295-297

Chapter 295: Pillow Talk 

After a night filled with excitement, wonder, and endless aftertaste, Nicole Kidman packed up and left the hillside estate early in the morning. 

Rose Byrne, perhaps worn out from last night or simply enjoying the soft warmth of Dunn’s big bed, was still fast asleep. 

Dunn didn’t leave her alone in the house. Instead, he went to his study, opened his computer, and started working on a new movie script. 

He’d already announced to the media that next year, under Dunn Pictures, he’d establish a studio dedicated to feminist films. He planned to personally produce and write the first project, with Natalie Portman starring in the lead role. 

Given the current landscape, this studio shouldn’t be too large-scale, and the independently funded films… well, they’d likely stick to smaller productions. 

Feminist movies weren’t exactly rare over the past two decades, but most of them had bombed at the box office. 

In 2000, when the feminist wave hadn’t fully taken off, Dunn wasn’t about to go against the tide and pour huge sums into it. The idea of turning something like the Star Wars franchise into a feminist narrative, as happened in later years, was unthinkable right now. 

Dunn was diligently outlining the script’s framework. The finer details? He could leave those to the writing team. 

Rose Byrne padded over barefoot, wearing a navy-blue, semi-sheer leper nightgown that swayed as she walked. 

She’d clearly just woken up—her hair was still tousled and a little messy. But those stray strands around her ears only added a touch of charm. Especially since she wasn’t wearing anything under the nightgown; from a distance, you could clearly see the enticing sway beneath it. 

Dunn grinned and waved her over. “Awake?” 

“Just woke up. Last night totally wiped me out,” Rose said with a playful pout, tossing him a coy glance. 

To a guy, that’s the ultimate compliment. Dunn’s mood lifted, and he teased, “Satisfied?” 

“Beyond satisfied. I’ve never felt anything like it. When I woke up this morning, it was like I was still floating,” Rose said dreamily as she sauntered over and plopped into his lap. Lowering her voice, she murmured, “Dunn, you really are the best.” 

Dunn pulled her close with a tight hug, laughing heartily before letting out a sigh. “Such a shame, though. Nicole wouldn’t stay no matter what I said. Last night… man, it was incredible.” 

Thinking back to the wild scene from the night before, Rose’s cheeks flushed, but she cooed sweetly, “I liked it too…” 

“Yeah, we’ll have to find a chance to trick Nicole into coming back sometime!” Dunn said with a mischievous grin, unable to resist planting a kiss on her shy, alluring face. 

Rose blinked, giggling. “You’re so bad!” 

“Men aren’t loved unless they’re a little bad!” 

“Twisted logic,” she teased, then hesitated as something occurred to her. “Dunn, if… if you really liked the vibe with Nicole and me together, I’ve got an idea.” 

“Oh?” 

“I know this friend—a young actress. She’s only 17, maybe 18? She’s done just one TV show, but she’s already kind of a big deal in Australia.” 

Dunn chuckled, caught off guard. 

He got it. Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman had brought Rose to Hollywood and nudged her into his orbit, probably hoping she’d pave the way for more Aussie actors to break into the U.S. 

It was her duty, in a way. 

But Dunn hadn’t expected her to pull the “pillow talk” card so soon. 

Rose’s chest heaved with nerves. “She looks a lot like Nicole Kidman, so she blew up overnight. Back in Australia’s entertainment scene, they call her ‘Little Nicole.’” 

Dunn raised an eyebrow. “‘Little Nicole’? That’s intriguing… What’s her name?” 

“Abbie. Abbie Cornish.” 

“Oh, her…” Dunn muttered under his breath, a flicker of recognition crossing his mind. 

Rose’s expression shifted curiously. “You know her?” 

“Huh? How would I know her?” Dunn laughed it off. “You two close?” 

“We’re okay. Met a few times, get along pretty well,” Rose said, catching the spark of interest in Dunn’s face. Her heart raced. 

Dunn nodded. “Nicole’s gone, and the house feels a bit empty. Since she’s your friend, invite her over. She can hang out, go shopping with you. If there’s a good role for her, we can hook her up.” 

“Whoa!”  

Rose hadn’t expected her first attempt at pillow talk to go this smoothly. She squealed in delight, throwing her arms around Dunn’s neck and snuggling into him. 

