304-306

Chapter 304: Not-So-Serious Audition  

Dunn and Deborah Johnson walked into the presidential suite, chatting and laughing.  

The room was huge, but there was no sign of Milla Jovovich. Deborah had no choice but to settle Dunn on the sofa first. She wandered through a few rooms, calling out loudly, “Milla, where are you?”  

Soon enough, a stunning woman wrapped in a big white bath towel came rushing out, her wet hair dripping. She looked a little flustered. “I’m still doing my makeup! When’s Mr. Walker getting here?”  

Deborah couldn’t help but find it both funny and exasperating. Milla Jovovich was something else—hadn’t even met Dunn yet, and she’d already showered and gotten herself ready.  

“Take a look,” Deborah said, nodding toward the sofa with a smirk.  

Milla followed her gaze and froze.  

If it wasn’t Dunn, who else could it be?  

“Mr. W-Walker?”  

Milla’s heart skipped a beat, pounding wildly. She instinctively clutched the towel to her chest, then realized that looked awkward and quickly relaxed her grip.  

Dunn watched her calmly, his tone steady. “You’re Milla, right?”  

His eyes sized her up carefully. Her full, glossy lips shimmered with a touch of lipstick, sultry and charming. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of autumn allure, framed by dark red eyeshadow that paired perfectly with her grayish-green irises, giving her a foxy, enchanting vibe.  

Her figure was jaw-dropping—curves in all the right places, downright irresistible. Wet, wavy brown hair cascaded over her snow-white shoulders, and the tight towel barely contained her, showing off long, flawless legs that made her look absolutely perfect.  

Milla felt completely thrown off.  

She hadn’t expected Dunn to show up so soon. She wasn’t ready—makeup half-done, fresh out of the shower, and not even dressed in a cute outfit yet.  

Standing there in just a bath towel was beyond awkward.  

It felt like he could see right through her.  

Deborah gave her a little shove. “He’s talking to you!”  

“Oh!” Milla snapped out of it, shaking off her jumbled thoughts. She pulled herself together, stepped about ten feet in front of Dunn, and gave a polite bow. “Mr. Walker, I’m Milla Jovovich. I’m 25 years old. I’ve worked as a model, released an album, and starred in big commercial films like The Fifth Element.”  

Dunn leaned back, studying the gorgeous woman in front of him with a neutral expression. He pointed at her towel. “What’s with that?”  

Milla’s face turned beet red. She was so mortified she wanted to disappear into the floor.  

Deborah nearly burst out laughing.  

This Dunn—he was such a tease!  

The girl had just showered and was still in a towel. What did he think was going on? Asking that was just putting her on the spot!  

“I-I haven’t had time to—” Milla bit her lip, her voice barely a whisper.  

Dunn raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t Deborah tell you? I’m here to audition the lead for Resident Evil.”  

“She did, but—”  

Milla hesitated. How could she say it out loud? Especially with someone else in the room.  

It was honestly a mess.  

Ever since her divorce from Luc Besson, Milla had been on the hunt for a new big break—ideally with a famous director or a promising up-and-comer.  

When she got into the casting for Resident Evil, it felt like her chance had arrived!  

The director, Zack Snyder, was only 35—young and talented by Hollywood standards. His work on Saw had revived the B-horror market, and he was clearly going places.  

Even better, she’d actually passed the audition!  

Zack Snyder had personally called her, saying she was the perfect pick for the lead in Resident Evil.  

Everything seemed to be falling into place.  

Just like when she’d landed The Fifth Element years ago.  

But then came the bad news: Zack Snyder was engaged!  

If it was just an engagement, Milla wouldn’t have cared. Even if he was married, she was confident she could win him over during months of filming—close quarters, a little charm, and she’d break through his defenses.  

A woman chasing a man? Piece of cake.  

Especially for a tall, stunning beauty like Milla Jovovich.  

