The Greatest Showman #1416 - Push the Boat

In Cannes, Emma Watson's little tricks had not escaped Renly's notice. So, how could Melissa Benoist's more subtle maneuvers evade him? Hollywood is full of these antics, and Renly had heard of them countless times before, but today was the first time he had witnessed one firsthand. The absurdity of the situation brought a strange sense of amusement.

Hadn't Melissa heard of Renly's "Big Devil" reputation in the industry? If she hadn't, surely her agent must have, or perhaps she wasn't even represented at the moment?

Melissa's actions were so transparent and clumsy—she was clearly trying to lower her profile and ingratiate herself with him. Renly, however, didn't take the bait. "Xing" and "sex" weren't his interests, especially when it came to this kind of situation.

Renly took a small step back, placing his hands behind his back and leaning forward slightly to greet her politely. He subtly shifted to his left, positioning himself parallel to Melissa, and smiled as he said, "There are many ways to learn acting, but I can say with certainty that this is not the right time or place."

It was a polite but firm refusal—one Renly hoped Melissa would understand.

Melissa did, but her face froze—not because of Renly's rejection, but because the angle between her and Renly had been fully exposed. Through John's lens, it looked like two strangers standing parallel to one another, leaving no room for a flattering shot.

That was the most important thing now. She didn't care about Renly's attitude. What should she do next?

"Of course. Of course I know it's not the right time," Melissa quickly responded, her tone smooth, "but after reading the script today, if we have time, we can go to a coffee shop or bar and practice a bit more. I've read the script before, but I still need some practice."

She looked at Renly with pleading eyes, trying her best to manipulate the situation with subtlety.

Renly's response, however, was firm and unyielding. "Sorry, I don't have time," he said, his refusal now sharper, though his smile remained intact. "I'm not an acting coach. If it's about our scenes together, we can work on that on set, but after hours, I need some personal space. I'm very sorry."

Melissa's eyes widened, her mouth parting slightly in disbelief. "Really? I... I can treat you to dinner, as a favor. Please, I really want this to work."

Renly sighed softly and said, "If I remember correctly, you only have three scenes. The crew has plenty of time for practice." He didn't mind being blunt now, as she wasn't getting the hint.

Melissa bit her lip, a wave of frustration crossing her face. Her mind raced, but before she could figure out her next move, she noticed Renly stepping forward to leave. In a split second, she took a step toward him, pretending to trip and throwing herself into his arms.

Her plan was clear—since the polite approach had failed, she was now going for physical evidence.

Patience is key to being a gentleman, but it has its limits. Renly, though outwardly composed, was already alert when Melissa made her move. Something felt off, but he couldn't quite piece it together. He didn't need to—he could sense her intentions clearly.

As Melissa lurched toward him, Renly swiftly stepped aside, allowing her to fall ungracefully into the bushes at the apartment entrance. He frowned slightly, irritation bubbling beneath his calm demeanor. He'd tolerated quite a bit in Hollywood, but this—Melissa's persistence and clumsy antics—had pushed him over the edge.

Still, Renly maintained his polite facade, hands behind his back, his smile as practiced as ever. He looked down at Melissa, who was now lying in the bushes, disoriented and embarrassed. Renly's voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it: "You should know I have the power to make you lose this role, right?"

His words were not a joke. In Hollywood, a top actor like Renly could easily influence a production, and Melissa knew that.

Melissa, now visibly shaken, bit her lip and looked up at him with wide eyes, trying to salvage the situation. "I... I didn't mean to offend you, Renly. I just want to do my best with this role. I'm sorry, truly sorry. I didn't intend for this to happen."

Renly's anger began to dissipate, but only slightly. Her words were clever—she was distancing herself from the situation, shifting the blame onto him, implying he was bullying a weaker actor. To the outside world, she might paint herself as the innocent victim.

The irony was not lost on Renly. "So, you don't know what happened? You came here today just to apologize, and everything that's happened was an accident?"

Melissa nodded vigorously, playing along. "Yes, if I've misunderstood anything, I apologize again."

Renly remained quiet for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed the scene. He trusted his instincts, and something felt off. But for now, he didn't act on it.

As the silence stretched, Renly's voice broke it once again. "So, the paparazzi across the street—don't you know they're there?"

Melissa froze, her blood running cold. She stammered, "What... what...?" Her confusion was palpable, her panic starting to show.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Something had gone terribly wrong, and she had no idea how to fix it.