Chapter 11：Ping-pong Feelings

The penthouse on Arkley, North London was were Jordan and Lana would be cohabitating. Only she wasn't aware of this yet. She thought they were just coming here for a meeting to finalize their "deal", although she didn't want anything out of it. The house was a contemporary and modern property, sitting on over an acre with a large garden, set back, screened and secluded with automatic solid sliding gates. It had a roof terrace and jacuzzi. 5 bedrooms that overlooked the garden, 4 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms. The servants' quarters were on the first floor along with a stunning spiral wine cellar. The property had underfloor heating, surround sound and electronic sliding curtains.

"Wow!" Was all Lana could say as she twirled around the house in awe. Jones showed her to her room and turned to leave.

"Wait...am I going to be staying here? Where's everyone else?" She asked.

"I'm sure Ryan fill you in soon," Jones responded.

"Oh." Her face fell.

"Don't worry about your luggage Miss Logan. I will send someone with it shortly." Jones assured Lana. "Welcome to JC's humble abode."

She felt like Belle in Beauty and the Beast at this precise moment. Surrounded by so much luxury and yet she felt so unhappy. She kicked off her shoes and threw herself onto the bed, where she fell into a fitful sleep.

Meanwhile, Jordan was pacing up and down his bedroom floor, trying to think of how to approach Lana. He had never had to make a move on a girl, it was always the other way round. He was clueless when it came to girls.

"Ryan! Jones! Get in her." He hollered as he leaned over the banister.

They came up to his room promptly and sat on the chaise lounge waiting for him to speak first. He was in a plain white t-shirt and sweat pants but still looked like he stepped out of a magazine. He sat at the edge of the bed and looked on them.

"Ryan, any progress with OGB?" They had labeled it Operation Get Bambi.

"She's on board." He pursed his lips into a thin line.

"But..? He raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"She wants it on her own terms..which she will discuss with you. But she's taking a nap now." He bounced his knee.

"Cool. I can handle that." He pushed his hair back and let out a sigh of relief.

He never expected her to agree but then again Ryan could be very persuasive. He wondered what Ryan had offered her in exchange for her help. She never struck him as a girl that could be bought but maybe he was wrong-maybe everyone had a price. His heart sank the more he thought about it. She was probably just like the rest he thought.

"So why the long face? I thought you would be glad-" Ryan started.

"How much?" He gulped and stared at the floor, not meeting Ryan's eyes.

"She doesn't want anything. I offered her-" Ryan sat forward and tried to explain.

"What??" He looked up in surprise, his blue eyes startled.

"I could have offered her all the money in the world but she would have still turned me down." He said dryly.

"That's my girl!" Jones grinned widely as he clapped his hands dramatically.

"Shut up Jones." Jordan scowled but inwardly he was doing about to burst with happiness. So he was right about her after all. He didn't know why but, he felt relieved beyond comprehension.

"Now you can see that I was right about her." Jones shot back.

"Whatever-is everything set for the concert tonight? What time is soundcheck?" His heart was racing at the thought of seeing her again, that she was under the same roof, sound asleep in the next room.

"Yes but I'm about to head over to Wembley Stadium now to check if everything is in order..so if there's nothing else..?" He stood up and straightened his suit.

"Nah, that will be all." He said with a wave of his hand. "Jones you can stay."

"Still up for the after-party?" Ryan asked as he stood at the door. They always had one after every concert at a five-star hotel, but only the who's who of show business in the city were invited. It was strictly by invitation.

"What else do I have to live for?" Jordan rolled his eyes. "But I'll just make a brief appearance for an hour or so, I really need to rest."

"See you in a bit." Ryan saluted and left.

"So what's your game plan?" Jones pursed his lips.

"I thought maybe you could help me with that?" For once he looked uncertain. Jones's heart melted.

"If and a big if- if we going to do this then you going to have to change JC. Otherwise, I won't be a part of it." Jones said with seriousness written all over his face.