But then she found out Zack’s fiancée was Deborah Johnson, the executive producer of Resident Evil. That was a dead end—no way to wiggle in there!  

Still, good news came soon after.  

Deborah told her to head to the Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood, to the top-floor Presidential Suite No. 2, for the final round of auditions for the lead role.  

The location alone said everything!  

Milla had asked casually, “Who’s going to be there?”  

When she heard “Dunn Walker,” it all clicked. Her doubts vanished.  

Dunn Walker’s reputation was legendary in the industry.  

A top-tier suite in one of Hollywood’s best five-star hotels? It fit his status perfectly.  

Deborah hadn’t spelled it out, but Milla—having clawed her way through the modeling, music, and TV worlds since she was a kid—knew exactly what was up.  

She didn’t resist, didn’t get mad, didn’t even hesitate. She had to go!  

Luc Besson was old news, Zack Snyder was taken, and now a bigger fish had surfaced—the one and only Dunn Walker!  

As a former model, Milla knew how crucial it was to capitalize on her youth. She was only 25, with plenty of prime years ahead. She couldn’t let this slip away!  

But she never imagined meeting him like this, in such an awkward setup.  

And Dunn seemed way more serious than she’d expected.  

Deborah shot Dunn an amused glance and cleared her throat. “Dunn, why don’t we just get to the audition?”  

That “audition” clearly came with air quotes.  

Milla was standing there in a towel—probably nothing underneath. With a scene this tempting, what guy could say no?  

Let’s skip the formalities and get to it!  

Dunn nodded. “Sure, sounds good. Let’s see what she’s got!”  

Deborah let out a quiet breath, ready to make an excuse and leave the suite to Dunn and Milla. Living room, study—whatever they wanted to do, it was theirs!  

But then Dunn got all serious. “The lead in Resident Evil has a lot of requirements. Beyond the obvious—angelic face, killer body—she needs solid action skills. That’s make-or-break for this movie. We’ve got just over two weeks before shooting starts, and learning a bunch of fight moves in that time? It’s tight.”  

Milla jumped in. “I can do it! I’ve done tons of action films. I’ve trained in taekwondo for seven years—I’ve got the basics down!”  

Dunn’s expression softened, and he nodded approvingly. “Alright, then show me a few moves. Make it smooth—punches and kicks working together!”  

Deborah’s eyes widened as she stared at Dunn, totally thrown.  

Boss, you’re not for real, are you?  

Didn’t we hash this out in the elevator?  

She was baffled, wondering if she’d been too subtle earlier and Dunn hadn’t caught her drift. If that was the case, this could get messy!  

It’d be a total joke!  

But…  

Dunn was sharp. There’s no way he hadn’t figured out what this “audition” was really about!  

Milla was thinking the same thing. She snuck a skeptical glance at Dunn and saw him sitting there, steady as a rock, no hint of nerves—just pure business, dead serious.  

She looked down at her towel, and her face flushed again.  

This was way too embarrassing!  

Punching was fine, but kicking? She was in a towel, fresh from the shower, still in her post-bath “natural state” underneath.  

But seeing Dunn’s firm gaze, Milla gritted her teeth. She had to go for it. Opportunities like this didn’t come easy—pride was worth nothing!  

Taking a deep breath, she started throwing punches.  

Her moves were fluid—she definitely had some skill.  

Dunn, though, wasn’t impressed. He frowned. “Put some effort into it! That’s not punching—where’s the power?”  

Milla wanted to cry. She knew her moves were weak and sloppy, but if she really went for it, the towel might slip!  

Deborah was floored, her head spinning. What was Dunn up to?  

He looked so serious—not joking at all.  

Was he actually here to audition the lead?  

No way, right?  

“Wait—hold on!”  

Deborah narrowed her eyes, watching Dunn closely. Then she caught it: his eyes would flicker slightly, and the corner of his mouth would twitch up just a bit.  

What was that about?  

