The Greatest Showman #1287 - Airborne Guests

The affair between Renly and Diesel had long been an open secret in the industry.

When Diesel heard about it, Renly stepped in and snatched the recording time for the show that had originally "belonged" to them.

However, from Lena's perspective, Diesel's actions were completely unreasonable.

Not only did the original recording schedule not belong to Degree and Passion 6 in the first place—it had been assigned to Iron Man 3—but now, even that had been settled. Diesel had no right to interfere.

And Diesel's attitude? From the start, he adopted an arrogant, big-shot persona, trying to assert his importance in the industry. Aside from Dwayne and Jason, he positioned himself as the boss of the crew, nitpicking the script and stirring up unnecessary drama. Now, he was acting all cooperative, trying to give orders from a high and mighty position.

It was enough to make anyone roll their eyes.

Lena certainly did—she didn't hide her speechless contempt.

What's more, with Robert Downey Jr. and Renly Hall already having accepted the situation, it was ludicrous for Vin Diesel to step in now as if he had any right to intervene.

Facing Christian's hostility, Lena's patience finally snapped. "Mr. Wagner, it's four fifty-one in the morning," she said, clearly frustrated. The phone call had been dragging on for twenty minutes. "Changing the schedule is already impossible. If you have further concerns, please come to the TV station for a detailed discussion with the program team."

She ended the call firmly.

Initially, Lena had worried that her directness might anger Diesel, but after reporting to her supervisor, she received approval and full support.

Now, with the show's countdown clock ticking, even if they were willing to accommodate Diesel, what about the other actors from Degree and Passion 6? And the other guests in the same episode? Not to mention the other performers scheduled for the remaining episodes. Once everything was arranged, it was impossible for Diesel to disrupt the entire plan.

So, The Norton Show had to stand firm.

While the Degree and Passion 6 crew couldn't be easily offended, neither could The Norton Show crew.

After confirming the performers' schedules, Lena worked late into the night. After a quick rest, she rushed to the bathroom to freshen up and prepare for Renly and the other guests' arrival.

At that moment, Lena was a bundle of nerves. On one hand, the stress of everything was taking a toll; on the other, she was both excited and anxious about Renly's arrival.

There were so many rumors swirling around Renly in the industry that it was hard to know what was true.

His aristocratic lineage added an extra layer of intrigue—while people in the U.S. might view it with curiosity or admiration, in Britain, they understood the true weight of such an identity.

Now, Lena wasn't sure how to act around him. The fatigue of working all night was starting to affect her, leaving her disoriented and unsure of how to present herself. She worried she might come across as disrespectful.

"Lena! Stop biting your nails again," a voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts. It was her friend, Valentina McDowell.

Startled, Lena immediately stopped biting her nails—an old, bad habit she couldn't seem to control when she was anxious.

"How do I look? Is everything okay?" Valentina asked, adjusting her outfit nervously.

It was clear she was just as eager to meet Renly as everyone else on the Norton Show staff. Renly had made headlines recently, after all, especially since he had just made history by winning the Olivier Award.

"If he shows up, will it be so calm?" Lena rolled her eyes, then immediately realized how impatient she sounded. She quickly raised her hand as if to apologize.

Valentina waved her hand dismissively. "It's been a chaotic night. We're all on the edge. How do I look? I just did a quick fix in the dressing room, but God, I really should've taken a full shower… what if Renly stands in front of me and smells like sweat?"

Lena and Valentina both grimaced at the thought.

"Ding."

The elevator door suddenly opened, interrupting their conversation. Both women quickly turned toward it, plastering on bright smiles, trying to maintain their composure. The door slowly slid open, and a wave of anticipation washed over them.

Then, to their surprise…

Paul Walker stepped out.

"Good morning, ladies," Paul greeted them with a warm, radiant smile that brightened the room like a beam of sunlight cutting through the early morning fog.

"Why is Paul here?" Lena thought, but she quickly recovered, asking, "Paul, haven't you been notified? I was sure I contacted Lucas..."

Lucas Hunt, Paul's agent, had assured her that everything was confirmed.

Paul waved his hand nonchalantly. "Yeah, I know. I was told the recording was moved to tomorrow. But I just finished my morning run, and I thought, 'Why not come by and catch up with Renly?' I haven't seen him in a while."

He paused and added, "Renly's recording is still this morning, right?"

Lena blinked, still a bit confused. "Yes."

Renly and Diesel were sworn enemies, but Renly and Paul were good friends. Their dynamic had fueled plenty of gossip, especially within the Degree and Passion 6 crew.

Paul scratched his head, smiling sheepishly. "Don't worry, I'm not here to interfere with the recording."

"Of course, of course!" Lena quickly assured him, gesturing for him to follow. "Welcome, and thank you for coming by. Let me show you to Renly's lounge—he hasn't arrived yet, but feel free to wait there."

As she escorted Paul down the hall, Lena disappeared around the corner. A few minutes later, she returned, winded from her hurried trip, only to find Valentina waiting for her with a knowing look.

"Don't worry, Renly hasn't shown up yet," Valentina reassured her.

Lena caught her breath. "I know. But I've heard rumors that Renly always arrives early and never late. I just want to make sure everything goes smoothly when he gets here."

As she caught her breath, Lena suddenly noticed Valentina's expression freeze. Her own voice trailed off as the realization hit: "He's standing behind me, isn't he?"

The sound of the elevator door opening had been so subtle, she hadn't noticed it.

Valentina's brows knitted slightly, her expression growing tighter.

Lena slowly turned around and found herself face-to-face with Renly.

Roy and Nathan were with him, but it was clear that all eyes were on Renly.

He looked effortlessly stylish in a sky-blue, vertically striped linen shirt paired with light-gray casual trousers. His appearance was understated but exuded a relaxed, graceful charm—like a calm summer evening sunset, not bold, but with a refreshing energy that drew people in.

"...Lord Renly," Lena stammered, her face flushing. "I… I'm so sorry, I was rude… when did you arrive? I mean, welcome to The Norton Show taping."

"I hope I'm not late," Renly replied with a warm smile, his eyes sparkling with light, like the first rays of morning on a calm lake.

Lena wanted to disappear. He heard everything.

But then Renly continued, "Thank you for coming to greet me. I hope I haven't disrupted your work."

"No, of course not," Lena said quickly, waving her hands. Her carefully planned introduction had completely fallen apart, leaving her flustered and at a loss.

Renly smiled softly. "I know the schedule changes must have messed up the plans for the program. But thank you for handling it so graciously. I promise I'll do everything I can to make today's recording go smoothly and help make this all worthwhile."

His humorous and self-deprecating tone immediately lightened the atmosphere.

Lena's tension melted away, and she couldn't help but smile back, her earlier anxiety fading.