Her first day at the hillside estate, and she’d already scored a win! 

Even if Abbie Cornish showed up and Dunn wasn’t into her type, at least she’d be in Hollywood, living at the estate. Dunn would have to toss her some perks, right? 

That kind of success would let Rose hold her head high among the big-shot Aussies back home, proving her worth. 

As for whether this approach was too awkward or beneath her dignity? Rose didn’t care one bit. 

Even Wall Street’s early fortunes came with some original sin—Hollywood was no different. 

For Australia’s entertainment circle right now, breaking into Hollywood was the top priority. 

Everything else? Secondary. 

And as a woman, what was wrong with sticking with Dunn? Last night alone, Rose had felt a fulfillment and satisfaction she’d never known before. 

“Alright, stop squirming. I’ve got work to do. Keep it up, and I’ll have to deal with you right here!” Dunn gave her firm backside a playful smack, laughing. 

“Work?” Rose’s eyes flicked to the laptop. She quickly turned away, then asked hesitantly, “Can I take a look?” 

“Of course!” Dunn smiled, shifting her so she could lean against him. “It’s a movie script. Hmm… there’s a supporting role you could try out for.” 

“Really?” 

Rose’s voice lit up with excitement. She dove into the script—it was just an outline, a story about an unmarried teen girl getting pregnant, pushing against mainstream values. 

It clicked fast. “‘Juno’… this is that feminist movie you mentioned?” 

Dunn nodded. “Yep, that’s the one. Nat’s playing Juno. You could take on her best friend, Leah. It’s not a huge part, but it’s got some standout moments. Don’t let the small budget fool you—this role’s way more memorable than that handmaiden in Star Wars: Episode II.” 

Rose beamed. “Sweet! Another chance to work with Natalie!” 

She didn’t actually care about working with Natalie Portman. What mattered was that Dunn was writing Juno. 

A movie he was personally involved in—how could it not make waves? 

Even a B-movie like Saw had caused a stir in North America, hadn’t it? 

Rose skimmed the outline quickly. Though unfinished, she grasped the main thread—simple, rebellious, youthful. 

One character caught her eye: “Vanessa.” 

Vanessa was a married woman, childless after years, who decides to adopt Juno’s baby. Even when her husband bails for weak reasons, she sticks to her guns. 

Like Juno, Vanessa carried a strong feminist vibe—a role with real depth. 

But age-wise, Rose didn’t fit. She was better suited for high schoolers. 

“Dunn, what do you think… could Cate play Vanessa?” 

“Cate? Cate Blanchett?” 

“Yeah, her!” 

Dunn laughed, half-amused, half-exasperated. “Rose, that’s not how pillow talk works! I know Cate’s done a lot for you, getting you into Hollywood, but Juno’s a low-budget flick. Vanessa’s a supporting role. With Cate’s status now, does that even make sense?” 

“Why not? It’s your movie,” Rose said, tilting her head confidently. To her, anything Dunn touched was top-tier. 

Dunn smirked. “I’d love for Cate to take it, but I can’t promise what the production team would offer. Probably no more than $100,000.” 

“What?” Rose’s face fell. “Aren’t you the boss?” 

“I’m the boss, but I can’t just ignore market rules,” Dunn said, standing slightly and scooping her up by the waist. “I’ve got the cash to spare, but if I mess up the pay scale and piss off the industry, I’ll be the one paying for it. Get it?” 

“Oh!” 

Rose’s cheeks flushed, her eyes dropping shyly. “W-why’d you pick me up?” 

Dunn huffed. “To teach you a lesson—pillow talk’s not a free-for-all!” 

Her eyes sparkled with a mix of nerves and allure. “Just me? I’m scared…” 

“Ha, let’s see how tough I can be!” 

Chapter 296: Short Selling, Starting Now 

Under the collective efforts of James Cameron and the crew, The Unsinkable finally wrapped up production just before Christmas. To ensure the movie’s post-production went smoothly, special effects work had already kicked off back in September, handled entirely by Cameron’s company, Digital Domain. 

