322-324

Chapter 322: Flattery 

This standalone house was “Juno’s” home in the movie—a typical American middle-class setup with simple furnishings. 

The room Dunn and Cate Blanchett stepped into happened to be “Juno’s” bedroom. It was decked out with a youthful vibe—band posters plastered on the walls, a desk cluttered with textbooks, and a guitar propped up nearby. 

There was only one chair in the room, meant for “Juno” to study in. Dunn didn’t hesitate; he plopped down on the bed and gestured toward the chair. “Take a seat.” 

But instead of sitting there, Cate Blanchett locked the door behind her, sauntered over, and brushed her hair back with a flirty little move. Then she sat right next to Dunn on the bed. 

The vibe shifted instantly. 

An empty room, a bedroom, a big bed, just the two of them… 

Dunn’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Cate, and she didn’t look away—she met his gaze head-on. 

They were both adults, especially in a place like Hollywood where hookups were as common as coffee runs. Dunn caught her drift immediately. 

“Delivery straight to my door, huh?” he almost laughed out loud. 

Cate Blanchett wasn’t a knockout by Hollywood standards. Blonde hair, blue eyes—she was pretty in a standard way, but next to the dazzling starlets out there, her looks didn’t stand out. 

Her charm, though? That was something else. Everyone in the industry raved about her vibe. When EL magazine ranked Hollywood’s beauties of the ‘90s, she didn’t crack the top five, but her elegant, classic aura outshone Angelina Jolie and Uma Thurman, landing her at number six. 

The top spot? Nicole Kidman, the undisputed goddess of the era. 

At 31, Cate didn’t have a wrinkle on her face yet, and her presence wasn’t as commanding as it’d get later. She still had a sweet smile, dressed in tight jeans and a black sweater—the outfit for her supporting role as “Vanessa” in the film. 

Dunn wasn’t exactly drooling over her looks, but since she was offering herself up, why push her away? Might as well give it a shot, right? 

He didn’t waste time—reached out and pulled her into his arms. 

Cate’s body went soft, melting into him. Her eyes half-closed, lashes fluttering like she was putting on a show. This wasn’t nerves—it was pure acting. 

What was this, her first rodeo? Hardly. 

Dunn shook his head, catching a whiff of her scent as his hand slid under her sweater, wandering casually. “If you want to be with me, just say it. No need for all this cloak-and-dagger stuff,” he said, keeping his tone light. 

Cate didn’t flinch as he touched her. Seeing he wasn’t rushing to pin her down, she knew the act hadn’t worked. “I’m not lying,” she said softly. 

“Oh?” Dunn paused, intrigued. “Alright, spill the secret first. We’ve got time—no rush.” 

Cate bit her lip and murmured, “I… I’m really close with Rose.” 

“I know that. Get to the point!” 

“We dated.” 

“What?” Dunn froze, stunned. He sat her up straight, hands off her now, gripping her shoulders instead. He stared into her eyes. “Wait, you’re saying you and Rose Byrne were a couple?” 

Cate’s cheeks flushed. “Yeah, it was two years ago. We…” 

“Hold up!” Dunn cut her off, frowning. “Aren’t you married? You know why I never made a move on you all this time in Hollywood? Because you’re married!” 

“Huh?” Cate looked genuinely shocked. “But… when you were with Nicole, she was…” 

“Nicole’s different. Her marriage to Tom Cruise was already falling apart by then! Forget that—keep going. What’s the deal with Rose?” Dunn had never heard a whisper about this part of Cate’s past. 

Cate spoke slowly. “Back in ‘99, Rose did a movie with Heath Ledger called Two Hands. It got 11 nominations at the Australian Film Awards. I was a presenter there, and that’s how we met.” 

“Skip to the good stuff!” 

“I was fighting with my husband a lot back then—things were cold. I wanted something new, but I’d just gotten to Hollywood. I couldn’t divorce or date guys casually; it’d breach contracts. Around that time, Jodie Foster came out, had a kid with her girlfriend through artificial insemination—it was a huge deal.” 

