259-261

Chapter 259: Dunn’s Fangirl

Though it was just a private dinner, Dunn and Michael Ovitz were the decision-makers for Legendary Pictures, and Barry Meyer, Warner Bros.’ CEO, was the perfect guy to handle the business side of things.

Their casual chat sealed the deal between the two companies.

Negotiations went off without a hitch.

Over the next two years, Legendary Pictures would invest $240 million in three phases, backing 40 Warner Bros. films with a 20% stake.

Warner would take a 10% distribution fee off the top of future profits, splitting the rest with Legendary based on their shares.

Legendary would hold 20% of the copyright and future earnings for those 40 films, plus oversight during production and some say in key roles—think producers, directors, and lead actors.

No need to keep the talks under wraps, so Dunn brought Penelope Cruz along, oozing that vibe of wielding power while lounging with a beauty.

Penelope was over the moon. Watching Dunn hold his own with Hollywood titans like Ovitz and Meyer, her starry eyes brimmed with admiration.

He was four years younger than her!

But Dunn was a miracle—you couldn’t help but forget his age around him.

Every time Penelope lay in his arms or melted beneath him, she felt like a fragile little thing, while he was this towering, rugged mountain!

For someone so young to build such a name and go toe-to-toe with Barry Meyer? It was mind-blowing.

Up close, she felt like she was back in her teenage crush days—heart racing, butterflies fluttering.

“If only I could be his girlfriend,” she mused, eyes misty. “Even if he had a thousand, ten thousand lovers out there, I’d be fine with it!” Then she sighed softly.

She could tell Dunn was only into her physically—no interest in anything deeper.

And she knew, compared to Natalie, she didn’t stand a chance.

The private dinner wrapped up quick.

Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. hashed out a prelim portfolio deal.

Once they ironed out the fine print and got the lawyers’ green light, it’d be official.

Wouldn’t take long—probably a press conference by early October.

Barry Meyer was in high spirits. Watching Dunn, all smug and whispering to Penelope, he suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right, Dunn—you mentioned two requests? First was roles for Ms. Cruz—I’m good with that. What’s the second?”

Dunn blinked, waved it off, and grinned. “Second one’s not really a request—just a heads-up for Warner.”

“Oh? What’s up?”

“So, when I snagged the Harry Potter rights, Warner helped out a bit. Dunn Films signed a priority deal—if we ever made Harry Potter, Warner got first dibs on investing.”

Barry Meyer caught on fast.

Back then, Dunn Films was small-time—weak funds, needing outside cash for a big commercial hit like Harry Potter.

Now? Different story. Dunn Capital was flush, and Dunn Films was riding high off Spider-Man’s monster haul!

He didn’t have exact numbers, but past trends suggested Spider-Man would net Dunn Films at least $500 million in the next year—box office, TV rights, VHS sales, you name it!

Dunn Films had grown up—money wasn’t an issue. With Harry Potter hotter than ever, Dunn didn’t want Warner in on the series anymore. He was going solo!

Barry wasn’t thrilled.

Sure, it was just a priority deal—legally, if Dunn Films didn’t take outside money, Warner couldn’t touch Harry Potter.

But Hollywood had its unwritten rules. Warner helped Dunn snag those rights—Dunn owed them a piece of the pie.

Basic etiquette!

Ovitz clocked Barry’s sour vibe and jumped in with a chuckle. “Far as I know, Dunn Films and Warner are already teaming up on The Chronicles of Narnia, right? Seems about the same to me. Dunn’s poured his heart into Harry Potter—even slipped ads into Spider-Man. That’s dedication!”

Barry got the hint—Dunn wasn’t messing around with Harry Potter. It was his baby.

“Priority deal’s a priority deal—stick to the contract, huh? Haha, Warner’s not like Disney, bullying folks. Besides… we’re partners now, right?”

“Exactly!”

Dunn laughed, feeling on top of the world.

The portfolio plan was a killer move!

It didn’t just dodge Disney’s ban—it hooked Warner as a shield and sorted out the Harry Potter mess.

Originally, Dunn figured he’d hand off Narnia to Warner after the first film hit big—smooth their ruffled feathers so he could keep Harry Potter to himself.

Narnia was a weird one.