Mel Gibson flew back to Australia to spend Christmas with his wife and kids, but he’d soon have to head back to New York to reshoot some scenes for Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Luckily, this kind of packed schedule was nothing new for Mel. He was used to it, just like the tireless Jack Chen—vacations weren’t really a thing for them. 

Dunn got an invite from Shirley Hershler to spend Christmas in New York with Natalie’s family. The holiday vibe was huge across the U.S.—Christmas trees and Santa decorations were everywhere—but Dunn didn’t really feel it. To him, Christmas was just another day. So, heading to New York for the holidays was more of an excuse. The real goal? To take stock of Dunn Capital’s revenue for the year. 

And this year, Dunn had spent… a lot. 

Dunn Capital started with $42.5 billion, but in just over eight months, Dunn had poured $15.2 billion into various investments! Real estate took the biggest chunk—$4.5 billion for Dunn Pictures’ headquarters, a mountainside estate, townhouses, and luxury high-rise apartments. Then there was $4.2 billion sunk into tech companies like Apple, PayPal, and Netflix. In the film industry, Dunn Capital grabbed stakes in Legendary Pictures and Pixar for $2.9 billion. The toy sector—Hasbro and GA shares—cost $900 million. And luxury investments, like private jets, yachts, and cars, added up to $2.6 billion. 

This massive pile of cash came from Dunn’s hard-earned gains in the futures market—where he’d nearly landed himself in jail—all to buy Universal Pictures. That acquisition was a game-changer for his Hollywood ambitions. Spending $15.2 billion in eight months? That’s wild! 

Of course, with the dot-com bubble bursting, Dunn had a clear read on the stock market’s direction, and the profit potential was huge. At his direction, Scott Swift kept shorting stocks, targeting two big ones: Yahoo and Cisco. But the results weren’t as great as he’d hoped. 

Forget the idea of a “free market.” With the tech stock crisis threatening a broader economic meltdown, the Justice Department’s financial regulators had been keeping a close eye on the stock, futures, and bond markets for the past six months—especially Nasdaq. That meant Dunn Capital couldn’t short Yahoo and Cisco as aggressively as they had earlier in the year. The scale was limited. The Justice Department even paid Scott Swift a personal visit for a little one-on-one chat. They didn’t outright ban large-scale shorting of specific stocks, but their subtle hints made the federal government’s stance clear: keep things stable. 

A hardcore financier like Soros might scoff at such meddling—calling it unconstitutional interference in a free market—but Dunn couldn’t afford that attitude. He had a guilty conscience. Soros played the game with capital maneuvers; Dunn relied on foresight. Without solid theory to back him up, he’d struggle to explain himself if investigated. Better to lay low and play it safe. 

So, over the past six months, Dunn Capital’s profits were way below what he’d expected—just $4.3 billion after capital gains tax. That wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy him. With Nasdaq bleeding $10 billion a week, Dunn had scratched and clawed for half a year to make $4.3 billion. What was that, pocket change? 

After this year’s dividends, Dunn Capital’s cash on hand was down to $31.5 billion—far short of what he needed. He had big plans for industries like music, gaming, publishing, and TV networks, all part of his entertainment ecosystem. Those needed serious cash to get off the ground. Even with his foresight, the truly massive money-making opportunities were drying up. 

Play the oil market and cash in on war profits? Yeah, right. The top families and financial giants had spent a fortune lobbying Congress to start a world-shaking war. Dunn wasn’t about to sneak in and quietly rake in billions without lifting a finger—that’d be a death wish. Sure, his foresight was real, but it was all knowledge and mental sharpness. Physically? He was just a guy. A bullet would end him like anyone else. War profits were off the table. 

That left one big chance staring him in the face: the 9/11 attacks. Of course, that required careful prep work. If Dunn dared to massively short Nasdaq and the NYSE right before September 11, then sit back and cash in when the towers fell… well, even without proof he was tied to al-Qaeda, the FBI would find a way to pin a laundry list of charges on him. 

So, timing was everything. He couldn’t wait for that exact moment. The best move? Start shorting now. 

“Scott, pull the funds together. Next year, we’re going big!” 

Fortune favors the bold, and Dunn had to take the risk. 

Scott Swift saw the dead-serious look on Dunn’s face and flipped on the signal jammer in his office. That’s when he knew this was heavy. “Alright, I’m ready. Lay it out.” 

