246-248

Chapter 246: Ace vs. Ace (Part 2)

At such a formal event, Isla Fisher’s quick jog caught a lot of attention. Many people started to suspect something big was about to happen. 

When they saw Dunn’s expression suddenly change, it only confirmed their suspicions. 

What exactly was going on? 

Natalie walked over, looking at Dunn with concern. “What’s wrong?” 

Dunn glanced around and noticed several people edging closer. His chest tightened a little as he lowered his voice. “Michael Eisner’s here.” 

“What?” 

Just like Dunn, Natalie couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp when she heard the news. 

In Hollywood, Michael Eisner’s name carried serious weight! 

Sure, over the past while, Dunn had been holding his own against him—sometimes even getting the upper hand. 

But Michael Eisner had been a powerhouse in Hollywood for twenty years. His track record of turning things around in the clutch had earned him a king-like presence. 

If Dunn had stunned Hollywood in 2000 with his breakout moment, then Michael Eisner had been stunning it every single year for the past two decades! 

Dunn’s current rise was basically a remix of Eisner’s dominance over the last twenty years! 

“Is something going to happen?” Natalie, still young and a bit rattled, grabbed Dunn’s arm tightly, her face paling. 

Isla Fisher nearby looked just as uneasy, while Jessica Alba stood there confused. What was the big deal? The chairman of Disney showing up to celebrate Spider-Man’s massive success seemed like a good thing—a point of pride for Dunn Pictures. So why did it feel like they were bracing for a fight? 

Seeing everyone’s eyes on him—and a few more people drifting over—Dunn took a deep breath, waved a hand casually, and grinned. “It’s fine, everyone. Keep enjoying the drinks!” 

Facing a titan like Michael Eisner, even someone like Bill Mechanic would be out of his league and unable to handle it. 

This was a burden Dunn had to shoulder himself. 

So he couldn’t afford to lose his cool. 

No matter why Michael Eisner had shown up uninvited, Dunn had to stay calm and steady—ideally projecting an air of breezy confidence to reassure everyone. 

He patted Natalie’s waist and whispered in her ear, “Stay cool, don’t panic!” 

Natalie was sharp and caught on quick. She realized her earlier reaction had been too obvious. 

In that moment, she was representing Dunn Pictures—especially with so many female guests at the celebration watching her every move. Right now, Dunn Pictures and Disney were locked in a fierce behind-the-scenes battle. She couldn’t afford to look shaken. 

Taking a deep breath, Natalie nodded firmly. “Don’t worry, I know what to do.” 

Dunn gave her a small smile. He’d always trusted his girlfriend, especially when it came to handling people. 

Just then, Kevin Feige, the assistant to Marvel Studios’ president, approached with a furrowed brow and a hushed tone. “Boss, everything okay?” 

Dunn smirked. “When the enemy comes, we fight; when the flood comes, we build a dam! It’s just Michael Eisner—what’s the big deal? I’ll go deal with him.” 

Isla Fisher watched Dunn’s bold confidence with stars in her eyes. 

Lately, she’d finished the first draft of her book Gone Girl and showed it to her writer mom, who’d given it praise like never before. 

That had reignited her dream of being an author. After seeing the ugly, private sides of so many Hollywood actresses, her interest in acting had faded. She’d rather stick by Dunn’s side as a laid-back little assistant than chase that life. 

Dunn clapped Kevin Feige on the shoulder and said firmly, “Keep things steady here. No matter what happens, this is Spider-Man’s victory party—we can’t lose face!” 

“Got it!” Kevin nodded decisively. 

“Good.” Dunn took Natalie’s hand, giving her a deep look. “Let’s go meet this Disney chairman.” 

“Alright!” Natalie quickly pulled herself together, flashing an easy smile that made her look cheerful. But the faint tension in her brow still betrayed a bit of nerves. 

Michael Eisner was like some larger-than-life villain—his reputation left an indelible mark. 

Hand in hand with Natalie, Dunn strode toward the entrance with his head held high, moving at a steady, unrushed pace. 

A small crowd had already gathered there. 

Then a young guy hurried over—Dunn recognized him as Bill Mechanic’s secretary. He quietly told Dunn that Michael Eisner had come through Ron Meyer, the president of Universal Pictures, bringing gifts and a female companion. It didn’t seem like he was here to pick a fight. 