In his past life, the first film crushed it, but the second tanked. Disney dumped the rights on Fox, and Fox’s third film flopped even harder.

Plain and simple—Narnia was a trap!

Dunn grabbed it to cash in on the first film, then planned to offload the sequels—profit big while screwing someone over.

Now, with Warner playing nice and Barry granting his two wishes, Dunn didn’t need to shaft them.

Maybe…

He could dump it on Disney, whose movie game was slipping?

Dunn’s eyes lit up—solid plan.

…

That night, Dunn headed home early.

Penelope pulled out all the stops—her softest touch, her wildest moves, giving him a night to remember. She even shyly handed him some lube, offering a new flavor for the taking.

Her body was unreal—high chest, wasp waist, perfect curves.

Sure, Dunn trashed Barbie’s look hard, but a figure like that? It drove men wild—way more than the “healthy, free” builds of a Kardashian or Beyoncé.

After the storm settled, Dunn held her sculpted frame, basking in the afterglow. “You’ve got some fame in Spain, but in Hollywood, you’re a newbie. Keep your head down, stay humble. Don’t think my backing means you can strut around all high and mighty—that’s a bad look.”

Penelope rested her pale chin on his chest, nodding fast. “I know—I’d never act like a diva.”

She had a sweet personality—Dunn knew that. He gave a soft “hmph.” “Warner’s greenlit two leads for you, but don’t get your hopes up. They’ll be eye-candy roles—nothing too meaty.”

“Huh?”

Penelope froze, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face.

Dunn pinched her nose with a grin. “Relax—you’re such a good girl, I won’t let you flounder. Do the two Warner gigs, get your face out there. When the time’s right, I’ll set you up with something big. Maybe even give you a taste of Oscar glory.”

“Oscar?” Penelope gasped, her face lighting up with uncontainable excitement. “Me… really?”

“If I say you can, you can!” Dunn’s tone was calm but brimming with confidence. “A nomination’s easy. Winning? That’s on your chops.”

“Oscar… Oscar…” she murmured, dazed.

“What? No faith in yourself?”

“No—I can do it! Dunn, just give me the shot, and I’ll make it happen!”

“Shots aren’t handed out—you grab them yourself, got it? This is Hollywood. No one’s crying over your sob story!”

“I get it.”

Penelope took a deep breath, sensing something in his words. Tentatively, she asked, “Dunn, have you been to Spain?”

Dunn raised an eyebrow. “Went to Madrid with Nat during Cannes—caught a Real Madrid game. Why?”

A dreamy look washed over Penelope’s face. “I’ve got some great girlfriends back in Spain—gorgeous actresses. If you’re up for it, I could introduce you…”

Dunn’s heart skipped. “That’s a wild leap!”

He knew what she meant—not about pushing her pals into Hollywood. One Penelope Cruz was plenty.

She bit her lip, fangirling hard. “To me, you’re like a god—you can have it all. I’m sure they’d love to meet someone like you.”

“A god?” Dunn laughed. “That’s over the top.”

“No, I mean it.” She was dead serious. “Dunn, if… I mean, if you wanted, I’d have your kid—illegitimate, whatever, I don’t care. There’s this British actress, Kate Beckinsale, raising a love child and doing fine.”

Dunn jolted, glaring at her. “Don’t talk crazy!”

“Okay.”

Penelope pouted.

Dunn frowned. “That’s a huge deal. I’d need to think it over—and I wouldn’t hide it from Nat.”

“What?”

Penelope gaped, speechless.

He’d tell Natalie about a kid like that? An illegitimate one?

Dunn and Natalie’s relationship was weird!

Chapter 260: Anne’s Arrival

Dunn is just a major shareholder of Legendary Pictures. Apart from strategic decisions, which he discusses with Michael Ovitz, the management and execution of Legendary Pictures are entirely in Ovitz’s hands.

At this point, the framework for a collaboration between Dunn Pictures and Warner Bros. has already been established, so Dunn doesn’t need to get involved anymore. He’s not even planning to show up for the signing ceremony.

His schedule is packed—he’s way too busy!

In the morning, he’s attending a project seminar for Pirate League. By noon, he’ll head to the airport and fly to Boston to continue filming A Beautiful Mind.