"Yeah, yeah spare me the lecture Jay." He gave himself a face-palm.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, I'm being very serious right now," Jones said.

"Jay nothing in life is guaranteed man. People makeup to break up and so on . You need to chill out man." Jordan replied.

"Look I'm not expecting you to marry Lana, ride off into the sunset, have adorable twin babies and live happily ever after. But if you don't have good intentions then let's drop it. You can have any girl you want JC. Young and old, short or tall, they're yours for the taking. Just don't go and ruin an innocent girl just for kicks. That's just plain downright cruel."

"Why do you care so much anyway?? You don't even know her man!" Jordan burst out.

"That doesn't make it right. You know what forget it. I'm out." Jones stood up but Jordan pulled him back.

"Listen, Jay, don't get your knickers in a twist...I hear you, man. Now let's discuss this like adults? How do I get my girl?" Jordan cocked his head to the side and smiled.

Lana's phone was vibrating somewhere on the bed and she finally heard it.

"Hello." She said, half awake.

"Hie sweetie. Sorry did I wake you?" Mrs. Logan asked.

"Hie Mom," She propped a pillow behind her back, "Don't worry I'm awake now. Is everything okay?"

"Yes. I just miss you that's all." She said wistfully.

"I miss you too Mom." All of a sudden she broke down and started crying. She was overwhelmed by a cocktail of feelings right now and she couldn't keep the tears back any longer. Hearing her mother's voice made her homesick and emotional.

"Hey, honey? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Ye-yes." She tried to compose herself. "I guess I'm just tired. Haven't slept properly you know.." She sniffled.

"I thought you were having a great time? Did something happen? Is it Jordan?" Her mother rained questions Lana couldn't quite answer herself.

"No-yes I am Mom. It's been great. Jordan's been, great Mom." She reached out for a Kleenex and wiped her face and nose. There was a soft knock on the door and she asked her mother to hold.

"Come in," Lana called out and immediately regretted it. Well, kind of...

"Hey-is this a bad time? You're crying? Why? Is it me? Did I do this??" He rushed to her side and held her at arm's length.

"No-wait.." She held up a finger to her lips. "Mom, can I call you back? Jordan is here."

"Put him on the phone. I need to have a word with him." She demanded. Lana was sure Jordan heard that and her fears were confirmed when he held out his hand for the phone. She looked at him hesitantly then handed it over to him with a resigned sigh.

"Hie Mrs. Logan. Jordan Carter here." He turned on the Carter charm and there was no female on planet earth that was immune to it, so far anyway.

"Oh, hie there-um-Jordan." Lana imagined her Mom fluffing her hair like she usually did. She had already fallen for the trap.

"I just wanted to thank you personally for allowing Lana to come on this tour. She is such a breath of fresh air. You raised her well." He smiled at Lana as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Oh thank you, Jordan. You don't have to say that." Mrs. Logan gushed.

"Anyway we got to run now, I promised to take Lana for lunch and I'm a man of my word." Lana gaped and he turned his back on her to keep from laughing.

"Really?? You don't have to! Surely you're too busy for that?" She asked.

"Anything for my Bambi." He said sweetly.

"Awww you even have a cute pet name for her?? You know they used to call her that in kindergarten?" She laughed.

"Really?? Why don't you tell me all about it when we visit this weekend?" He turned to face Lana, her mouth almost hit the ground.

"You're coming over? Lana didn't say.."

"It was a surprise but now it's out there." He shrugged.

"Okay let me not keep you then. See you then." He rang off.

"Explain Carter." Lana crossed her arms and pushed her tongue in her cheek.

"Can we eat first sweets? I'm starved." He said with exaggeration. "Can we call a truce? No more mind games. No more ping-pong with feelings and let's learn how to communicate okay?" He held out his hand and she shook it. He would have preferred them to seal it with a kiss but he didn't want to get ahead of himself.

"So we're good?" He asked.

"Yes." She said with a smile.