“Starting tomorrow, January 1st, we’re kicking off a new shorting plan.” 

“Huh?” Scott blinked, caught off guard. “But the Justice Department… they’ve already put limits in place. We can’t go big on Yahoo like we did earlier this year.” 

Dunn smirked faintly. “Exactly. This time, we’re switching it up. Back at the start of the year, we went for quality—Yahoo, Microsoft, Dell, a few key stocks—and made a killing. Now, we’re going for quantity.” 

“Quantity? You mean… spread it out?” Scott frowned, shaking his head. “That’s tough. Nasdaq’s under the Justice Department’s microscope. If we cross their threshold, they’ll notice.” 

Dunn chuckled. “Yeah, Nasdaq’s a tight space right now. Bush just took office, and he’s dead-set on saving it from the crash. They’re watching it like hawks.” 

A month ago, the U.S. wrapped up its election, and George W. Bush became the 43rd president. New guy, new priorities—and Dunn wasn’t about to poke the bear right now. 

Scott studied Dunn’s calm, confident vibe and knew he’d already worked it all out in his head. Scott couldn’t figure this kid out. Still, after that big win earlier this year, he trusted Dunn completely. Mulling over his words, Scott’s eyes widened with a mix of shock and realization. “Dunn, you mean… the NYSE?” 

Dunn burst out laughing, his voice ringing clear. “Scott, looks like we’re on the same wavelength now.” 

Scott wasn’t laughing. Cold sweat trickled down his back. “Dunn—boss—what are you thinking? The crash is in Nasdaq, not the NYSE!” 

“The NYSE hasn’t felt any ripple from Nasdaq?” 

“A little, sure, but nothing major. Especially with the new administration, investors are feeling good. The NYSE’s trending up lately.” 

“Trending up? Now that’s interesting.” Dunn smiled faintly, muttering to himself. 

Scott wasn’t in the mood for games. He was worried. Back at Merrill Lynch, he’d dealt with Nasdaq, not the NYSE. Point is, Dunn Capital didn’t know squat about the NYSE. Diving in as outsiders, throwing big money at widespread shorting—it was suicide. 

“Dunn, this is nuts. There’s no precedent for it!” 

“Scott, I get your concerns. You don’t need to worry.” Dunn waved it off, then stood and walked to the window, gazing out at bustling Manhattan. “This is New York. This is Wall Street. To me, this place is more of a dream factory than Hollywood.” 

Scott’s face darkened. He had no clue what Dunn was rambling about. 

Dunn turned back with a grin. “Scott, trust me one more time. Let’s do it.” 

Scott went quiet for a long stretch. He even lit a rare cigarette, smoking half of it before finally asking, “What’s the plan?” 

“Starting January 1st, we short stocks across both the NYSE and Nasdaq—big range. You can hire sharper talent to pick the stocks. We’ve got over $30 billion on the books, right? Outside of essential operating costs, throw the rest in!” Dunn’s tone was bold. He had the chops to back it up. 

Scott sucked in a sharp breath. “This… this could tank hard!” 

Dunn grinned. “Didn’t I say you could bring in pros or consult with securities firms?” 

Scott gave a bitter laugh. “If pros were all it took, the rich list wouldn’t be full of entrepreneurs.” 

“There’s a stop-loss, isn’t there?” 

“That just means we lose less.” 

Dunn stayed cool as ever. “Oh? Tell me this: if we start shorting in early January and cash out in early June, how much could we lose if it goes south?” 

“Five or six hundred million would be light. Seven or eight hundred million wouldn’t surprise me.” Scott sighed. “Dunn, that’s not chump change. If this is about sticking it to the Justice Department, it’s not worth it.” 

“Stick it to the Justice Department? Ha, Scott, I’m not that bored!” Dunn laughed, shaking his head, then said calmly, “I can handle a loss under a billion.” 

“What?” 

Scott froze, staring at Dunn like he’d seen a ghost in broad daylight. 

Boss, what the hell are you up to? A billion dollars—couldn’t you just coast for a few lifetimes with that? 

Then Dunn added casually, “We move in January, cash out in June, and then in July, we go for another round!” 