That was key info. Combined with rumors from a few days ago about Disney wanting to bury the hatchet with Dunn Pictures, Dunn had a hunch about why Eisner had shown up unannounced. 

Was he trying to smooth things over? 

Dunn let out a cold smirk. 

Not a chance! 

Sure enough, as he got closer, he saw Bill Mechanic, president of Dunn Pictures, and Vice President West Cotton chatting amiably with a sharply dressed older man. 

Maybe it was the toll of several major surgeries, but at 58, Michael Eisner looked older than his years. Still, he hadn’t let himself go physically, a sign of the discipline he demanded of himself. 

Since starting with Titanic, Dunn had been in Hollywood for four years and faced plenty of rivals. But Michael Eisner? Hands down, he was the toughest. 

Still, Dunn’s eyes only lingered on him for a second before shifting to someone else. 

Eisner’s companion today was a young, pretty, and playful-looking girl Dunn recognized: Disney’s golden princess and pop sensation—Britney Spears! 

Right now, Britney Spears was the hottest name in music. Her second album, Oops!... I Did It Again, had smashed sales records, leaving even Madonna and Michael Jackson in the dust. 

Natalie clearly noticed Britney too. She raised an eyebrow and murmured, “Looks like… he’s trying to tempt you with Britney.” 

Given Michael Eisner’s status, there was no way he’d be romantically linked with Britney Spears. And even if he was, he’d never bring her out in public like this. 

So Britney showing up as his “companion” at Spider-Man’s victory party? It was obviously aimed at Dunn! 

Dunn’s lips curled into a faint sneer. “A honey trap? He’s seriously underestimating me.” 

Natalie smirked too, her expression dripping with sarcasm. 

Sure, Dunn had a reputation for being a bit of a player. But thinking he’d fall for a cheap trick like this? Pure delusion. 

Natalie had total faith in him on that front. 

A real big shot who liked women would keep them firmly under control—not plant a ticking time bomb by their side. 

Dunn flashed a relaxed smile and extended his right hand toward Michael Eisner from a distance, his tone carrying a hint of apology. “Mr. Eisner, I had no idea you’d come in person. Sorry for not greeting you sooner—hope you’ll forgive me!” 

His warm, almost buddy-like vibe made Eisner’s eyes narrow slightly. Eisner reached out with both hands, gripping Dunn’s enthusiastically. “Director Walker! Haha, I’m the one crashing your party—I should be apologizing to you.” 

“No way! You’re too kind. Having you here at Spider-Man’s celebration is an honor for us,” Dunn said, radiating warmth and welcome. 

Their handshake was firm, and Dunn could feel the heat and strength in Eisner’s grip. 

After some quick small talk, Dunn was certain of one thing: Michael Eisner wasn’t here to start trouble. 

That eased his mind a ton. 

It wasn’t that Dunn feared him. The issue was the setting—this was Spider-Man’s big night. If things got messy, Dunn would lose face. Even if he managed to chase Eisner off, the fallout would still be a loss for Dunn Pictures. 

Plus, with so many Universal Pictures execs in the room, getting shown up by a rival at his own party would tank his cred with them. 

But now? His worries were overblown. 

If Michael Eisner was actually here with a bit of a peace offering, trying to mend fences with Dunn Pictures, it’d be the cherry on top of the celebration. 

Disney’s top dog personally showing up to “make amends,” even bringing the ultra-popular Britney Spears to “cheer up” Dunn? That was pure glory. 

The Universal execs watching this unfold would see it in a way Dunn couldn’t have planned better. 

Universal wasn’t exactly thriving these days. 

After Vivendi bought Universal Pictures, just as Dunn had predicted, the Vivendi Group kicked off a major restructuring—splitting up departments left and right. 

Ten years ago, Panasonic had shelled out $6.5 billion to snag Universal Pictures. 

Back then, Universal was at its peak! 

They had movies, TV, music, games, publishing, theme parks, home entertainment—the works. 

But Vivendi, a French company infamous for asset reshuffling, changed all that. 

After merging with the Seagram Group, they formed Vivendi Universal Entertainment, lumping in Blizzard, Sierra, Canal+ TV, Pathé Films, and Universal Pictures. 

Universal’s gaming division got carved off into Vivendi Games. Publishing went to Vivendi Publishing. Music to Vivendi Music. Internet stuff to Vivendi Networks… 

Compared to the old Universal Pictures, the current version had lost 60% of its assets! 

