The Greatest Showman #1303 - Dark Tide Strikes

Vin Diesel stepped into the room, sturdy and imposing, interrupting a group engaged in peaceful, heated discussions. He appeared like a tiger descending from the mountain, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if searching for something—or confirming something. His gaze exuded an arrogant intensity that seemed almost impossible to meet. The air around him grew tense, thick with an oppressive, suffocating energy.

He passed Robbie, Ed, and Henry, before his eyes landed on Paul.

Paul furrowed his brow slightly, perplexed by Diesel's unexpected arrival. After all, Diesel and Renly weren't friends, and with their show recording scheduled for tomorrow, why would Diesel show up at the door with such an angry expression? Could it be that he was here to pick a fight?

Paul's mind swirled with countless possibilities, trying to decipher the tension in the air. But at his level, the politics and power struggles involved were beyond his comprehension. He wasn't part of this game. For Diesel, this moment was likely crucial—an important battle of wills—but to Paul, it held no weight.

Still, Paul stood up and met Diesel's stare, unafraid. "Fan?"

Paul wasn't the aggressive type. He wasn't quick to accuse without understanding the situation. While his mind was filled with doubt, his words were carefully chosen. He didn't jump to conclusions but instead voiced his uncertainty and waited for Diesel to explain.

Diesel glared at Paul, his expression fierce, offering no hint of restraint. There was an almost palpable threat in his gaze, sharp enough to cut through the room. Even Henry and Ed, standing nearby, could feel the tension rising.

Paul remained confused, unsure of what Diesel wanted, but he held his ground. His chest lifted slightly in defiance, eyes locked on Diesel's. This only seemed to fuel Diesel's anger, his fists clenching involuntarily. The muscles beneath his white t-shirt tightened, as if he were preparing for something.

The tense atmosphere in the room thickened, and the onlookers—who had no idea why Diesel had arrived—shifted their gazes nervously from Diesel to Paul and back, unsure of what would happen next.

Suddenly, a calm voice broke the silence, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

The voice was smooth, measured, with an air of elegant maturity. The speaker's deep, rich London accent and noble tone radiated sophistication, carrying a sharp edge that effortlessly cut through the growing tension.

"Mr. Diesel."

Diesel turned sharply, his gaze landing on Renly. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding as he spat out the words, "Mr. Hall," the syllables dripping with cold bitterness. The sharpness in his voice was undeniable—his anger, palpable.

This was the first time they had come face-to-face since the end of the Fast and Furious 5 promotional period.

Though their names were often mentioned in various circles, their paths had never crossed again until now. And in the two years since, both of their careers had undergone dramatic changes.

Diesel remained a familiar figure, still attached to the Fast and Furious franchise, though his recent project, Interstellar Legends 3, had flopped at the box office, failing to recoup its $38 million investment. Meanwhile, Renly had evolved into someone entirely different, far removed from the actor he once was.

Renly, unfazed, smiled faintly and spoke calmly, "I just want to remind you, Mr. Diesel, that you seem to have walked into the wrong room. This is a private party, and without an invitation, I must kindly ask you to leave. We can talk another time when we meet again, but for now, I must insist you leave."

Henry, standing nearby, was utterly confused. What had just happened? Why hadn't Renly acted this way with him earlier? What was going on with Diesel? His mind raced, trying to piece everything together, but he couldn't keep up.

Diesel hated Renly's calm, almost pretentious demeanor. Renly seemed to mock him, acting as though he was unaffected, but Diesel knew better than to show his true feelings. He couldn't afford to create a public confrontation now, knowing that it would spark a wave of negative press.

He had a reputation to maintain.

Renly, however, was smug in a way that was different. He wasn't just playing a role—he was using his position to control the situation.

Diesel forced a tight smile, raising his chin in defiance. His eyes lingered on Renly, full of unspoken animosity. "Then I look forward to our next meeting. I hope we can have a proper conversation next time."

Renly's response was measured, almost dismissive. "I remain skeptical, but I'm open to all possibilities." His tone was light, but there was a playful undercurrent—a mixture of praise and derision, impossible to ignore.

Diesel, clearly frustrated, opened his mouth to retort, but found himself speechless in the face of Renly's unflappable composure. Renly's perfect etiquette, posture, and smile had transformed him into an immovable force. Every attempt to undermine him only served to expose Diesel's own discomfort.

Diesel's resolve began to crumble. His posture faltered, and the onlookers' increasingly sharp stares made it clear that if he pushed further, he would be seen as reckless and out of place. His reputation, carefully crafted over years, would disintegrate.

Finally, Diesel gave Renly a forced smile, before turning to Paul with a pointed remark. "Paul, we'll talk when it's time for promotion," he said, leaving without a backward glance.

His words were clearly intended to sow discord, implying that Paul was the cause of the friction in the Fast and Furious 6 crew. Diesel suggested that Paul's actions had disrupted the harmony of the cast, with Diesel himself as one of the casualties of Paul's supposed betrayal.

But Renly was quick to defuse the situation. Looking at Paul, he gently explained, "Don't mind him. Diesel isn't aware that the show's recording has been moved to tomorrow."

Paul, still confused, nodded. "Our whole crew was notified. Dwayne and Jason came to confirm the schedule last night."

Everyone around them exchanged knowing looks.

Renly shrugged, offering a possible explanation. "Maybe he's just here to visit a friend." His voice was light, but the subtext was clear.

The conversation shifted back to safer ground, and the group resumed their previous discussion, as if Diesel's appearance had never happened.

Yet, Renly knew Diesel wasn't done. This was just the beginning. Diesel wouldn't stop here, and Renly's resolve was firm. He'd been through this before and wasn't going to let it happen again.

The battle lines had been drawn. Diesel had started a war, and Renly wasn't about to back down.