Chapter 297: A Move as Fierce as a Tiger 

“Another round of action? What kind of action?” 

Scott Swift felt his head spinning. It was the same dizzying sensation he’d had earlier this year when Dunn, in a sudden burst of inspiration, decided to dump Yahoo stocks at their peak and go all-in on shorting them. 

Scott considered himself pretty sharp. He’d grown up on a small-town farm, worked his way into Brown University, landed a job at Merrill Lynch on Wall Street, married a beautiful and kind woman, and had a cute, mischievous daughter, little Taylor. Not a bad life. 

But standing next to Dunn, he couldn’t help feeling like his decades of experience were painfully shallow. 

Dunn had this aura about him—impossible to read, impossible to pin down. 

Lose a billion dollars and not even blink? 

Dunn grinned. “The second wave, of course!” 

Scott finally caught on, his jaw dropping. “You mean… come July, we’re doing another massive short on both exchanges?” 

“Exactly!” 

Dunn’s smile was cryptic, almost smug. 

This move should throw the feds and the Justice Department off the scent, right? 

The big event wasn’t supposed to hit until September, but Dunn had started laying the groundwork back in January. For the first half of the year, he’d be staring down huge losses. 

A classic underdog story—start low, rise high. Inspiring stuff! 

Who knows, maybe this play would end up in investment textbooks as a model case. 

Dunn was confident. Sure, shorting now might mean bleeding money in the short term, but once the “9/11 incident” hit, the Nasdaq and NYSE would tank hard—more than enough to cover the early losses. 

And then some. Big time. 

With the cash Dunn had now, this move could rake in even more than the haul from earlier this year! 

Of course, if the feds still sniffed him out, he had a backup plan. 

A month after 9/11, with public outrage boiling, President Bush Jr., under massive pressure, would skip the UN Security Council and launch a war under the banner of “homeland invasion, self-defense retaliation.” 

Dunn had serious clout. If he stepped up then, said a few kind words for the president, and eased the White House’s burden, he’d earn some goodwill. 

Compared to the political wins for the president and the old-money families, or the profits for the capitalists, Dunn’s stock market gains were peanuts. Mutual help, mutual understanding, joining hands to cash in—that was the real game. 

But Scott Swift? He clearly had no clue about any of this. 

He just stared at Dunn, dumbfounded, unable to get a word out. 

Dunn burst out laughing, walked over, and clapped him hard on the shoulder. “Alright, Scott, don’t overthink it. Just follow my lead. Oh, and I brought Andrea and little Taylor along. You can head home now—Merry Christmas!” 

… 

Dunn had met big shots from all walks of life. He’d even bet he could chat with the president without breaking a sweat. 

But Natalie Portman’s dad? That guy stressed him out. 

A strict, traditional, no-nonsense Jewish patriarch! 

Dunn had not only gotten cozy with Natalie way too early but also had rumors swirling about him and a bunch of other actresses. Even with Natalie and her mom, Shelley Hershlag, trying to cover it up, the old man had to have heard something. 

Dinner was torture—long, dry prayers, weird-tasting food, and stiff, serious small talk. Dunn would’ve rather strap on some rocket boots and slug it out with a sea dragon than sit through that. 

It wasn’t until they finished and he escaped to Natalie’s room that he finally let out a huge sigh of relief. Life suddenly felt brighter. 

Natalie, watching him unwind, doubled over laughing, tears in her eyes. “That’s what you get for your bad reputation!” 

Dunn grimaced. “I could’ve handled a couple whacks from the old guy. But that stone-cold face the whole time? It was suffocating.” 

“Pfft!” Natalie couldn’t hold it in, then pouted. “Old guy? That’s my dad!” 

“Yeah, your dad. And someday… my dad too. How am I supposed to survive this?” Dunn groaned, flopping onto her pink bed with a dramatic sigh. 

“He’s not your dad!” Americans didn’t roll that way, but Dunn’s words still warmed Natalie’s heart. Still, seeing him sprawl out so rudely, she huffed, “Dunn, that’s my bed!” 

“Huh? Oh, right!” He blinked, feigning surprise. “Wait, isn’t that why I’m lying on it? Because it’s yours?” 

Natalie was speechless. Dunn’s overly familiar vibe clashed hard with American etiquette, but… given their relationship, it wasn’t a big deal. No harm done. 