The world-building for Pirate League is mostly complete. There are still some details to iron out, but they won’t affect the script for Pirate League: Curse of the Black Pearl. According to the production team’s advice, pre-production for Curse of the Black Pearl can now begin. The pirate ship “Black Pearl” itself needs to be built, and the budget for it is a whopping $8 million!

The filming location for the sea scenes has also been pretty much decided: the coast near Rosarito, just north of Mexico City. There’s a studio there, originally built by James Cameron for Titanic. Now, he’s using it again for Never Sinking. In three months, once Never Sinking wraps up, Pirate League: Curse of the Black Pearl can take over.

Dunn Pictures’ production department is already very experienced, and with Bill Mechanic and Tim Burton overseeing the project, Dunn feels completely at ease. So, he’s boldly stepping back, even though this version of Curse of the Black Pearl differs quite a bit from the Pirates of the Caribbean he remembers from his past life.

After the seminar, Dunn called in his assistant, Isla Fisher, to check on the status of his new book, Gone Girl. The first draft is finished, and the feedback has been positive. Through some connections, Dunn found a few critics who offered suggestions for improvement. Isla will tweak some details and wording accordingly. If all goes well, the manuscript can be sent to the publisher by November and hit shelves for readers by February next year.

Maybe it’s in her genes, but Isla Fisher’s writing skills are genuinely impressive. When Dunn read the draft, he could feel the same thrilling, suspenseful, feminist vibe as the original. Right now, Dunn is cozying up to feminist groups, and once Gone Girl is published, it’s sure to win over those organizations even more. This is a powerful force in the modern era! If he could, Dunn would happily carry the “feminist” label for life—it’s politically correct and comes with the backing of a major alliance. It’s a win-win.

But when Isla Fisher stepped into his office, she didn’t immediately bring up Gone Girl. Instead, she hesitated before saying, “Dunn, there’s someone who wants to see you. She’s an actress.”

Dunn raised an eyebrow.

Tons of actresses want to meet him! His public email gets hundreds, sometimes thousands, of messages from “actresses” every day. Beyond the usual flattery and admiration, some even include scandalous, over-the-top photos. Even Isla, who manages his inbox and is a woman herself, blushes at how wild they can get. It’s opened her eyes to a whole new side of the entertainment industry. These actresses will stop at nothing to climb the ladder—some of their tactics are completely shameless. Photos like that are hard evidence, far riskier than just sleeping with Dunn.

“Is it important?” he asked.

Dunn’s policy is to turn down actresses who throw themselves at him. It’s too risky—who knows if it’s a setup? With his fame and increasingly sensitive position, he has to be cautious and make sure there’s no trap. Actresses introduced through legit agencies are safer, more reliable, and usually more famous.

Isla replied, “It’s Anne Hathaway!”

“Who?” Dunn blinked, caught off guard.

Isla misunderstood his reaction, thinking he wasn’t interested in a small-time actress. She quickly explained, “She’s set to star in Disney’s new movie The Princess Diaries. Back in April, when we were under investigation by the DOJ, she publicly criticized you.”

Dunn couldn’t help but chuckle. “What’s she doing here?”

He remembered Anne Hathaway’s little outburst, of course. But he wasn’t petty enough to hold a grudge against an actress who wasn’t exactly overflowing with emotional or intellectual depth—especially a pretty one.

“Sounds like she’s here to apologize,” Isla said, lowering her voice. “She’s got a good attitude. Seems like… it was an order from Disney execs.”

Dunn hesitated. Could this be a honey trap cooked up by Michael Eisner? Still, Anne Hathaway’s name stirred something in him. Young, gorgeous, a total knockout! “Fine, I won’t touch her. Let’s see what she’s got up her sleeve.” Unable to resist his curiosity, he waved a hand. “Tell her to come in.”

Soon, Isla led Anne Hathaway into Dunn’s office. As she left, Isla paused, then hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. Despite her boss’s confident words, she knew his personality too well—he might not stick to his guns.