She zeroed in, glancing between the two of them.  

When Milla threw a high kick, sharp and fierce, Deborah spotted it again—Dunn’s weird little expression, almost like he was enjoying a private joke.  

Deborah froze, then it hit her. She nearly burst out laughing!  

This guy—Dunn was such a riot!  

From her angle on the side, she could see Milla’s upper body wobble a bit, but the towel kept things covered. Below, those long, pale legs were on display, but nothing too revealing.  

Dunn, though, was right in front of Milla. His view was a whole different story.  

Every time she kicked high, that short, tight towel couldn’t hide a thing!  

This Dunn—he was playing a game!  

No wonder he kept pushing for more kicks. He was totally up to something!  

Chapter 305: Playing the Part  

“hmnn, yeah, that side kick is spot on!” Dunn’s pupils shrank slightly, and his throat felt a little dry. He casually asked Deborah Johnson for a glass of water.  

Deborah Johnson couldn’t help but laugh and sigh at the same time. This Dunn guy—he was really into it, wasn’t he?  

He was clearly parched and flushed from watching, so why not just get to the point already?  

This whole act was getting a bit awkward.  

Deborah poured him a glass of water and handed it over, only to notice his eyes never once left Milla Jovovich, who was dancing in front of him. He gulped it down in a few big swallows. “Another one—make it cold this time!”  

Deborah was on the verge of losing it. This big-shot boss might’ve achieved incredible things in business, but at the end of the day, he was just a young guy—full of energy and leaving her both amused and exasperated.  

“That kick’s no good! Do it again—higher this time. That’s it, it’s gotta look graceful! Stunning! Impactful!”  

Hearing Dunn’s critique, Deborah instinctively glanced back, curious to see what kind of move Milla had pulled off to earn that kind of praise.  

But one look, and Deborah’s face turned red all the way to her ears. As a woman, she could barely handle it and quickly averted her eyes.  

This was ridiculous!  

“Doesn’t Milla realize her moves are totally feeding into some guy’s voyeuristic fantasies?” Deborah frowned and stole a glance at Milla, only to be shocked. The initial shyness and nerves on Milla’s face were gone, replaced by a careful, almost eager-to-please expression.  

And those eyes—they seemed to see right through everything.  

Deborah blinked, momentarily stunned, before it clicked.  

So, Milla had figured out what was really going on too? She was playing along with Dunn, putting on this weird “audition” charade?  

“These two are something else,” Deborah muttered, almost ready to cry. She suddenly felt like an idiot. Here they were, clearly enjoying some quirky little game, while she was stuck playing the servant, fetching water for the “master.”  

“I’ve gotta get out of here!”  

The thought hit her hard. She grabbed a chilled beer from the fridge and plunked it down on the small table next to Dunn. “Alright, Dunn, you guys keep ‘auditioning.’ I’m heading out—I’ll wait for you downstairs.”  

“Huh? Oh, sure.”  

Dunn didn’t even glance her way.  

Deborah sighed helplessly and got up to leave. The air in the room felt like a volcano about to erupt, buzzing with barely contained excitement.  

At the door, she hesitated, then looked back one last time—and her eyes went wide.  

Milla was doing a perfect splits on the floor, and the bath towel she’d been wearing finally gave up, slipping off completely.  

Deborah let out a breath. Well, the last shred of modesty was gone—time to get straight to it, right?  

But no—Milla stood up calmly, ignoring the towel on the floor, and stood there confidently in front of Dunn. “Director, I’ve got a few more moves. Want to see them?”  

“Yeah, sure, why not?”  

Dunn’s voice was deep and steady, sounding all authoritative.  

But to Deborah’s ears, it was absurd—like something out of a wild comedy.  

“Oh my God, this boss knows how to have fun!”  