Aside from the movie studio shell, all they had left was the theme park business. Universal’s execs had seen their power slashed, stripped bare by the French owners. 

Once a Hollywood titan, Universal Pictures was now just one cog in Vivendi’s film division, sitting alongside France’s Pathé Films. Total humiliation! 

Meanwhile, their partner Dunn Pictures was riding high—enough to draw Disney’s big boss Michael Eisner to their doorstep, uninvited, with a hint of flattery. 

Ron Meyer watched Dunn handle it all with calm confidence and a casual laugh, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside him. 

Chapter 247: Ace vs. Ace (Part 3) 

If Michael Eisner had come to pick a fight, Dunn might’ve had to tread carefully. But now that it was clear he was here to “make peace,” Dunn felt a surge of confidence. 

Michael Eisner? Pfft, no big deal! 

Dunn had originally thought Eisner would go all out, ready to slug it out with Dunn Films in a no-holds-barred brawl. But the moment things got real and blood was drawn, Eisner’s legs turned to jelly. 

The tough fear the reckless, and the reckless fear the ones who don’t care about dying! 

To take on Disney, Dunn had gone all in, throwing everything he had into the fight without a care for the consequences. Clearly, Michael Eisner had weighed the costs and potential gains of a full-on battle and decided to back off. 

Dunn’s life motto? If the enemy advances, I advance. If they retreat, I push even harder! 

“By the way, Mr. Eisner, I once got a couple of annoying prank calls—really ticked me off!” The vibe at their first meeting was surprisingly friendly, and Dunn was feeling chatty. 

“Oh? Really?” Michael Eisner had a sinking feeling in his gut. 

Dunn said with a straight face, “You bet! The guy actually pretended to be you, claiming he was Michael Eisner! Naturally, I was furious and gave him a stern warning.” 

The moment he said it, the higher-ups at Dunn Films who knew the story almost burst out laughing. 

This Dunn—he sure knew how to mess with people! 

The incident had become legendary around Dunn Films, a hilarious tale employees shared over coffee. The big boss Dunn had hung up on Michael Eisner not once, but twice, treating the calls like spam and scolding, mocking, and warning the guy each time. 

It must’ve driven Eisner up the wall. 

Sure enough, Michael Eisner’s expression shifted for a split second. But he was a pro at this game and quickly brushed it off with a chuckle. “Is that so? Ha, well, thanks for that. I’d hate for someone to go around tarnishing my name.” 

Dunn bit back a grin and said earnestly, “Oh yeah, I was dead serious about it. Didn’t even give the guy a chance to talk—just hung up on him.” 

Ron Meyer, the president of Universal, didn’t know the full story and took it at face value. He frowned and said, “Scam calls? This is a country of laws—how can stuff like that be tolerated? Dunn, did you report it to the police?” 

“Uh, I don’t think so…” Dunn pretended to mull it over, then flashed a bright smile. “But I should have the call logs. I could look into it.” 

Ron Meyer nodded gravely. “You should. Scam calls are a serious matter. File a report with the police.” 

“Cough, cough…” 

Michael Eisner nearly choked, barely keeping his cool. He waved a hand dismissively and said, “Oh, let’s not make a big deal out of it. If Dunn already… taught the guy a lesson, I’m sure he’s learned his mistake. No need to drag it out further.” 

Reese Witherspoon, hearing this, couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears welled up in her eyes from stifling her laughter. 

Oh man, this Michael Eisner—he was comedy gold! 

But credit where it’s due: big shots like him really knew how to roll with the punches. That kind of composure was impressive. 

Dunn was having the time of his life, feeling like he had all of Hollywood under his thumb. 

Michael Eisner? So what? 

First meeting, and he’s already eating humble pie. 

“Yeah, I gave him a piece of my mind!” Dunn went on, smirking. “Some people, you know, they’re just asking for it. You don’t put them in their place, don’t show them who’s boss, and they start thinking they own the world. Gotta knock that arrogance out of them…” 

Natalie, listening to Dunn’s rant, felt her stomach tighten. He was so obviously taking jabs at Eisner— even with all his polished manners, the guy might snap. 

She slipped her arm through Dunn’s and gave him a subtle tug, then smoothly changed the subject. Her gaze landed on Britney Spears, the pop star Eisner had brought along. 

“Miss Spears, I’m a huge fan of your music. It’s such an honor to have you at our party. If I’d known you’d be here, I would’ve hand-delivered your invitation myself.” 

