280-282

Chapter 280: Hawking’s Speech 

On Sunday, Dunn and Alessandra Ambrosio showed up at Columbia University in Harlem.  

Dunn had spent two wild nights with a couple of Brazilian supermodels and was feeling refreshed. Adriana Lima, though, had to skip out—she was up early for her first Victoria’s Secret show and couldn’t join them.  

That day, the famous British physicist Stephen Hawking was set to give a popular science lecture in the auditorium of the General Studies School. It was a big deal. Ever since A Brief History of Time hit the shelves, Hawking had become the greatest physicist in the public’s eyes. Especially in a place like America, where the “American Dream” reigns supreme, his inspiring story made him a beloved figure.  

Dunn, now a big shot himself, was seated in the front row of the auditorium, surrounded by politicians and celebrities. Meanwhile, the actual physics scholars were stuck in the back. Right next to Dunn? None other than New York City’s mayor, Rudolph Giuliani!  

Ambrosio, sitting among all these VIPs, was so nervous she could barely breathe. She’d tagged along with Dunn to get some exposure and boost her name, but this scene? It was overwhelming. She felt out of place and was on the verge of tears, worried she’d embarrass herself any second.  

Dunn, on the other hand, was cool as a cucumber. He flashed a grin and said, “Mr. Mayor, thanks for all the help you gave us during the filming of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.”  

Facing this legendary mayor—who’d taken down the five major Italian mafia families in New York, cleaned up the city, and later saved the day during the 9/11 crisis—Dunn had nothing but respect.  

Rudolph Giuliani chuckled and quipped, “If you really want to thank me, how about filming every movie in New York from now on?”  

“Haha!” Dunn burst out laughing. “Mr. Mayor, that’s not exactly up to me. If I had the power, I’d move all of Hollywood to New York. Compared to L.A., this place is more international, more vibrant, and way better for getting Hollywood movies out to the world.”  

Hawking hadn’t arrived yet, and Giuliani seemed eager to chat more with Dunn. He had big political ambitions, and Hollywood was a force he couldn’t ignore. He wanted Dunn on his side. “If we could get more films like Spider-Man, I’d be proud as mayor. Speaking of which, you’re shooting a sequel soon, right?”  

Dunn smiled. “Yep, the sequel’s kicking off next spring. Filming’s definitely happening in New York.”  

“Great to hear. Last time with Spider-Man, the city didn’t do enough to support you—that’s on me. But this time, we won’t drop the ball.”  

“That means a lot. Thank you!”  

Giuliani gave Dunn a long, meaningful look and lowered his voice. “Marvel’s superheroes… a lot of them live in New York, don’t they? You’re not just sticking to Spider-Man, are you? Got other projects in mind?”  

Dunn couldn’t help but grin. This mayor—ex-tough-as-nails prosecutor—didn’t beat around the bush. “I’ve definitely got some ideas.”  

“Oh?” Giuliani’s eyes lit up. “Really? Care to share?”  

Dunn smirked. “What, Mr. Mayor’s a Marvel comics fan too?”  

Giuliani coughed lightly. “My son’s into comics. But if it’s a trade secret, no need to—”  

Dunn waved him off and leaned in. “Since you’re curious, it’s no big deal. Beyond Spider-Man, the next superhero series I’m planning is Daredevil.”  

“Daredevil?”  

“Yep. He’s a total champion of justice. A Columbia Law grad turned lawyer, fighting New York’s crime and corruption every day.”  

Giuliani sucked in a breath, his expression shifting slightly. Dunn’s words hit close to home. After college, Giuliani had been a lawyer and prosecutor himself. Using his Italian heritage, he’d gathered insider info and single-handedly taken down New York’s five big Italian mafia families—the Gambinos, Genoveses, Colombos, Luccheses, and Bonannos.  

“Dunn,” Giuliani said earnestly, “I’ll make you a promise. Even if I retire someday, I’ll still back you up to make sure Daredevil gets filmed in New York without a hitch.”  

Dunn smiled. “Mr. Mayor, that’s awesome. Thank you!”  