“Zack, you done with the storyboards yet? Ugh, I’m down in the hotel lobby. The boss? Where else—he’s up in the room. Yeah, auditioning. Ha, it’s been almost two hours. I’m bored out of my mind. How should I know what they’re up to? Maybe our big boss has some serious stamina!”  

Deborah, bored out of her skull, was lounging in the lobby’s rest area, chatting with Zack Snyder on the phone. Then, finally, Dunn appeared in her line of sight.  

“Alright, Dunn’s here—gotta go!”  

She hung up quickly and rushed over with a smile.  

Up close, she noticed something different about Dunn. The usual exhaustion and tension he carried from work were gone. He looked relaxed, confident—practically glowing.  

“Youth really is something,” Deborah murmured to herself, lost in thought.  

“What’d you say?” Dunn was in a great mood, feeling like every pore in his body was breathing freely. He glanced at Deborah with an even more approving look.  

Nice setup!  

“Oh, uh, nothing!” Deborah snapped back to reality, scrambling for something to say. “Audition’s done?”  

“Yeah, all wrapped up.”  

“And she’s good?”  

“She’s fine.”  

Dunn’s robotic reply felt off, so he added, “Let her play the lead in Resident Evil. It’s gonna be a series—this is her shot.”  

Deborah grinned, her tone teasing with a double meaning. “Sounds like Milla nailed the audition.”  

Dunn spotted a few paparazzi snapping photos in the distance. Couldn’t avoid it—this was a hot Hollywood hotel. He kept his expression neutral. “Yeah, her flexibility—I mean, her move flexibility—is great. With the right choreographer, we could design some gorgeous fight scenes.”  

Deborah bit back a laugh. Her peripheral vision caught the paparazzi too, and her face shifted. “Someone’s taking pictures!”  

“Just a few paps, no big deal.”  

Dunn waved it off casually.  

“But Milla’s still upstairs—”  

Deborah was still new to the entertainment game, not quite used to its rhythm.  

Dunn chuckled. “So what? I’m here to cast a role. What’s wrong with that?”  

His blatant nonsense made Deborah pause.  

Did he think people were that dumb? Squatting here for hours, and he thought he could brush it off that easily?  

Dunn didn’t care. This was Hollywood—no pics, no video, no proof, no problem! He waved a hand. “Alright, go help Milla tidy up. I’m heading out.”  

“Wait!” Deborah stopped him, hesitating before continuing. “Uh, Dunn, Zack and I are still pretty new to this industry. Especially me—I used to know nothing about movies or casting. If it’s possible, for future films, could we trouble you to handle the casting?”  

Dunn raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.  

Worried he’d misunderstand, she quickly added, “The lead actress and key supporting roles are so crucial to a film. It’d be best if you oversaw it personally.”  

“Like today?”  

“Exactly, like today.”  

Dunn let out a long sigh. “Fine, I’ll take on the extra work. Since we’re friends, even if I’m swamped, I’ll make time to help out. Deal—it’s settled!”  

Deborah’s face twisted into an odd, strained smile. “Right, right, the capable ones do more! Zack and I are counting on you to help us grow our careers.”  

Dunn nodded. “That’s what friends are for—beyond regular work, it’s all about helping each other out.”  

“Totally, Dunn, you’re so right!”  

Chapter 306: Iron-Willed Passion! 

After a new administration takes office, they often start with a bang—especially when it’s a handover between two different political parties. 

When George W. Bush came into power, he finally signed off on a major national policy: tax cuts!   

Due to their party’s principles, Republicans have always championed the cowboy mentality of “work hard, earn more; work less, get less.” They believe the wealthy are the backbone of economic growth in society. Taxing the rich heavily and redistributing wealth to the poor might sound democratic and noble, but in reality, it damages the nation’s economy. 

Europe’s economy has been sliding downhill precisely because of this “equal wealth” communist mindset. Sure, it’s made life cushy for the lower classes, but it’s seriously held back overall economic progress. 

