The Greatest Showman #850 - Hidden Power

Roy frowned, confusion and frustration clouding his expression. "What do you mean, 'no venue'? This is New York, one of the most performance-rich cities in the world. There are thousands of venues, especially just above Manhattan, and thousands of performances every day. How can there be no venue?"

Andy, sitting across from him, shrugged and offered a smile. "This city is one of the densest in the world. With so many venues, there are just as many performances. The city is flooded with shows every day. Not only is land expensive here, but time is just as costly—if not more so."

In the end, it all boiled down to time.

The concert had only been decided on four hours ago. Finding a suitable venue in such a short span of time—and negotiating a time slot—was no simple task. Moreover, Eleven Studio was an independent operation, and its influence paled in comparison to top record companies.

As Renly had put it himself, the success of his album "Don Quixote" was nothing more than a fleeting moment, a bubble that had burst with the slightest breeze. As an actor, Renly had made a name for himself in North America and Europe. But as a singer, he was still a nobody. Even Johnny Depp's band had trouble securing a venue for their concerts, proving how challenging this process could be.

New York was vast, but the world beyond it was even larger.

Andy turned to Renly, who was seated beside him, and continued explaining, "We did find two potential venues. Both are the right size and price, and the timing works."

He paused, his hands raised in helplessness. "But one is in Queens, right at the intersection of the Columbia, Italian, and Irish gang territories. The other is in Brooklyn, which was only recently reopened after being shut down for sanitation. The conditions there are far from ideal."

Roy and Renly exchanged glances, both silent. Nathan, who had been waiting, could hold his questions no longer. "But why not the second venue? A lot of underground rock bands play in places like that. They'd even perform next to an abandoned stage or a garbage dump."

Roy rolled his eyes. "Because this is a concert for one person."

Nathan blinked, momentarily confused. "Anyone?" he asked reflexively. But then, the realization hit him. "Oh… right, sorry," he added, slapping his forehead in embarrassment.

Heather Cross, still unconscious in the hospital, was the reason for the concert. The last thing anyone wanted was for her to perform in a poorly maintained venue. The environment could worsen her condition. If Heather was still in a coma when the concert began, the hospital wouldn't even allow her to leave, even if she woke up on time.

An impromptu concert, with no specific date or venue, had initially seemed simple. Yet now, the clock was ticking, and the situation had grown more complex than anticipated.

Andy gave Renly a questioning look. "We need time. Eleven Studio is pulling every string we can. I even called George Slender, and he's helping with the search, but... we need more time."

Time—the one thing money couldn't buy.

Renly sat in silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

The doctor had warned that Heather's condition could worsen if she didn't regain consciousness soon. If she continued to deteriorate, it would only be a matter of time before she needed more intensive care. The clock was ticking, and her condition had worsened much faster than expected.

Time. Life and death. These eternal themes had persisted for thousands of years, unchanged.

With Andy, Roy, and Nathan watching, Renly picked up the phone on the desk. As he dialed, Andy and Roy exchanged confused looks. Neither knew what Renly was planning.

Meanwhile, on a Private Yacht in the Caribbean…

Andre Hamilton lounged on the beach chair, his shirt open to feel the warm sun on his skin. The models' laughter filled the air, blending with the soothing sounds of the Caribbean Sea. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting an orange glow over the horizon, and the world felt like a tranquil lullaby.

His phone vibrated, breaking the peaceful moment. It was a private number—one of the few people who had it. He answered, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance. "This is Andre. You better have a good reason to interrupt my vacation."

A voice on the other end of the line responded, the familiar tone mixed with a subtle weariness. "It's Renly. Do you have time for a favor?"

Andre stood up, stepping away from the noise and heading towards the stern. The setting sun cast its warm light over the ocean as he listened, the situation beginning to take shape.

"I assume I have no room to say no?" Andre asked.

After a brief silence, Andre hung up and gazed out at the deep blue sea, feeling the weight of the request. Renly's problem had now become his. A concert venue in New York, with the right conditions—safe, hygienic, and available as soon as possible. Simple enough on paper, but in reality, nearly impossible to secure.

Andre thought of Renly's relentless spirit, how he always seemed capable of overcoming the impossible. But today, Andre sensed Renly's vulnerability for the first time. Despite his outward calm, there was something deeper—helplessness.

It was that very helplessness that had driven Renly to call him.

Back in New York...

As Andy, Roy, and Nathan scrambled to find a venue, Renly's phone buzzed. A new message appeared, but neither Andy nor Roy noticed. Renly glanced at the screen, a small smile tugging at his lips.

He raised his hand, signaling to the others to pause their frantic work. Both men exchanged puzzled looks but quickly ended their conversations. "I'll call you back," Andy promised.

Renly got up and showed them the message. "The venue's been found. Contact Teddy, and let's start the concert announcement now."

As he walked toward the bathroom, Andy, Roy, and Nathan looked down at the message in disbelief.

Nathan blinked, his face a mix of confusion and awe. "Am I seeing this right?"

Roy, usually composed, now stared in shock. Even Andy, the seasoned professional, was speechless.

The message read:

"Thursday, February 16, at 8:00 p.m. at Madison Square Garden, New York."