Soon, Hawking arrived. Seeing him slumped in his chair, completely still, tugged at everyone’s heartstrings.  

Dunn wasn’t really here for Hawking’s theories—he wasn’t an astronomy buff. He’d come to pay respects to a legend. Forget Hawking’s massive contributions to cosmology; just the fact that he’d fought ALS for decades with sheer willpower and kept going was enough to earn anyone’s admiration.  

The speech setup was a hassle—some signal issues delayed things, and the staff scrambled to fix the circuits. The host, a sharp senior from Columbia’s journalism school, jumped in to save the moment. She crouched next to Hawking and said, “Professor, I’m a huge Linkin Park fan, but my favorite, Kyle Christian, left the band last year, and I’m so bummed. What kind of cosmic impact could that have?”  

It was clearly a goofy question, and soft laughter rippled through the auditorium.  

Dunn thought it was hilarious too. American college kids—they’re fearless.  

Hawking couldn’t speak directly. He typed slowly with his fingers, letting a computer voice out his words:  

“I hope heartbroken girls like you will turn to theoretical physics. One day, we might prove the multiverse exists.  

“According to quantum physics, beyond our universe, there are countless others. In one of them, he’s still in the band.  

“And you might even like knowing that in another possible universe, you’re married to him, living happily together.”  

Those three short answers left the host stunned—Dunn could see her eyes sparkling from a distance. The auditorium erupted in thunderous applause!  

Even Mayor Giuliani clapped hard, visibly moved.  

Hawking—a man who’d been wheelchair-bound with ALS for decades—used such warm words to lift up a student. It was profound.  

Ambrosio clapped too, whispering to Dunn, “Mr. Hawking’s incredible!”  

Dunn nodded. “Yeah. He might not hit Nobel-level in his field, but in the public eye? He’s the one who brought astrophysics into everyone’s homes.”  

patreon belamy20 

Chapter 281: Backstage at the Victoria’s Secret Show 

A new week was kicking off, and four movies with solid box office potential were hitting theaters: Universal’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Paramount’s Rugrats in Paris, Sony’s The 6th Day, and Miramax’s Bounce. 

Bounce, a romance starring Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow, had a $35 million budget and was opening in 1,918 theaters. 

No way around it—the Christmas season was in full swing, and the big studios were throwing everything they had into the ring. Even with Harvey Weinstein’s clout, it was tough to snag a bigger opening for Bounce in such a crowded lineup. 

By comparison, Saw, which had been flying under the radar, had built unstoppable momentum after two weeks. With 2,674 theaters, it couldn’t match the scale of commercial giants like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charlie’s Angels, or The 6th Day, but among non-mainstream films, it was absolutely dominating. 

Dunn was confident that even with fewer screens than the big blockbusters, Saw could hold its own against any competitor at the box office! 

On November 13, Saw raked in $2.11 million. 

On November 14, it premiered successfully in its first overseas market, the UK, pushing its North American total past $15 million! 

No doubt about it—this winter, this low-budget B-movie was set to stage a fierce comeback! 

It felt like a revival of the golden age of B-movies from the ‘70s! 

On November 15, Dunn was back in New York. This time, it wasn’t a college campus but the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. 

And he wasn’t with a sultry stunner like Alessandra Ambrosio. Instead, he had Taylor Swift—a little girl as delicate as a porcelain doll—by his side. 

The kid was thrilled, chattering nonstop. But she was sharp—whenever Dunn spotted someone he knew, she’d quietly zip it. 

The Victoria’s Secret runway had made a name for itself in the fashion world. It might not have the prestige of New York or Paris Fashion Week, but with buzzwords like “lingerie” and “supermodels,” the show drew even more attention. 

Around the runway, Dunn recognized plenty of faces—Hollywood stars, a few Wall Street investors, and even some old guys in their sixties and seventies. Guess you’re never too old to feel young at heart. 

“Wanna check out backstage?” Dunn whispered to little Taylor. 

“Yes, yes!” She clapped her hands excitedly, then tugged at his sleeve, giving him a playful look. “You get to see the pretty ladies changing!” 