Anne Hathaway was dressed in a white chiffon blouse tied with a blue belt that perfectly accentuated her slim, graceful waist. More striking was the black lingerie underneath, its bold, tempting outline clearly visible through the sheer fabric. She’d put effort into her look: her walk was poised, her hips swaying slightly, revealing a hint of sheer stockings that hugged her shapely calves. Paired with dazzling red heels, she exuded elegance and allure—like she was born to captivate. Isla had seen plenty of women like this as Dunn’s assistant, and their intentions were always crystal clear.

Inside the office, Dunn was indeed taking his time admiring Anne Hathaway’s beauty. Her large, expressive eyes were stunning yet not overly sultry. Her brows were refined but carried a hint of strength. Her nose was slightly prominent but well-proportioned, leading gracefully into her forehead. That forehead was full and striking—many actresses couldn’t compare, even with enhancements. Her lips were a standout: slightly thick, but not as bold as Angelina Jolie’s, with a touch of softness that let her shift effortlessly between sexy and innocent. It was a versatility that promised a wide range of roles.

Having worked on countless films and met plenty of actresses, Dunn had an eye for talent. Anne Hathaway’s face screamed high-class. Her features might not make her a textbook beauty, but on the big screen, they’d pop—stealing every scene. Compared to Kate Winslet or Natalie Portman, she’d draw more eyes. She was on par with Nicole Kidman, while Jessica Alba and Liv Tyler fell a tier below. Even if critics or fans in the U.S. and UK turned against her, that face would still win over big directors. With some acting chops, she could easily claim a top spot in Hollywood.

Dunn studied her closely, his gaze full of appreciation. But Anne? She was a nervous wreck. Though she’d been in the industry for a bit, this was her first time in a situation like this—especially with Dunn Walker, the guy she’d once trashed. His eyes roamed over her face and body with an intensity that felt almost predatory. Thinking about Disney’s warning, she was on the verge of tears. If she couldn’t get Dunn’s forgiveness, The Princess Diaries would drop her. Offending both Dunn Pictures and Disney would tank her career for good, no matter how talented she was.

Taking a few deep breaths, Anne tried to steady herself. “Others can do this—why can’t I?” she thought, gritting her teeth. “He’s not some old geezer. Just treat it like a normal date.” Still jittery, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, she made up her mind. If Dunn was checking her out, she wouldn’t hide. She moved her hands behind her back, squared her shoulders, and let him take in her figure, standing there boldly like an actress auditioning for an adult film.

Her face stayed calm, but her heart was racing—this was a whole new level of nerves. Dunn watched her, amused by her almost heroic resolve. “You seem scared of me,” he said with a laugh.

“Huh?” Anne flinched, her defenses crumbling as the tension snapped. Panicking, she turned to bolt from the room.

“Anne,” Dunn called, grinning, “am I that terrifying?”

She took a shaky breath and turned back, her face flushed. “M-Mr. Walker, I… I need to apologize.”

“Apologize?” Dunn waved it off casually, smiling. “It was just a joke. No need to take it seriously. You’re not Bruce Willis.”

“Bruce Willis?” Her mind raced, picturing his current downfall, and a chill ran through her. Dunn wasn’t exactly known for mercy. Was he hinting at something—suggesting she’d end up like Willis?

The more she thought, the more terrified she got, tears welling up. Finally, she threw caution to the wind. Like a defiant teenager, she kept her head down, silently rounded his desk, and dropped to her knees in front of him, her hands reaching for his belt.

Chapter 261: Submission, Only Natural

Even the worldly Dunn was startled for a moment, instinctively wanting to pull back.

But Anne Hathaway’s upper body was already draped across his lap, her arms wrapped around his waist. She lifted her stunning face, looking like she’d made up her mind about something big. “Director Walker, please forgive me. I… I’m willing to do anything for you!”

Honestly, Dunn was freaked out.

Did Anne Hathaway have a wire on her? Or maybe a hidden camera?

Dunn had been with plenty of actresses, but one this wild? This was a first.

Of course, there were crazier women out there, but they’d all been stopped before he ever had to deal with them.

Dunn was definitely interested in Anne Hathaway, no question. But with this sudden craziness, he had to stay calm and keep his head on straight!

There’d be plenty of time later—he couldn’t risk screwing himself over something small!

This over-the-top, irrational move from Anne Hathaway… could it really be Michael Eisner pulling the strings? A honey trap, maybe?