Dunn’s eyes widened. “So you… hooked up with Rose Byrne?” 

“At first, it was just experimenting. Then feelings grew, and we… you know.” 

“You know what?” 

Dunn’s eyes were huge, his mouth practically big enough to fit an egg. 

“We slept together,” Cate said, her face heating up. 

Dunn’s throat went dry. After a beat, curiosity got the better of him. He lowered his voice. “How’d you… I mean, what’d you do? Hands?” 

“Huh?” Cate blinked, thrown off by the blunt, ridiculous question. 

Dunn coughed lightly. “You know I’ve got a lot of women, right? Most of the time, it’s… well, let’s just say things get crowded in bed sometimes.” 

Cate bit her lip. “There’s lots of ways. Hands work, but… do I really have to say it? It’s embarrassing.” 

Dunn smirked. “What’s there to be shy about? Tell me—I could use some new tricks. My girls could learn a thing or two!” 

Cate shook her head. “It’s tough… People who aren’t into that kind of thing usually hate it.” 

Dunn shrugged. “No big deal. I know some models in New York who are down for anything—they’ll play along.” 

Cate hesitated, still reluctant. “How about this: next time you’re free, invite me and Rose. We’ll show you in person.” 

“Live demo?” 

“Yup.” 

“Deal!” Dunn lit up, yanking her closer and pushing her toward the floor. 

Cate knew exactly what was coming. She went along with it, kneeling at his feet, tossing him a flirty little smirk before reaching for his belt. 

Dunn pressed her shoulders down, feeling a rush of dominance. “Don’t squat—kneel.” 

… 

Meanwhile, Kathleen Kennedy and Patty Jenkins were still going over camera angles and shooting techniques. 

They didn’t think much of Dunn and Cate slipping off to the bedroom next door. Dunn had mentioned wanting Cate for a role in Daredevil, so they figured it was some hush-hush contract talk. 

But “Juno’s” house wasn’t fancy—just a regular place with thin walls. Soon, faint, weird noises started drifting through. 

At first, they brushed it off. 

Then a loud, piercing moan shot through the air, and their faces changed. They exchanged a look, stunned. 

They weren’t newbies—they knew what that sound meant. 

“Let’s keep looking at the script,” Kathleen said calmly. After 20-plus years in the biz, she’d seen it all and recovered fast. 

Patty Jenkins, though, wasn’t so unfazed. She gaped at Kathleen. “Kathleen, is… is this normal in Hollywood?” 

Kathleen paused, then nodded. “Pretty much.” 

Patty muttered, “This is just… too much. The whole crew’s downstairs!” 

Kathleen chuckled. “Patty, haven’t you heard about Dunn’s reputation? Besides, you saw it—it’s mutual. What’s there to fuss about?” 

Patty shook her head, frowning. “It’s just weird. This is Cate—Cate Blanchett! She’s already a big name. She doesn’t need to throw away her dignity to suck up to Dunn. And… isn’t she married?” 

Kathleen’s tone stayed even. “People’s greed never stops. Think of it like mountain climbing. If you’re not in the game, Everest is just a name. But once you’ve conquered Kanchenjunga or K2, you’ll risk everything—even your life—to tackle Everest. It’s human nature. In Hollywood, you don’t risk your life—just a little dignity for a big shot’s favor. It’s easy.” 

Patty sighed. “I don’t get it.” 

Kathleen smiled. “You don’t get it because you’re still a Hollywood newbie. Juno hasn’t even hit theaters yet. Once you’ve got some success under your belt… I’d bet you’ll make the same call.” 

Patty laughed, half-annoyed. “Kathleen, what are you talking about? Even if I wanted to, you think Dunn would give me a second look?” 

Kathleen grinned. “You wouldn’t have to do it yourself. You’re a director—a step above actors. You could just introduce Dunn to some pretty actresses from your crew, right?” 

Patty’s face froze. “No way… really?” 

Kathleen waved it off, laughing. “Anyway, that’s all down the road. For now, I think you should guard the stairs—make sure no one bothers our big boss, yeah?” 