Dunn laughed, half-annoyed, half-amused. “Don’t talk nonsense!” 

As they got up to leave, a weak voice called out nearby, “Director Walker…” 

The voice sounded familiar. Dunn turned, his eyebrow shooting up. Approaching were Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow. 

They looked cozy—arms linked, fingers intertwined, like a couple in love. 

“Oh, Ben! Hey, Gwyneth, you look great today,” Dunn said with a polite, generic compliment. 

He didn’t have a shred of fondness for either of them. 

Gwyneth Paltrow was Harvey Weinstein’s go-to actress, and Ben Affleck? Ungrateful didn’t even cover it. 

“Thanks,” Gwyneth replied politely, keeping it low-key. She glanced at Taylor, hesitated, but didn’t say more. 

Ben Affleck, clearly uneasy, mumbled, “Director Walker, what a coincidence running into you here.” 

Dunn smiled, his tone free of sarcasm. “Yeah, I figured I wouldn’t see you until Pearl Harbor came out.” 

Ben squirmed, mortified. 

Dunn didn’t care. He was just a small-time actor—big deal if they fell out completely. With Ben’s habit of playing both sides between Dunn Films and Disney, he’d only flex in front of nobodies. In front of the real players, he’d just play nice. 

Gwyneth forced a smile. “Director, you’re a big deal. We’re just…” 

Dunn waved it off with a grin. “By the way, are you two… dating?” 

Ben jumped in eagerly. “No, no, it’s just for the studio—promo for Bounce, you know.” 

Dunn nodded. Using celebrity dating rumors was a tried-and-true publicity trick. 

“Alright, you guys do your thing. I’ve got stuff to handle.” He gave a casual nod, grabbed Taylor’s hand, and walked off. 

With Hollywood small fry like them, Dunn didn’t need to watch his step. Power at the top decided everything. 

To be blunt, even with his current beef with Disney and Miramax, if Dunn wanted to blacklist Ben Affleck, Disney couldn’t stop him. 

But why bother? He wasn’t about to waste energy on a nobody and risk looking like a petty bully. 

Taylor glanced back at Ben and Gwyneth, who were visibly relieved, then tugged at Dunn. “Dunn, they’re not a couple?” 

“Nope.” 

“But they looked so close! Didn’t you say girls should respect themselves and not just hang onto random guys?” 

Dunn rubbed his temple. “They’re actors. Uh… they’re acting.” 

Taylor frowned, puzzled. “But this isn’t a movie set?” 

Dunn sighed. “That woman’s not a good example. Don’t copy her.” 

“Oh.” Taylor nodded, half-getting it. “So girls shouldn’t just hold hands with any guy, right?” 

“Right,” Dunn said. “Only your dad or your future husband should get that close. That’s what makes a good girl. Look at Natalie—your big sister—when’s she ever gotten cozy with some random guy?” 

“Not even for filming?” 

“Nope! They can use stand-ins or camera tricks… Never mind, you’re too young to get it. Just remember what I said.” 

Taylor scrunched up her face, staring at her hand gripped tightly in Dunn’s. Her delicate features clouded with worry as she muttered, “What am I gonna do…” 

Backstage at Victoria’s Secret was locked down tight—no entry unless you were staff. 

But Dunn was an exception. He’d already cleared it with L Brands, the parent company, and had a special pass. 

The moment he showed up, a staffer greeted him—a soft-spoken guy who rubbed Dunn the wrong way. 

“What’s going on over there?” Dunn asked. 

“Oh, they’re shooting behind-the-scenes stuff,” the guy said with a laugh. “It’ll be edited into a video and air on TV in December.” 

Dunn’s face darkened. “Tell them not to film me!” 

“Huh?” 

“Didn’t hear me?” 

“Oh, uh, yes! I’ll go tell them!” 

Dunn wasn’t about to be polite. 

L Brands, Victoria’s Secret’s parent company, was worth less than $2 billion. When they heard Dunn was visiting backstage, the CEO himself had shown up, buttering him up and handing over the pass. 