“But… what if my dad sees?” She scrambled for an excuse. 

Dunn laughed. “No way. He wouldn’t just barge in without knocking, right?” 

Before he finished, the bedroom door swung open! 

Dunn’s face went pale, cold sweat breaking out. What the hell?! 

Natalie turned white too, jumping up in a panic. But when she looked back, it was just her mom, Shelley Hershlag. 

“Mom, you scared me to death!” 

“Shelley, you scared me to death!” 

Natalie and Dunn blurted it out in unison. 

Shelley stood there with a tray of fruit and some pastries, chuckling at the scene. “What now? My hands were full—I couldn’t knock.” 

She was American, not stuck in the rigid, conservative ways of her Jewish husband. 

Meeting Dunn had flipped her life upside down—in a good way. In L.A., she now lived in a $3 million mansion, enjoying the high life. 

Natalie sighed, plopping down next to Dunn and pouting. “Mom, Dad’s too much. He acts like Dunn’s his sworn enemy.” 

Shelley smiled. “You know how your dad is. But you two aren’t exactly innocent, are you?” 

“I…” Natalie’s face reddened. She’d given herself to Dunn ages ago—everyone knew it. 

Dunn waved it off, owning up. “It’s fine. I’ll take the punishment!” 

“But it’s Christmas…” Natalie whined, clearly unhappy. They bickered plenty in private, but in front of others, she always had his back. 

Shelley shook her head with a soft sigh. “Dunn, you’ve got to understand—Nat’s dad is Israeli. You’re lucky this is America. If you were spending Christmas in Israel… Here, have some fruit and pastries. I know dinner wasn’t great. I’ve been there—I get it.” 

“Oh?” Natalie’s eyes lit up like she’d struck gold. “Mom, did you go through this with Dad too?” 

Shelley dodged the question with a wave. “Someday, you and Dunn should visit your great-aunt in Israel for Christmas. Then you’ll see how good you’ve got it here.” 

Dunn grinned. “It’s the 21st century. Israel’s younger crowd is getting more open-minded.” 

“Mm.” Shelley gave him a long look, hesitating before saying softly, “Dunn, you… can’t stay the night.” 

Dunn nodded. “I know.” 

After Shelley left, Natalie scrunched her nose and huffed. “Happy now?” 

“Happy about what?” Dunn looked helpless. “I’m getting kicked out—how’s that happy?” 

Natalie gritted her teeth. “Don’t play dumb. You think I don’t know? Those two Brazilian models you’ve got stashed in New York?” 

“Oh, that…” Dunn rubbed his nose awkwardly. “They just got to the U.S., haven’t found their footing yet, no place to crash. So I helped out a little.” 

“So you bought them a $40 million penthouse in the middle of Manhattan?” Natalie’s tone was sour and snappy. “You’re so generous!” 

Dunn, feeling guilty, pulled her into a hug, brushing it off. “They’re just models—something to mess around with. Come on, let’s drop the boring stuff and talk business.” 

“What business?” 

“Movies, obviously!” 

That hooked Natalie’s attention. “Juno? You finished the script?” 

“Pretty much. The writing team’s tweaking the details. Should be ready to shoot around Oscar season.” Dunn exhaled, thankful he had movies as a trump card. 

Natalie blinked. “You directing?” 

“No way. A Beautiful Mind still needs post-production.” Dunn shot that down. “It’s a feminist film—I think a woman director would be best.” 

Natalie’s face lit up even more. “Yes, great idea! Ooh… and the crew should mostly be women too. Fits the vibe.” 

“Good call. How about this—you take on a producer credit and pick the team?” 

“What? Is that okay?” Natalie flushed, thrilled but nervous. 

“Why not? It’s our movie—we call the shots!” Dunn wrapped her in a doting hug, kissing her hair. 

Natalie melted, charmed by his sneaky sweet talk. “Got a name for the company yet? The feminist film studio?” 

“What do you think?” 

“How about Rose Pictures?” 

“Uh… sounds good.” Dunn’s expression turned odd. 

Natalie raised an eyebrow. “What’s with that face?” 

“Well…”  

Dunn hesitated, struggling to spit it out.