Patty groaned. “Why me?” 

Kathleen winked and stood up. “Fine, I’ll do it. A chance to suck up to the boss this easily? I’d jump at it.” 

Patty’s eyes widened as it clicked. She scrambled to her feet. “Okay, okay—I’ll go!” 

Kathleen watched her rush out, then sighed softly, shaking her head with a wry smile. 

Not even famous yet, Juno still untested, and already so eager to kiss up to the boss. Once she had some clout and was chasing bigger heights, would she really hold back from pulling out all the stops to flatter him? 

Kathleen’s lips quirked up. She didn’t buy it. 

Chapter 323: The Big Bad King 

Dunn plopped down on the edge of the bed, his body slick with a thin layer of sweat. He’d clearly overdone it, but his spirits were high—he looked downright triumphant.  

Cate Blanchett wasn’t much different. She knelt at his feet, holding a clean towel, carefully wiping the sweat off his body. Neither of them had a stitch of clothing on, and the messy bed behind them told the story of the wild showdown that had just gone down.  

Seeing a woman with such a regal, queen-like aura kneeling there like a servant gave Dunn a massive ego boost. He nodded approvingly. “Gotta say, I didn’t expect you to be so good at taking care of a guy. You’re great in bed—and out of it, too!”  

Cate’s slightly flushed face tilted up, her voice soft. “I’ve never knelt like this before, let alone waited on someone.”  

Dunn grinned. “Oh yeah? Then I’m honored!”  

She shook her head. “You deserve it.”  

“Oh? I don’t think I’ve done much for you, have I?”  

“Your strength, your status, your wealth—I think any woman would happily serve you like this.”  

Her words hit just the right spot. Whether they were true or not didn’t matter—they fed Dunn’s overflowing vanity perfectly. He reached out, lifted her pale chin, and nodded with satisfaction. “Didn’t peg you for the obedient type!”  

Cate smirked playfully. “If you like it… you can call me up anytime.”  

She was married now, and her contract with her agency had strict rules: no casual dating, no cheating. If word got out, it’d tank her image and cost the company big time. But when it came to Dunn? Even the top dogs at her agency couldn’t do a thing about it.  

“Call you up?” Dunn gave her a teasing, half-smile. “Aren’t you married? Is that… okay?”  

“We can be discreet—keep it on the down-low.” Cate shrugged like it was no big deal, then giggled. “Doesn’t that make it more exciting?”  

Dunn chuckled and shook his head. Sure, he’d just slept with her, but it was more about curiosity—seeing what she was like, tasting the experience. Her looks, though? They didn’t quite match his taste. Once or twice was fine, but making it a regular thing? Nah, he wasn’t that into it.  

“Yeah, maybe when the chance comes up,” he said, his tone cooling off a bit.  

Cate picked up on it and sighed inwardly. She couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious—thirties weren’t exactly prime time for turning heads anymore.  

But that was fine. She had other ways to win Dunn over. “By the way, there are more and more Aussie actors in Hollywood these days. The Aussie crew’s influence is growing—it’s big enough to sway the whole Australian film scene now.”  

That made sense. The “Aussie Gang” was led by Mel Gibson as president and Nicole Kidman as vice president, with a bunch of talented actors who’d made it in Hollywood. They were the cream of the crop from Down Under.  

Dunn lifted his foot, letting her slip his socks on. “You Aussie actors stick together. Your influence in Hollywood’s only gonna keep growing.”  

Cate nodded slowly. “Yeah, those of us who’ve made a name here use our pull to bring in others. Heath Ledger, Rose Byrne, Hugh Jackman—they all got their start that way.”  

Dunn smiled, sensing there was more to her words.  

She tested the waters. “Some actors make it, but a lot don’t—they just can’t break through here. I was thinking of bringing over some talented Aussie actresses. You’ve got a sharp eye—could you help me screen them, see if they’ve got what it takes for Hollywood?”  

Help her? Please. This was straight-up flattery—dangling more Aussie beauties in front of him like a gift.  