L Brands relied on Victoria’s Secret for its fame, and Victoria’s Secret relied on supermodels—who, in the grand scheme, were just Hollywood’s “outer circle.” 

The gap in status was massive! 

As he strolled through backstage, Dunn spotted another familiar face—Leonardo DiCaprio! 

“Leo?” Dunn grinned, a stark contrast to his reaction to Ben earlier. “What are you doing just standing around?” 

Leo’s eyes lit up. Ignoring Dunn, he crouched down, winking playfully at Taylor. “Hey, little cutie, are you a Victoria’s Secret model too?” 

Taylor rolled her eyes dramatically and huffed. “No way I’d be a model! Dunn says models are dumb. I’m gonna be a singer!” 

“Ha! Big dreams!” Leo laughed, rubbing his nose awkwardly after her jab. Then he shot Dunn a wary look. “This is the changing room.” 

“Changing room?” Dunn’s pulse quickened, his eyes gleaming with excitement. 

He knew supermodels weren’t like low-tier wannabes—they wouldn’t change in plain sight. But he was Dunn! 

Which of those angels dreaming of Hollywood would turn him away? 

Leo, though, stood like a guard dog, blocking him. “Don’t move! I said, this is the changing room!” 

Dunn smirked, covering Taylor’s ears and lowering his voice. “Leo, quit pretending! Come on, let’s go check it out!” 

“Get lost!” Leo shoved him, growling through gritted teeth. “Dunn, Gisele’s in there changing!” 

“Oh?” Dunn froze, then burst out laughing. 

No wonder Leo was so on edge, playing bouncer—he was guarding his girlfriend, Gisele Bündchen! 

Dunn leaned down, whispered something to Taylor, then grinned at Leo. “Let her go in—shouldn’t be a problem, right?” 

Leo sighed and stepped aside. 

Dunn chuckled, his expression teasing. “Leo, this is the Victoria’s Secret changing room. The view in there… heh, way better than the strippers at your club!” 

Leo’s face turned green. “What’s the point if Gisele gets mad at me?” 

Dunn shrugged, smug as ever. “Too bad for you. Guess I’ll enjoy the scenery solo.” 

“I told you, Gisele’s in there!” Leo snapped, frowning. “Dunn, she’s my girlfriend. She’s not like the others—respect her!” 

Dunn clapped him on the shoulder. “Relax, man. I don’t mess with a friend’s girl. I’ve got principles.” 

“Hmm?” Leo eyed him suspiciously. 

Just then, the changing room door swung open, and Taylor poked her head out, sneaky and thrilled. “Dunn, come quick! There’s tons of angels changing in here!” 

Leo nearly choked. 

Where’d this kid learn that? 

Dunn cracked up. “Gisele Bündchen done changing?” 

“Yeah, hurry up!” 

Taylor waved him over, bouncing with energy. 

Dunn stifled a laugh. “Leo, I’m heading in. You good holding the fort?” 

“Hmph!” Leo grunted, his face a mix of misery and resignation. 

Chapter 287: The Gate Singer 

As the host of the celebration party, Dunn arrived at the venue half an hour earlier than the guests. 

When he reached the third floor, West Cotton approached with a middle-aged woman in tow. She looked to be in her forties or fifties, sharp and polished. "Dunn, this is Rebecca Maine, the head of the planning department at the Hilton Hotel. She’s the one fully in charge of this party’s arrangements." 

Dunn’s hands slid off the waists of the two beauties beside him as he grinned and extended a hand. "Hi, Ms. Maine. The red carpet outside? It’s fantastic." 

Rebecca Maine was used to dealing with big shots from all sorts of industries and wasn’t fazed by the playboy surrounded by women. She smiled modestly. "Mr. Walker, your approval is the highest compliment to my work." 

Dunn nodded, glancing toward the entrance of the third-floor auditorium. He pointed casually. "The reception… seems a bit understaffed, doesn’t it?" 

Rebecca Maine chuckled. "Mr. Walker, no need to worry about that. The party doesn’t start for a while, so our staff are still getting ready in the lounge over there." 