Asia, on the other hand, has risen fast—not just because it’s dodged sky-high inheritance and wealth taxes, but because it’s shifted the tax burden onto farmers and the working class. Through this kind of tax policy, wealth gets funneled into the hands of a small, savvy group of conglomerates who then drive the nation’s economic growth. 

Of course, this has sparked huge controversy internationally and earned a pretty bad rap. 

But in Asia—especially across the strait with that big powerhouse—the economic rise is unstoppable. 

With a tougher Republican government now in charge, they’re bound to roll out some bold, confrontational policies. 

And they didn’t hold back—starting with a massive overhaul of healthcare, social welfare, and a whopping $1.3 trillion in tax cuts planned for this term! 

For the wealthy, the federal personal income tax dropped by one percentage point to 38—not a huge leap, but noticeable. 

The real game-changer, though, was the slew of tax breaks for companies—especially Hollywood film studios. These companies already enjoyed perks for boosting related industries, and now the Bush administration doubled down. 

U.S. companies investing in cultural assets like movies and TV could snag up to a 7% tax reduction! 

Under the old tax rules, Hollywood filmmaking counted as an investment industry. With long funding cycles, profits were only taxed at a 15% capital gains rate—way lower than the 35% federal corporate tax most businesses faced, not even counting state taxes. 

With these new tax cuts, the movie industry suddenly became a magnet for capital like never before! 

A nation’s tax policy can make or break an industry. 

Hollywood boomed in the first decade of the new century, outpacing the world by miles. Beyond advances in special effects and the rise of co-financing models, the government’s tax cuts were a massive boost. 

Later, when Hollywood faltered, it wasn’t just the subprime crisis—it was also tied to a change in administration and the Republicans losing power. 

The moment the tax cut bill was signed, Hollywood felt the shockwaves! 

Dunn got the news right away, and Michael Ovitz called for an urgent meeting! 

Lower movie tax rates meant a huge jump in profit margins for film investments. That kind of bright future was sure to catch Wall Street’s eye in no time. 

As the bridge between Wall Street and Hollywood, Legendary Pictures became the hottest spotlight! 

“The co-financing industry is about to explode!”   

When Dunn arrived, Michael Ovitz grabbed him and got straight to the point, barely hiding his excitement. 

Dunn glanced around Ovitz’s bare-bones office and sighed inwardly. 

Just yesterday, he’d visited Apple. Steve Jobs was pushing a product to rival Sony’s—called the “P”—as part of a company pivot. It needed board approval, and Dunn was all in for it. 

What caught his attention more was Jobs’ office: fresh, natural, elegantly laid out with huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Sunlight streamed in, and sitting there felt like a breath of fresh air. 

By comparison, Hollywood offices were too gritty, too basic, too uninspired. 

“Whatever happens, once the Dunn Tower’s built, my office is going to be jaw-droppingly gorgeous!” Dunn mused, his thoughts drifting. 

Ovitz slapped the couch in frustration. “Dunn, are you even listening? With this tax cut, Wall Street’s going to go nuts for our co-financing deals!” 

Dunn chuckled and made a calming gesture. “The feds are also trying to soften the blow of a bubble crisis with these cuts. Hollywood’s not the only winner here—Silicon Valley’s tech sector is the real jackpot.” 

Ovitz frowned. “I know you’ve got stakes in Silicon Valley, but this is Hollywood, Dunn! Don’t forget—you’re the founder and majority shareholder of Legendary Pictures!” 

Dunn grinned. “Relax, co-financing has limitless potential. It’s going to dominate Hollywood’s funding channels in the future. For now, we just need to pick the right partners.” 

Ovitz nodded, lowering his voice. “Dunn, I’ll be straight—our company’s already gotten 37 partnership offers, with over $800 million on the table!” 

“What? That much?”   

Dunn dropped his cool demeanor, genuinely shocked. 

The tax cuts were signed yesterday, and today Legendary Pictures was drowning in Wall Street offers? 