Britney, a total wildcard in the entertainment world with her one-of-a-kind IQ and EQ, didn’t catch the trap in Natalie’s words. She grinned and said, “Mr. Eisner invited me. Honestly, I haven’t even had time to check out Spider-Man yet.” 

The second she said it, Eisner’s face darkened again. 

Natalie smiled. “Oh, you’ve got to make time to see it. It’s really amazing.” 

Britney pouted. “I’m not big on action movies. But I love Director Walker’s Titanic. I cry every time I watch it. Director Walker, could you send me a signed copy of the VHS?” 

Dunn chuckled. “Of course I can!” 

“Wow, you’re so nice!” Britney beamed, then glanced at Eisner beside her. “Before we got here, Mr. Eisner said you’re tough to deal with and that there’s some misunderstanding between you two. He told me to get close to you. But now that I’ve met you, you’re, like, super, super awesome!” 

At that, the expressions around the room turned… interesting. 

People wanted to laugh but couldn’t, and their attempts to hold it in twisted their faces into something hilarious. 

Especially Michael Eisner. His old face was a picture of pure embarrassment. No matter how composed he was, having Britney casually spill the beans like that was a blow to his dignity. 

This was Hollywood. Bringing a young, gorgeous girl to “get close” to a famous director—and dragging her to someone else’s party, no less—only meant one thing. 

Eisner knew Britney could be a little “naive,” but she’d been in the entertainment game long enough to pick up on subtext. Or so he thought. 

Turns out, she was naive to the point of cluelessness. 

Talk about a disaster! 

Eisner glanced at the Universal execs nearby and caught their weird, almost absurd looks. 

The legendary Disney chairman and CEO, Michael Eisner, showing up with a hot pop star to butter up the young upstart Dunn? If word got out, it’d be the laugh of the century. 

Especially with Dunn Films and Disney already at each other’s throats over that ban. This was basically handing over a pretty girl as a peace offering. 

But Britney wasn’t done. She grinned at Dunn and said, “Oh, I read in the papers you’ve dated tons of girls. Is that true?” 

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. 

Even a zoned-out Taylor Swift would know better than to ask something like that in a setting like this. 

Eisner was on the verge of tears, regretting every life choice that led to bringing her here. 

She was wrecking everything! 

And it was his party she was crashing! 

Dunn caught the pained smile on Eisner’s face and couldn’t have been happier. He laughed and said, “Nah, that’s all fake. Just media rumors. Natalie’s the only girl I’ve ever been with—our relationship’s rock-solid.” 

“Wow! Cool!” Britney squealed, her teenage brain lighting up at the idea of a forever-first-love romance. “Natalie, you must be so happy, right?” 

Natalie gave a gentle smile. “Yeah, he’s really good to me.” 

“Aw, I’m so jealous! I hope you guys stay happy forever!” 

Britney Spears had officially stolen the spotlight, bouncing around like an overgrown kid. 

Compared to her, Natalie—who was the same age—might as well have been a master strategist. She could hold her own chatting with industry titans without breaking a sweat. 

Against Britney’s intellectual steamrolling, Natalie had her spinning in circles with just a few words. 

Dunn, keeping it casual, said, “Thanks, Britney. I’m sure you’ll find your own Prince Charming someday.” 

Eisner’s eyebrow twitched as he shot Dunn a deep, searching look. 

Was that a hint? 

In terms of looks, Britney could outshine half of Hollywood— even Natalie couldn’t quite keep up. And Dunn was just… passing on her, no hesitation? 

That threw Eisner for a loop. 

Natalie smiled faintly, glancing at Dunn with total confidence. 

She knew him inside and out. 

Sure, Dunn’s personal life was a mess—that was no secret. But he had a thing for control. Any girl he got with had to be someone he could keep firmly in his grasp. 

A wild card like Britney—scatterbrained, neurotic, loud, and running her mouth nonstop? No matter how gorgeous she was, if she couldn’t be tamed, Dunn wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole. 

That’s why Natalie didn’t sweat his flings on the side. 

She’d figured it out: those other women were just passing through, toys he played with. They’d never make it to the main stage. 

Then Britney piped up again, flashing a big, toothy grin. “Oh, Mr. Eisner told me to smooth things over between you and Disney. Dunn, are you and Disney fighting or something?” 

Dunn nearly lost it laughing. 

Eisner looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor. 

