The Greatest Showman #1417 - Fair Trade

"So, you didn't know about the paparazzi hiding across the street?" Renly's words cut through the air like a blade.

"What… What…?" Melissa stammered, panic overtaking her. She jumped to her feet, her eyes darting frantically, left to right, desperately trying to regain control. Her voice shook as she forced herself to compose, "Paparazzi? What paparazzi? Where are they?"

In that split second, Melissa's survival instinct kicked in. She wasn't about to let embarrassment hold her back. She stood, taking a nervous glance at Renly, her anxiety palpable. "What just happened, it was recorded by the paparazzi, wasn't it? We can explain—tell them it was just a misunderstanding, that I tripped…"

Her unspoken implication was clear: if there was indeed a paparazzi present, it had to be Renly's fault. After all, he was the center of the paparazzi's attention, not her.

Quick-witted, Melissa's response, although frantic, showed a bit of cleverness in the face of pressure. It wasn't her usual style, but in this crisis, she had summoned up a more calculated approach. Yet, Renly wasn't fooled. Her performance was theatrical, like something from a high school play. It was no wonder that she had landed leading roles in CW's "Supergirl"—she had the perfect fit for teen idol dramas, and her acting here gave off the same vibes.

"Are you sure?" Renly asked with a knowing glance. "You're certain you didn't know the paparazzi were hiding in the corner of that building across the block? Sure you didn't know they were filming from the front and the back, creating a misdirection effect? You didn't know they're hiding right now, trying to cover up?"

Melissa froze, her words caught in her throat. Renly's gaze held her in place, not allowing her to escape the truth of his words.

"Did you know?" Renly continued, his voice calm but carrying a hint of sharpness. "The paparazzi who wait at my door every day don't even bother to hide. They need better angles. They're not ashamed. They're just waiting, and they know I won't have any news during filming, so why would they bother hiding?"

Renly wasn't one to explain himself unnecessarily, but in this moment, the facts were laid bare. Melissa had nowhere to hide. It was as if she had been caught by a stylist during the Emmys, a moment of utter failure. Melissa's facade crumbled under the weight of Renly's words.

She was overwhelmed by the truth.

Without another glance at her, Renly turned toward the opposite direction and called out, "Sir, if you're hiding over there, come out now. Let's have a conversation, and we can sort this out peacefully. Otherwise, you can stay hidden for now, but when you sell those photos, I'll always trace them back to you. Or are you hoping to keep today's events hidden forever?"

"Damn it!" A voice cursed from behind the wall. It was John, the photographer. He slammed his fist against the wall, cursing his luck. He had hoped the ruse would go unnoticed, but Renly had seen right through him.

John debated his next move. Should he stay hidden and go through with the plan to sell the photos, securing Melissa's position? Or should he make a strategic move and use the photos as leverage to form a more valuable connection with Renly?

As the thoughts swirled in his head, John decided to trust his friend, Joey Murphy, who had once told him, "Renly is a good person to work with as long as you respect his boundaries."

Reluctantly, John stepped into the light, slowly emerging from his hiding spot, and walked toward Renly and Melissa.

The paparazzi had revealed themselves.

Melissa's face went pale. She kept darting glances between Renly and John, unsure of what to do. One wrong move, and it could all fall apart.

John approached them, and Renly spoke with a knowing tone, "So, you were hiding there the whole time?"

"What?" Melissa gasped.

"What?" John echoed, his voice betraying his confusion. "But... you said you didn't know… so what's going on?"

Renly smiled broadly. "It was just a hunch. I spotted something that vaguely resembled a camera, tucked beside a flower pot. But I wasn't sure, so I decided to test it."

John, sheepishly, muttered, "So, I basically delivered myself to the front door, huh?"

Renly's grin remained, unshaken and composed. "Exactly."

John stood there, flustered, realizing that his poor hiding job had been exposed. But the situation was far from over.

As John weighed his options, he quickly made a decision. "You can have the memory card," he said, extending it toward Renly. "Today's events didn't happen. It's yours."

Melissa stepped forward, disbelief written on her face. "What? You're just handing it over? We had a deal!"

John shrugged. "I'll cover the costs and take responsibility for the mission's failure. But this is bigger than the photos. If you want a partnership with Renly, this is the way to go."

Melissa, furious, still tried to argue, but Renly intervened. "No, you can keep it," he said, his calm demeanor now fully restored.

Melissa and John stared at him, incredulous. "What? Really?"

Renly's response was casual, "You can release the photos. It doesn't matter to me either way, whether it's the truth or a lie. The impact is minimal for me, and honestly, I don't mind the publicity. After all, I've grown used to these kinds of situations."

His indifference was palpable. After the "Hypegate" incident, Renly had become immune to the ebb and flow of public opinion.

What really concerned him was the impact it could have on the "Booming Drummer."

"However," Renly continued, "we could make a deal."

John's interest piqued. Renly had his attention now.

"I have important information for you. You can keep the memory card, but my only condition is that it remains private until after the 'Booming Drummer' project is completed. What happens next is up to you."

John didn't hesitate for a moment. "Deal."

He didn't even ask what the information was or question its value. Building a relationship with Renly was worth more than any quick gain.

Melissa, however, was stunned. "John, you can't do this! We had an agreement!" she cried, unable to understand how things had turned so quickly.

John simply smirked, unfazed. He had made his choice, and Renly had won. What was left for her now?