Capitalists sure have a nose for money! 

Ovitz continued, “Yeah, but it’s almost too much. Anything over $500 million will shift to corporate financing models.” 

“Not debt loans? That’s a good thing!” 

“I’m worried, though,” Ovitz said, shaking his head. “If we sign off on this financing, it’ll dilute our shares big time. I’m afraid—” 

Dunn got it. If their shares got watered down, Wall Street could grab more voting power and potentially push Ovitz out! 

Dunn mulled it over. “Are we overthinking this? This is Hollywood. Wall Street might have clout, but here, they’d have to play by our rules.” 

Ovitz shook his head. “Short-term, sure—they’d lean on our connections. But don’t forget, we’ve already got five Wall Street execs in high-level roles here. They’re sharp. Give them time to build their own networks in Hollywood, and Wall Street might prop up their own people to take full control of Legendary.” 

“That’s a real problem!”   

Dunn thought back to his past life’s co-financing market. The turf was Hollywood, but the players and managers were all Wall Street talent. 

It was like Hollywood had carved out a colony and leased it to Wall Street! 

In this life, thanks to Dunn, the co-financing model kicked off early—and now it was riding the wave of the new government’s tax cuts. 

With this perfect storm, Legendary Pictures was the epicenter of Wall Street and Hollywood’s attention! 

It was clear: Legendary, with its rosy future, was about to become a battleground. 

If Hollywood won, they’d control co-financing. If Wall Street won—like in Dunn’s past life—the model would fall into their hands. 

This $500 million financing deal? It was a trap! 

“What’s their valuation of Legendary?”   

“It varies, but for $500 million, they want over 50% of the equity.” 

Dunn’s face darkened. No wonder Ovitz was on edge—Wall Street’s capitalists were playing dirty! 

Counting the first round of funding, this deal would dilute Dunn and Ovitz’s shares to just 30%. 

“Hmph, no matter what, Legendary Pictures is a Hollywood company, and it’s staying in our hands!” Dunn’s tone was steely, unwavering. 

Ovitz, a lifelong entertainment guy tied to Hollywood’s fate, nodded in agreement. “But that means we’ll turn away a lot of investors.” 

Dunn thought for a moment. “Who’s behind this $500 million?” 

“Morgan Stanley’s investment bank, plus eleven private equity funds,” Ovitz said, pausing. “Their letters are oddly similar—like they’ve coordinated.” 

Dunn sneered. “They want to play dirty with me? I’d rather take a hit myself than let them win!” 

“A hit?” Ovitz blinked. 

Dunn waved a hand, his face serious. “Michael, this isn’t just about Legendary—it’s about Hollywood’s future. We’re here to make money, sure, but we can’t ditch the art. We can’t let Wall Street’s capital call the shots.” 

In his past life, once capital took over co-financing, Hollywood studios churned out profit-driven blockbusters—endless sequels and IP-driven films. Riskier, original projects got no funding. 

Creative teams fled to TV, sparking a golden age of iconic American dramas. 

That wasn’t a good trend. If movies were just about profit, what happened to the “seventh art”? 

Ovitz took a deep breath, his brow furrowed. 

It was a tough call for anyone. 

Take the financing, and they risked getting sidelined later. Reject it, and they’d stunt Legendary’s growth—plus, this was $500 million, including $300 million in priority debt! 

That’s real money—who could say no? 

Well, Dunn could. 

“Let the capitalists fight it out on Wall Street. If they want to mess with Hollywood, they won’t even get a chance to nibble!” Dunn’s voice was firm, his stance unshakable. “Michael, we’re not budging on this!” 

“You mean—” 

“Get someone to negotiate with those eleven funds! They want to invest in Legendary? Fine—but they sign a share contract with equity only, no voting rights! I’ll say it again: Legendary stays in our control!” 

Dunn’s hand sliced through the air, his voice booming like thunder.