Dunn laughed. “Isn’t Nicole already doing that kind of thing?”  

“Nicole?” Cate shook her head. “She’s too careful. There are so many gorgeous girls back home—I think they’ve got real acting talent.”  

Dunn waved her off and stood up, letting her help him into his boxers and pants. “Kate, I get what you’re going for, but resources are limited. I can’t pour all my energy into your Australian girls. You should hash this out with Nicole.”  

He’d only known Cate for so long—sure, she could talk a big game, but Nicole Kidman was the one he trusted. They were real friends.  

Cate was still kneeling. Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his legs, looking up at him with pleading eyes. “Today wasn’t the right vibe. Pick another spot, and I’ll take care of you even better—any way you want!”  

Dunn couldn’t help but laugh. “Come on, I’m not some evil overlord. Is this really necessary?”  

It was over-the-top!  

“Kate, you’ve got it wrong. Today? I was totally satisfied. But the Aussie Gang stuff—that’s for you all to figure out internally. I’m an outsider; it’s not my place to meddle. Of course, if you need a hand, I’ll step up.”  

He pulled her up from the floor, taking a moment to admire her figure before giving her a casual pat. “You’ve got a great body. I’ll call you again sometime. Plus, I still want to see you and Rose perform together—remember that?”  

Cate’s worry turned to relief. “Thank you! Thank you!”  

Dunn sighed. He never would’ve guessed that Cate Blanchett—elegant, poised, and commanding in public—could turn into this soft, helpless little thing around him. Which side was the real her?  

Acting, man. She was good.  

“Oh, by the way, how many assistants do you have right now?” Dunn suddenly thought of something. She’d gone all out for him—he ought to throw her a bone.  

“Two. Why?” Cate looked puzzled.  

“Here’s the deal: I’ll set you up with a full crew—makeup artist, stylist, health coach, nutritionist, driver, security, even someone to fetch your tea. They’ll all be under Dunn Capital’s payroll, and I’ll cover the costs.”  

Her eyes lit up. “Seriously?”  

Dunn grinned and gave her a playful tap on the hip. “You earned it!”  

…  

Dunn’s arrival had stalled the film crew, and the newbie director, Patty Jenkins, was tiptoeing around nervously. Dunn, though? Not a hint of awkwardness. He even praised Patty for standing guard at the stairs, keeping the crew at bay. “Smart move,” he said, clearly pleased.  

Now he was downstairs, chatting and laughing with Natalie. He didn’t hold back, either—bragging about how he’d just slept with Cate upstairs, like it was some badge of honor.  

Natalie rolled her eyes and threw a few jabs his way, but she was used to it. She didn’t react much, though she was skeptical when he mentioned Cate kneeling and begging like a little girl.  

Really? That was Cate Blanchett they were talking about!  

Twenty minutes later, Cate finally came down. Did she look meek or fragile? Not a chance. She was calm, wearing a professional smile, descending the stairs one slow, graceful step at a time.  

Natalie shot Dunn a suspicious look.  

He gave a wry smile. They called Cate a powerhouse actress for a reason—she was the real deal.  

“Notice how slow she’s walking?” he said, unfazed. “That’s ‘cause her legs are still shaky! You should’ve seen how I had her pinned on that bed—total domination!” He wasn’t shy about it; this was about male pride, and he had to prove it to Natalie.  

She stared at Cate, then squinted, a smirk tugging at her lips like she’d just struck gold. She bounced excitedly next to Dunn, whispering in his ear, “Oh my God, you’re right! I see it!”  

“What?”  

She giggled mischievously. “Look at her knees—she’s barely bending them! They must be sore from kneeling too long!”  

Dunn took a closer look and cracked up. “Ha! Told you—I’m a beast!”  

He shot Natalie a smug, challenging glance.  

“Ugh, whatever!” She brushed him off, turning her attention back to Cate.  

That woman was a master at playing the part. With her composed, easy smile and graceful air, who’d guess she’d just been through a storm upstairs?  