"Oh? Can you tell me more?" 

"We’ve got eight greeters who’ll check every guest’s identity… though, of course, if they’re famous enough, we’ll let them in by face alone—no awkward holdups. Plus, we’ll have guides, introductions, referrals, and food and drink services to make every guest feel right at home." 

Dunn paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Do you have a gate singer?" 

"Huh?" Rebecca Maine blinked, caught off guard. "What’s that?" 

"You know…" Dunn searched for the right words, "someone who stands at the door and loudly announces the guests’ names and gifts." 

Not just Rebecca Maine—even West Cotton and Reese Witherspoon, standing nearby, were stunned. 

What kind of job was that? 

They’d never heard of it! 

And honestly, wouldn’t that be kind of rude? 

When guests arrive, the host is supposed to show respect with proper etiquette, treating them with the utmost courtesy. 

Shouting their names at the door? That sounded… a bit too flashy, didn’t it? 

"Mr. Walker, uh… we’ve never done anything like that before," Rebecca Maine explained. She’d been in this business for over twenty years, and this was the wildest request she’d ever heard. "Plus, the gifts guests bring are usually personal and nicely wrapped. It wouldn’t really work to read them out loud." 

Dunn nodded. "Fair enough, skip the gift list then. Just announce their main title and name. Like with West—when you see him, you’d shout, ‘Vice President of Dunn Films, Mr. West Cotton, has arrived!’ It’s got a grand vibe without getting too personal. Perfect, right?" 

Rebecca Maine frowned slightly. "But… there’s no precedent for this." 

"Then let’s start one with me!" Dunn said calmly, his tone leaving no room for debate. "Think about it—Dunn Films will be throwing more victory parties in the future, and the Hilton Hotel could be our go-to partner. I’d love to see you guys step up for this." 

Rebecca Maine’s eyes widened. "You mean… you want this at all Dunn Films parties going forward?" 

"Exactly!" Dunn said firmly. 

West Cotton, Dunn’s assistant, knew his boss’s ambition and could follow his train of thought. Suddenly, it clicked. 

Dunn Films was still a small, new player in Hollywood! 

But this Saw celebration party? If all went well, it’d be a star-studded affair, packed with big names—not just because of Dunn, but because of Legendary Pictures’ clout too. 

No doubt about it, this was Dunn Films’ big chance to flex its muscles in front of all of Hollywood! 

If a B-movie released by a Dunn Films subsidiary could catch the eye of Hollywood’s heavyweights—with top dogs even showing up to support it—wouldn’t that quietly prove their strength? 

Dunn Films wasn’t big enough yet to act like fame and fortune didn’t matter. Earning recognition and praise from peers was a crucial step toward glory and dominance. 

This “gate singer” idea? It was like a megaphone, making sure everyone in Hollywood could see the situation loud and clear. 

Dunn Films had earned the respect of the industry’s big players! 

Dunn Films could hold its own against the six major studios! 

"Rebecca, we’ll let you know ahead of time if we need this role in the future. But for today, you’d better get it set up quick," West Cotton said, jumping in to smooth things over after catching Dunn’s drift. 

Rebecca Maine shot him a puzzled look. "Seriously? This…?" 

"Come on, Rebecca, let’s not waste time!" West Cotton added. "Find a couple of sharp, good-looking guys with great voices to handle it. Oh, and if the guest isn’t a big name, skip the announcement—just let them in quietly." 

… 

Zack Snyder showed up looking extra sharp today, rocking a red tie. He’d even brought his fiancée along to share his big moment, beaming like a groom on his wedding day. 

The party hadn’t even started, and he was already mingling with the crew, a glass of white wine in hand, clinking glasses left and right. 

When he spotted Dunn approaching—arm-in-arm with two stunning women—Zack hurried over, pulling his fiancée along, his face flushed with excitement. "Mr. Walker, you’re here!" 

Dunn clapped him on the shoulder with a grin. "Zack, I told you ages ago—you’ve got talent. You were bound to make it big!" 