Britney Spears didn’t work out, so now they’re throwing Anne Hathaway at him?

Dunn’s mind was racing. He straightened up and said seriously, “Miss Hathaway, I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I’ve never held a grudge against you. And this approach? It’s way too much. This is Hollywood, not some nightclub—we don’t play these games.”

Anne Hathaway clearly didn’t buy it. She bit her lip and said, “Mr. Walker, I’m genuinely apologizing here. I… I was clueless before and messed up big time. I’m begging for your forgiveness.”

As she spoke, her trembling hands started fumbling with his belt.

Dunn quickly grabbed her hands, frowning. “I told you, what’s done is done. I never cared about whatever you said!”

“Really! Mr. Walker, I know I screwed up. Please, just give me a chance, okay?” Anne’s eyes were brimming with tears, her pitiful expression dialed up to eleven—her acting skills were on full display.

Luckily, Dunn had seen his share of top-tier actresses and wasn’t fazed. His tone turned stern. “Anne Hathaway, show some respect!”

“Huh?”

Anne froze, her face going pale. She stared into Dunn’s eyes, totally thrown off and unsure what to do.

Dunn had been battling Michael Eisner for so long that he’d built an unshakable air of authority. When his expression darkened, it made people tremble.

“Sir, I… I…” Anne stammered, and this time, real tears started falling. This wasn’t an act—she was genuinely rattled by Dunn.

Dunn sighed, patting her soft hand gently. “Hey, don’t cry. I didn’t mean anything by it. Let’s just talk. It’s our first time meeting—no need to go overboard like this.”

“But if I don’t get your forgiveness, I’ll get fired!” Anne’s voice cracked with sobs, her tear-streaked face and delicate features tugging at the heartstrings.

“Fired?” Dunn’s eyebrow twitched. He was starting to piece things together. “What’s going on? Explain it to me.”

“Some big shot at Disney told me to apologize to you. They said…” Anne paused, biting her lip and choking back tears, “they said I need to make nice with you and win your friendship.”

Dunn’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he gave a faint smile. “What, is my reputation that bad? Anne, we’ve just met, and you’re doing this… I’m honestly shocked.”

“I… I…” Anne’s face flushed red. This was her first time throwing herself at someone like this—she had zero experience.

Dunn waved it off. “Alright, let me say it again: I don’t have any personal beef with you. You can get up now.”

Anne was still sprawled across his lap, a mix of embarrassment on her face as she looked up at him. “Mr. Walker, you… you really don’t want me to stay with you?”

Dunn shook his head. “Nope! Like I said, it’s our first meeting. It wouldn’t be fair to you. I prefer things to be mutual, you know?”

“But…” Anne’s eyelids fluttered downward, her lashes trembling as she stole a quick glance below, hinting at her nerves.

Dunn followed her gaze and immediately felt his face heat up!

Turns out, with all the squirming, his body had reacted, pitching a little tent down there. No wonder Anne was so insistent—it was his own fault!

Dunn was mortified, coughing awkwardly. “Uh… that’s an accident! Plus, my schedule’s packed. I’m heading to Boston in an hour—no time.”

Whether Anne’s EQ was just that low or she’d lost her mind, she tilted her pale chin up, her pretty face full of surprise, blinking those big eyes. “An hour’s not enough?”

Dunn stared at her, speechless and a little annoyed. “No, it’s not!”

Then, without another word, he leaned down and scooped Anne Hathaway up into his arms.

By some unlucky twist, his hands ended up grabbing places they shouldn’t have, so when Anne stood up, her legs were shaky, barely holding her steady.

Whatever, they’d already been through worse awkwardness.

“How about this: leave me your contact info, and we’ll figure things out later. No rush,” Dunn said, his heart pounding. By now, he was pretty sure this wasn’t a setup. With a beauty like Anne Hathaway in front of him, how could he not be tempted?

“Okay!” Anne agreed instantly, no hesitation, nodding eagerly. “Mr. Walker, if… if you’re busy now, you can call me anytime later. As long as I’m not out of town, I’ll drop everything to come see you, no matter what you want.”

Dunn wasn’t a fan of her blunt, almost clueless honesty. Couldn’t she hint at things a little?

A bit of subtlety, some finesse—would that kill her?