Sure, they bickered—it was just their dynamic, a bit of fun. But Natalie knew Dunn’s stamina all too well. When it came to that, he was the undisputed king! 

Chapter 324: Hollywood’s Flexibility 

By early March, Dunn Pictures had already kicked off five new film projects for the year: Resident Evil, Juno, Signs, Spider-Man 2, and Daredevil. 

Resident Evil and Juno were both chugging along smoothly. The producer even said Juno would wrap up in just three days. 

M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs had a budget of $75 million. Dunn had personally stepped in to lock down Mel Gibson as the lead and Kathleen Kennedy as the producer. 

Spider-Man 2 had a seasoned team and director, with most of the cast carrying over from the first film. Prep was straightforward, and they were set to start shooting in early or mid-April. 

As for Daredevil… after a lot of back-and-forth between Christopher Nolan and Dunn Pictures’ production team, the budget was capped at $120 million. 

Nolan, stubborn as ever, insisted Daredevil wouldn’t lean on sponsorships the way Spider-Man 2 did—where half the budget came from product placement. He might be a rookie director, but he stuck to that classic British filmmaker trait: bullheaded conservatism. 

Even so, Daredevil’s sponsorships were kept in check. They didn’t hit the insane $80 million mark like Spider-Man’s, but still pulled in a solid $30 million. That meant Dunn Pictures was really only footing $90 million of the bill. 

That’s a huge perk of Marvel superhero flicks! 

Marvel’s world is grounded in reality—“Daredevil” and “Spider-Man” both live in New York, so it’s easy to slip in ads for stuff like Coca-Cola or Ford cars. It feels natural because those brands are everywhere in the city. 

DC’s Gotham, though? That’s a whole different beast with its own restrictive rules. 

As for who’d play Daredevil, Marvel Studios put together a flashy shortlist after tons of debate: Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix, Heath Ledger, Billy Crudup, Eion Bailey, Cillian Murphy, and Christian Bale. 

“Daredevil shouldn’t be too young,” Dunn said, sitting down with Christopher Nolan as the film’s lead producer. “Take Jake Gyllenhaal—he’s what, 20 this year?” 

Nolan looked a little uneasy. “Yeah… I don’t think he’s right either.” 

Nina Jacobson, another producer on the project, chimed in. “I’m the one who put his name on the list.” 

“Why?” Dunn asked, his tone calm. As president of Marvel Studios, Nina had a lot of sway over Daredevil. 

“Jake’s dad is director Stephen Gyllenhaal, his mom’s a big-shot producer, Naomi Foner, and his sister’s actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. Plus, Jamie Lee Curtis is his godmother, and Paul Newman’s tight with the family,” Nina explained with a helpless shrug. 

Nolan frowned. “But he can’t carry a role as heavy as Daredevil. His look and age just don’t fit.” 

Dunn waved a hand to cool things down, smiling. “Easy, Chris. The Gyllenhaal family’s got some pull—we don’t need to shut them down hard. Just show a little courtesy.” 

Nina nodded. “Exactly. I added him to the list to give him an audition slot—keeps the family happy. Whether he makes it or not, the movie comes first.” 

Nolan exhaled, starting to get the hang of Hollywood’s give-and-take. 

He glanced at the list again and spotted another young name—Heath Ledger! 

Everyone in Hollywood knew Heath was Dunn’s buddy. Just recently, Dunn had made a big show of visiting legend Marlon Brando, and paparazzi snaps showed Charlize Theron, Penélope Cruz, and Heath Ledger tagging along. 

Heath was only a year older than Jake, but his vibe didn’t match Daredevil’s tall, imposing presence either. His name being on the list? Clearly Nina trying to butter up Dunn, the big boss. 

Dunn saw right through it too. He pointed at “Heath Ledger” and shook his head. “He’s not right. Doesn’t even need an audition—just say it’s my call.” 

Nina smiled. “Got it. His acting’s amazing, but he’s still young—needs room to grow.” 

Nolan gave her a long look, piecing more of the puzzle together. 