What a disaster! 

… 

Little Taylor had been dragged to the party by her mom and was watching from a distance, wide-eyed at the scene unfolding. 

Her tiny hand clamped over her mouth, trying not to giggle. 

Finally, she couldn’t hold it in. She tugged her mom’s hand and whispered, “Dunn’s so shameless—he lies without even blushing!” 

Andrea Swift shot her a look. “Hush, you’re a kid—don’t talk nonsense!” 

“I’m not talking nonsense, hmph!” Taylor hated when her mom treated her like a baby. She muttered under her breath, “I know all about it—Dunn’s got a bunch of girlfriends. Weird, doesn’t Natalie know? I’ve gotta find a chance to tell her…” 

“What did you say?” 

Andrea was so mad she could barely speak. 

Taylor stuck out her tongue and blinked innocently. “Nothing, I didn’t say anything!” 

Andrea sighed, half-laughing, half-exasperated. 

This kid—she had no idea what to do with her. Especially since moving from New York to L.A., Taylor had gotten wilder by the day. 

Chapter 248: Ace vs. Ace (Part 4) 

Michael Eisner had never felt so embarrassed. He’d figured that among Disney’s princesses, “Little Sweetie” Britney Spears had the biggest name and was the cutest and prettiest. But he hadn’t expected her to be this unreliable. 

Natalie, always good at reading the room, sensed that Eisner was teetering on the edge of losing it. They couldn’t keep pushing him—especially not letting Britney Spears dig up more of his dirty laundry. 

“Britney, let the guys keep chatting. How about we head over there? I’ll introduce you to a real superstar—Nicole Kidman!” 

Natalie grabbed Britney’s hand like they were besties and cheerfully led her off to another part of the room. 

Michael Eisner let out a long breath and cleared his throat. “Dunn, uh… there might’ve been a little misunderstanding earlier.” 

Dunn laughed heartily. “Oh yeah, definitely a misunderstanding! My rep out there isn’t the best, but that’s just the media making stuff up.” 

“Exactly, exactly! Some of those outlets are so irresponsible with their wild stories!” Eisner jumped on the excuse, quietly relieved. 

Dunn not dwelling on it was a huge weight off his shoulders. 

What a mess! 

Especially with a bunch of Universal Pictures execs watching. 

Universal, being Dunn Pictures’ distributor and partner, naturally hoped the two companies could patch things up. Ron Meyer chimed in with a knowing smile, “Yeah, some things start as a casual comment, but by the time it spreads, it’s blown way out of proportion. That’s how misunderstandings happen.” 

Everyone there was sharp enough to know he was talking about the “ban” situation. 

Michael Eisner shot him a small smile and nodded. “True. Hollywood’s not what it used to be—it’s facing a lot of outside pressure these days. But at the end of the day, we’re a community. We’ve got to stick together and not let outsiders laugh at us.” 

Dunn clapped his hands enthusiastically. “Man, Mr. Eisner, you hit the nail on the head! Hollywood’s one big family. Old-school studios, new companies—we’re all part of it. If we get along and pull in the same direction, this family’s only going to get stronger.” 

“Exactly!”  

Eisner’s eyes lit up. He’d thought Dunn would be a tough nut to crack, but the kid seemed to know how to play ball. 

Ron Meyer, seeing the two getting along, kept playing the mediator and decided to cut to the chase. “A while back, I heard something—not sure if it’s true or not, heh. Word is, Dunn Pictures and Disney issued bans against each other?” 

Dunn and Eisner locked eyes and burst out laughing. 

Eisner said, “A misunderstanding—there’s got to be some mix-up here!” 

Dunn grinned. “Yeah, sure, Dunn Pictures’ movies have been stomping Disney lately, but I’m pretty sure Mr. Eisner’s not petty enough to slap a ban on us over it, right?” 

Eisner’s face flushed, and he forced a stiff smile. “Of course not! Just normal market competition.” 

Dunn nodded eagerly. “That’s what I figured! Disney wouldn’t pull something that shameless.” 

Bill Mechanic, listening in, gave a wry smile and shook his head to himself. 

He’d thought Dunn was genuinely open to smoothing things over with Disney after his earlier comments. But now? Nope—this guy was a smiling tiger, hiding a knife behind his grin! 

Eisner was squirming. He was starting to regret showing up. Even if this was supposed to be a peace talk, doing it in front of all these people was a bad call. If they did strike a deal, Dunn’s sharp jabs would still leave Eisner’s reputation in the gutter. 