"Thanks, Mr. Walker. Without you spotting me, I’d probably still be stuck directing little ads," Zack said, his voice thick with gratitude. It was a mark on his life he’d never forget. 

His old buddy Michael Bay had brushed him off, but this random young guy had given him a shot at directing a movie—a golden opportunity. 

"Zack, no need for that. We’re friends," Dunn said with a warm smile, his eyes drifting to the blonde woman beside Zack. She looked to be in her thirties. "And this is…?" 

Zack jumped in. "Oh, right, forgot to introduce her! Haha, this is Deborah—Deborah Johnson. She used to be my work partner, and now… well, she’s my life partner." 

"Your fiancée?" Dunn raised an eyebrow. 

He knew Zack Snyder had been through a divorce. In his past life, Zack’s career never really took off early on—he was stuck shooting commercial shorts, unable to show off his real talent. 

It wasn’t until 2004, after years of grinding, that he got a small film company to back him. He remade the classic horror flick Dawn of the Dead and knocked it out of the park. 

His standout use of color and that oil-painting vibe set him apart from Hollywood’s usual blockbuster directors, catching the eye of the big studios and landing him in Warner’s orbit. 

That career boost also sparked new life in his love story, leading to a wedding with his longtime collaborator, Deborah Johnson. 

In this life, thanks to Dunn’s intervention, Zack’s career took off sooner—and his romance sped up too. He was already engaged to Deborah. 

Deborah Johnson smiled happily. "Zack and I met four years ago. I hired him to shoot an ad for Reebok back then." 

"So Zack got divorced pretty quick after that?" Dunn teased. 

Deborah laughed, throwing a playful glance at Zack. "Oh, we didn’t see this coming back then. He was working on his marriage, and I was dating another director." 

Dunn chuckled. "Guess that’s fate for you. So… when do I get to call you Mrs. Snyder?" 

Deborah grinned. "Next September, after Resident Evil wraps up. That’s when we’re tying the knot." 

"Congrats!" 

"Thanks!" 

"Oh, by the way—are you a producer?" Dunn asked. 

Zack’s heart skipped a beat. That tone—it felt so familiar! 

It was the same way Dunn had recruited him back then! 

Now… 

Could it be…? 

Zack sucked in a breath, hardly daring to hope. 

This happiness was hitting way too fast! 

Deborah, meeting Dunn for the first time and unsure of his angle, answered honestly. "Yeah, I’ve been in the game since 1990, working in the ad department at BB New York. I’ve produced over thirty commercials." 

"That’s a ton of work!" Dunn said, impressed. He glanced at Zack with a grin. "So, Deborah… ever thought about switching lanes?" 

"Switching lanes?" She blinked. 

Dunn smiled. "Like Zack did!" 

Zack felt like he’d just been baptized—every pore in his body buzzing with excitement. He grabbed his fiancée’s hand. "Debbie, Mr. Walker’s asking you to join Dunn Films!" 

"What?!" 

Deborah’s face went pale for a second before flushing with excitement. She was speechless. 

Dunn made a calming gesture. "Easy, Deborah. Zack’s right. With your ten years as a producer, I’m sure you could handle a gig in Dunn Films’ production department. What do you say?" 

"Yes! Yes, I’d love to!" Deborah blurted out, practically tripping over her words. A shred of reason held her back. "But I’ve never worked on a movie—or even a TV show. Can I really do it?" 

Dunn laughed, pointing to his eyes. "I trust my gut! Zack was just an ad director too, right? And look at him now—Saw is the hottest topic in America. Deborah, I believe in you!" 

"I… I…" She was too choked up to speak. 

Jumping from the ad world to Hollywood? That was a massive leap—bigger than Zack’s, even, since his skills at least lined up with directing. 

A producer, though? That took not just talent but connections and people skills. 

To Hollywood, Deborah Johnson was a total newbie. 

In her eyes, this favor from Dunn was even bigger than the one he’d done for Zack! 

(Note: Deborah Johnson is her maiden name.fact-checkers can try Wikipedia or search for Deborah Snyder instead.)