" Callie laughed, looking back at their daughter.

Arizona bit her lip to keep from laughing. "It's fine, Karev can make another dessert for tonight." she decided. "We need to go ahead and get back though, prepare for the incoming arrivals. Plus, some hotshot representative from the Avery Hotel Group is coming by today," Arizona explained. April knew Arizona well enough to know that this was her fake calm and happy voice.

"The Avery Hotel Group? Really? Why, what do they want?" April asked warily.

Arizona smiled brightly, in fact, a little too brightly. "I'm not entirely sure, but we'll see."

"He was hot," Callie said, changing the subject and gazing out the window at the back of the man walking down the sidewalk. She reached a hand out through the open car window to playfully nudge April. "I mean, it's been awhile since I've slept with a man-"

Arizona scoffed. "It better be," she mumbled as she fiddled with Sofia's car seat.

Callie rolled her eyes. "Yes, it has been, Arizona. Anyway, tell me, were there sparks? Sparks are the best. Sparks are amazing."

April blushed and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe there were, maybe there weren't. I don't know. I need to get back to Seaside." She reached through the open window herself to greet Sofia, who was surrounded by stuffed animals.

"Hi, gorgeous," she murmured, reaching out to lightly stroke the baby-soft cheek.

"Sofia, I think Auntie April has a crush," Arizona quipped, starting the car as Sofia babbled happily.

April sighed and shook her head, extracting her body from their car so she could head to her own. She can handle their gentle teasing, and Jackson really did have the most hypnotic eyes she had ever seen, but April has been trying hard lately not to let her head get too far in the clouds.

"Come on guys. It sounded like he was only going to be in town for a few days. What are the odds that we'll see each other again?"

Callie shrugged her shoulders and grinned impishly. "Who knows, he could be your soulmate."


Hey guys, feedback is appreciated! This is going to be a little lighter and shorter compared to my other WIP. Please review y'all! Thanks :)