Ron Meyer quickly stepped in as the peacemaker. “Disney’s brand is top-notch—no way they’d do that, right?” 

Dunn glanced at him with a half-smile. “Yeah, sure. Funny thing, though—a month ago, Dunn Pictures got hit with Disney’s ban. If Mr. Meyer had stepped in to mediate back then, maybe all these ‘misunderstandings’ wouldn’t have piled up.” 

Ron Meyer’s face froze, looking worse than if he’d been crying. 

The situation now was nothing like a month ago! 

Back then, Dunn Pictures was on fire. They dominated the summer box office with Spider-Man, using Disney as a punching bag to grab headlines left and right. 

Disney, fed up, played the bad guy and came after Dunn Pictures. 

Even as their partner, Universal would’ve just sat back and watched. 

Universal only got a 10% cut of Spider-Man’s distribution profits—and that included covering upfront costs like marketing and distribution. 

If Disney had crushed Dunn Pictures back then, with the friendly ties between the two companies, wouldn’t Universal have swooped in on Spider-Man or other superhero projects? Compared to a measly 10% cut, that was the real prize! 

Look at DreamWorks now—technically an indie studio, but most of its film business was already in Universal’s pocket. 

This was Hollywood. Personal connections mattered, but at the end of the day, the big players cared about profits! 

Things were different now, though. Dunn had teamed up with Michael Ovitz to cook up a tantalizing “portfolio investment plan.” It could shake up how Hollywood had financed movies for the past thirty years. 

It was a simple, efficient, long-term, all-in-one funding model—seriously appealing. 

If it worked, it’d solve the cash flow headaches plaguing Hollywood studios. For the big dogs, that was way more enticing than a few movie rights. 

Maybe… 

Maybe Eisner had caught wind of this through some back channel, realized how big it could be, and decided to patch things up with Dunn Pictures. 

Dunn had just fired shots at both Disney’s head honcho Michael Eisner and Universal’s Ron Meyer, turning the friendly vibe into something a little tense. 

Bill Mechanic waved a hand. “Hey, what’s done is done. We’re all friends here—let’s talk it out. No need to make it a big deal.” 

“Totally, let’s just talk it out!” Ron Meyer nodded vigorously. 

Dunn’s eyes locked onto Eisner, not budging an inch. 

Eisner’s brow twitched, irritation bubbling up. 

The kid had guts, sure—young guys often did. But this aggressive streak? It was too much! 

“Dunn, the ban thing… let’s just drop it.” 

Eisner decided it was time to switch tactics. Playing nice and conciliatory wasn’t working—this kid was taking it too far. If soft didn’t cut it, he’d go hard. His tone turned stern. 

Dunn stayed relaxed, grinning. “Drop it? What do you mean?” 

“It’s been over a month since the ban stuff started. It hasn’t spread too far, but it’s stirred up a lot of noise and bad vibes. How about we both take a step back and call it quits?” 

Eisner ditched the friendly act entirely, his face hard and his words carrying a hint of a threat. 

Dunn kept that infuriating smile plastered on. “Sorry, Mr. Eisner, I’m not sure I follow. For Disney, yeah, the ban’s been going for over a month. But for Dunn Pictures? It’s only been a little over two weeks.” 

Eisner’s expression darkened, and that commanding aura he’d built over decades erupted. Even big shots like Bill Mechanic and Ron Meyer felt a shiver. 

That sharp, regal edge—honed over twenty-plus years at the top—was unstoppable. 

Bill Mechanic, who’d worked under Eisner at Disney back in the day, felt old shadows creeping up as Eisner unleashed his full presence. 

Honestly, that burst of intensity caught Dunn off guard too. 

But he had to keep it together—he had to stay steady. Right now, all eyes were on him. If he showed even a flicker of hesitation or fear, Eisner would walk away untouchable. 

Dunn took a quiet, deep breath to calm the storm inside, keeping his face neutral. “What, did I get that wrong?” 

Eisner’s eyes narrowed to slits, his expression grim as he stared Dunn down. 

That look—it was like two piercing arrows aimed straight through Dunn’s skull. 

But Dunn didn’t flinch! 

“Screw it, I’m not some pushover, and you’re not President!” 

“Trying to intimidate me?” 

“Don’t forget—I’m the guy who produced Saw!”