This was supposed to be an under-the-table deal, and here she was making it sound all righteous. Anne Hathaway’s one-track mind was driving him nuts!

Dunn sighed helplessly, pulling an A4 sheet from his drawer and handing her a pen.

Anne wrote down her private number and name without a second thought. After a brief pause, she leaned over and pressed a grapefruit-red lipstick kiss onto the paper.

Dunn couldn’t help but linger on that elegant, classy lip print for a moment.

She really had top-star potential—those little seductive tricks were something else!

And that wasn’t all. Once Anne got past her initial nerves and struck a tentative “deal” with Dunn, she relaxed a lot more, starting to flaunt her feminine charm.

“Sir—you’re really not mad at me, right?” Her lips curved into a slight smile, her eyes sparkling with a flirty vibe.

Dunn chuckled. “What, does everyone out there think I’m that petty?”

“Kinda!”

Of course, that was just Anne’s inner thought—she didn’t say it out loud. Instead, she grinned. “No, no, I was just too nervous.”

With that, she hitched up her skirt, kicked up a leg, and plopped right onto the big desk in front of Dunn, making herself at home.

Here’s the kicker: her skirt only reached her knees to begin with, and with that lift and sit, the stunning view underneath was perfectly framed for Dunn’s eyes.

Dunn knew she was doing it on purpose, but that unladylike pose still made his pulse jump, a wave of heat rising in him. Good thing he was a pro at this—he didn’t flinch. He casually glanced down and said with a nod, “Nice panties. Very classy. What brand?”

“Gerbe, from France,” Anne replied, even flipping her skirt a bit to show off her taste.

Dunn grinned. “Can I have them? I like them a lot.”

“Huh?”

That threw Anne completely off guard. Her skirt was white, her underwear black—a sultry contrast of shadowy hints against the pristine fabric.

But if she took them off? Anyone could tell at a glance she’d be bare underneath.

More importantly, she’d been wearing them when she came to Dunn’s office.

In private, with a big shot like Dunn, Anne was willing to toss her dignity aside and do whatever. But in public? She had to keep up her pure, innocent image—couldn’t ruin that fantasy.

“Just kidding, teasing you!” Dunn burst out laughing, waving it off. “Alright, let’s talk about Disney. What did their execs say?”

Anne let out a quiet breath of relief. She didn’t dare act cocky around Dunn anymore. Sitting primly with her legs together, she said softly, “I don’t know the details. Someone just told me I’d said some dumb stuff before that hurt Disney’s rep. If I couldn’t get your forgiveness, the Princess Diaries crew would drop me.”

Dunn got it right away.

“Wrong statements”? Bullshit!

Anne Hathaway was just a gift Disney was tossing his way—a tool. Same as Britney Spears at the Spider-Man party, brought in by Michael Eisner.

Only difference? Britney was too ditzy to catch Eisner’s drift.

Anne, being in the movie biz, clearly understood the game.

Dunn smiled. “No big deal. Tell you what, I’ll call Eisner right now and tell him I see a lot of potential in you. He should invest in you.”

“Mr. Eisner?” Anne’s eyes flickered with confusion.

Truth be told, at her level, she had no clue who that was.

Dunn picked up the phone, dialing as he shook his head with a laugh. “Michael Eisner—Disney’s chairman!”

“What?!”

Anne gasped.

To her, a Disney production manager was already some untouchable higher-up. But Dunn could just casually call the top dog at Disney? That was insane!

“Hey, Mr. Eisner, it’s Dunn. Haha, how you doing? … Yeah, so Disney’s got this new movie, The Princess Diaries, with Anne Hathaway as the lead… Yep, her. She’s in my office right now. I think she’s got a lot of promise… Cool, that’s it then.”

The call took less than two minutes. Dunn handled Michael Eisner like it was nothing.

“There you go, all set. You’re good now!”

Anne’s eyes sparkled with awe. She finally grasped the massive gap between them and just how much clout Dunn had in Hollywood.

As a woman, wasn’t it only natural to submit to a man like that?

“Ahhhhhh!”

She let out a string of excited squeals, propped her hands on the desk, and launched herself into Dunn’s arms, shouting, “Mr. Walker, I freaking love you!”