The Greatest Showman #690 – Alone Time

Meadow stood there, looking pretty as she secretly gazed at Renly. Her heart pounded like a drum. It wasn't just a crush or a fleeting heartbeat—it was the thrill of novelty. She had always known her father was a Hollywood actor and that Los Angeles was full of stars, but until today, it hadn't felt real. Not like this.

Renly stood before her, laughing and chatting, his smile radiating effortlessly. It felt like a dream, yet it was undeniably real. "Renly, are you really Dad's friend?" Meadow blurted out, her curiosity taking over.

Renly didn't fully understand the question, but he answered nonetheless, "Yes, at least that's how I see it." He glanced at Paul, raising an eyebrow as if asking for clarification.

Paul, catching on, laughed awkwardly. "Meadow, I'm not as old as you think."

Meadow muttered, "But Mom said you were over twenty when you had me."

Looking between the embarrassed Paul and the confused Meadow, Renly couldn't hold back his laughter. The sound of his hearty chuckles echoed in the parking lot, as he met their eyes with a grin. "Meadow, yes, I'm your father's friend. I've always believed age isn't an important measure of friendship. If you're okay with it, maybe I could be your guide in New York, and we could even become friends."

The age gap wasn't the issue, but the dynamic between the father and daughter clearly needed time to settle. Renly noticed that Meadow felt more comfortable with him, and Paul didn't quite know how to communicate with her. With Rebecca not around to bridge the gap, Renly didn't mind stepping in as the middleman.

Paul cleared his throat and shot Renly a playful, half-joking look. "I'm really not as old as you think!"

Renly just shrugged and flashed a sheepish grin. His simple gesture conveyed more than words could, and Meadow couldn't help but burst into laughter, covering her mouth to stifle it.

Paul sighed dramatically and, with a shake of his head, reached for his luggage. "I'll put this in the trunk."

Renly, still smiling, called out to stop him. "Remember? The van should be arriving soon."

Paul paused, confused. Renly continued, "We'll stick to the plan. In a moment, you'll put your luggage in my car, and I'll drive it back. You two can take the van for a tour of the city first. Los Angeles is a great place to explore and unwind. Afterward, you'll have dinner and then get dropped off."

Paul's Ferrari, a two-seater convertible, was too small for all three of them, and besides, Paul couldn't drive due to having had a drink. Only Renly could drive, so the arrangement seemed tricky. But Renly had already thought it through, arranging everything ahead of time.

On the drive to the airport, Paul chatted nervously, while Renly silently confirmed his plans. When Paul went inside to check on Meadow, Renly made the necessary calls to finalize the reservations and put together a tentative itinerary, giving credit to Paul for the idea.

This time together was important for Paul and Meadow. Los Angeles was a city Paul knew well, and it would be a great place for them to bond. Meadow was full of curiosity, and touring the city would be the perfect way to break the ice.

Meadow immediately became excited, practically bouncing in place. Paul, though still unsure, saw her enthusiasm and scratched his head, offering a hesitant smile. "Well, if you're not too tired, how about we take a quick spin around?"

"I'm not tired! Not tired at all!" Meadow's youthful energy shone through as she bounced, finally displaying the carefree spirit of a thirteen-year-old.

Paul smiled at her excitement and, after a pause, turned to Renly with a grateful look. "Thanks to Renly for organizing everything. I've been a little lost after this afternoon's drinks."

Meadow echoed her thanks with a bright smile, her gratitude clear in her eyes as she looked at Paul, understanding how Renly had made all of this possible.

Just then, a long black van rolled into the parking lot. Meadow gasped, eyes wide with surprise. She turned to Renly, who gave a small wave to acknowledge the driver. Meadow couldn't contain herself and jumped up, shouting, "Yes!"

Still in disbelief, Meadow turned to her father for confirmation. After receiving his nod, she dashed toward the van, eager to get inside.

Paul, looking somewhat stunned, turned to Renly with a mix of appreciation and confusion. Renly chuckled softly. "Hurry up. You can't park here for too long. I've set up a simple route for the driver—a classic Los Angeles tour. You can discuss the details with them. If you need anything, just let them know."

Paul stepped forward, enveloping Renly in a tight hug, holding on for a long moment. Renly winced, not one for hugs, but allowed it, shaking his head as he smiled. "Paul, you know I don't like hugs."

"I know," Paul chuckled, but didn't release him. "Thanks," he said softly before turning and heading into the van. It slowly pulled away, joining the flow of traffic.

As the van's sunroof opened, Meadow stood up, gazing around excitedly, before shouting, "Yohoo, I'm in California!" Her exuberance was contagious, and Renly couldn't help but smile at her carefree spirit.

Renly put Paul's luggage in the passenger seat of his car and got back in. Suddenly, something important occurred to him. Dinner. He had forgotten to arrange it with the van driver.

Los Angeles was vast, and getting a spot at a top restaurant without a reservation would be nearly impossible. With Meadow arriving unexpectedly, Paul hadn't had the chance to plan. Renly had overlooked it too. What to do?

The thought lingered for a moment before he dismissed it. Paul would figure something out. And if not, they could always grab a burger and sit at Santa Monica Pier, enjoying the sunset and ocean breeze—a quintessential Los Angeles experience.

Renly drove back to Paul's house, where Nathan and Roy were waiting. After unloading the luggage, they parked the car in the garage. The work was done, and it was time to head to the airport.

Renly was catching a 7 p.m. flight to San Diego for two events: watching Crazy Love with fans and a live radio show. The schedule wasn't tight—Crazy Love's budget was modest, and the promotional schedule wasn't rushed. But Andy had intentionally packed the itinerary, masking the true reason for the schedule: the audition for Edge of Tomorrow and the follow-up discussions for Fast and Furious.

Though Michael and Van often believed they had Renly's actions figured out, they were wrong. He always had something up his sleeve.

Roy's phone rang shortly after they left, and when he saw the caller ID, he handed it to Renly. It was Andy's call.

Renly picked up the phone and calmly said, "I won."

Both Nathan and Roy were stunned. They had been waiting for the outcome, but with so many auditions and so many delays, they hadn't expected good news to come so suddenly.

Renly explained the situation to Andy—how the auditions had gone, what directors he had recommended, and the conversations about the script and director.

After a pause, Andy asked, "Who did you recommend?" Renly gave him the list of directors. "I haven't mentioned producers or screenwriters yet. Let me know when you get it. Warner Bros. might ask for your opinion later."

Creative Artists Agency excelled at packaging talents—actors, directors, screenwriters—and coordinating the best people for a project. Their structure was unparalleled in the industry.

Renly raised an eyebrow. "My opinion?" He hadn't thought about it much, but Andy seemed to trust him.

Andy laughed. "Renly, the reason I chose Warner Bros. is because of their size. Trust me, they'll surprise us."