Nina was Dunn’s handpicked hire, poached straight from Disney and given a top gig. They should’ve been tight. Yet here she was, still tiptoeing around to prove her loyalty. 

Nolan was close with Zack Snyder—they often swapped notes on filmmaking and Hollywood’s quirks. Once, Zack had hinted that he’d hooked Dunn up with Resident Evil’s star, Milla Jovovich, through his fiancée, Deborah Johnson. 

That had rocked Nolan’s world a bit. 

Zack, being American, got Hollywood in a way Nolan didn’t. If he was playing that game, there had to be something to it… 

After a quick huddle, the trio narrowed the list. Christian Bale, Billy Crudup, and Joaquin Phoenix got circled for serious auditions, with Cillian Murphy and Eion Bailey as backups. 

Dunn had high hopes for Daredevil—not just box office gold, but artistic cred too. Acting chops were key. 

Of the top three, Joaquin Phoenix had the best skills right now, and he was Nina’s pick. 

But Dunn knew Christian Bale had more potential and a bigger ceiling. 

Daredevil was a franchise in the making. At 26, Bale had plenty of room to grow, while Joaquin, same age, had already plateaued—no more big breakthroughs left in him. 

And here’s the kicker: Joaquin was American; Bale was British. 

Dunn wasn’t sucking up to Nolan, the British director. His lean toward Bale was pure business. 

Americans got paid more. Foreigners? They were the hired help! 

Take Nolan’s own films: in 2010’s Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio raked in $59 million between base pay and profit shares. But in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises—a bigger deal after two prior hits—Christian Bale, the best Batman ever, got just $10 million. 

That’s the gap between American and foreign actors. 

In Hollywood, the primo scripts went to American A-listers like Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, and George Clooney first. Whatever they passed on trickled down to the rest. 

Factoring in cost, market appeal, acting potential, and team harmony, Christian Bale was the slam-dunk choice for Daredevil! 

In his past life, Bale was Batman. In this one, he could absolutely nail Daredevil! 

“Christian Bale,” Dunn said, tapping the name on the list with a serious tone. “Chris, if he does well in auditions—even if he’s not quite as good as Joaquin—I’d make an exception. You know I’m building ties with the British film scene. I want to strengthen that.” 

Nolan nearly teared up. Dunn’s words were like a golden ticket! 

Or more like Dunn was personally paving the way for Nolan’s clout in the UK film world. 

No doubt, Christian Bale was a killer actor—he’d starred in a Spielberg movie at 13. But his Hollywood ride had been bumpy, never landing a lead in a big production after all these years. 

He’d been a top contender for Titanic’s Jack—made sense, since the character was British too. Yet James Cameron went with an American pretty boy, Leonardo, and it crushed him. 

Now, if Nolan could get Bale the Daredevil gig, it’d prove his chops in Hollywood. His rep and cred back in the UK would shoot through the roof. 

In showbiz, cash matters, but reputation’s king! 

Dunn was basically handing him a gift. 

Nolan knew he had to return the favor. After all this time soaking in Hollywood’s ways, he’d leveled up his understanding. 

Sometimes, sticking to your guns mattered less than playing the game. 

Favors meant opportunities! 

Hollywood was packed with the world’s top directors. Without a shot, guys like Zack Snyder—or even Nolan himself—were nothing. 

And that shot? It came from Dunn. 

Nolan let out a breath, his demeanor humble and respectful. “Alright, I’ll keep a close eye on him. What about the female lead? Who’s right for Elektra?” 

Nina shot him a surprised glance. The Brit had finally caught on? 

Just days ago, Nolan had dug in his heels over sponsorships, fighting against too much product placement—costing the investors big time. 

Now here he was, bending with the wind. 

The female lead? Nina didn’t even bother guessing. It’d come down to Dunn’s say-so. 

With all his girlfriends, when resources were tight, he always took care of his own first. That was Dunn Pictures’ MO. 

Look at their big-budget flicks the past two years—which female lead wasn’t one of Dunn’s women? 

Even Milla Jovovich had to clear that hurdle to snag Resident Evil.