244-246

Chapter 244: The Final Stronghold

On a private plane, Natalie was half-lying, half-leaning against Dunn, whispering in his ear, “I feel like… you’ve been holding back lately.”

“Holding back? What do you mean?”

“Women.”

Dunn couldn’t help but chuckle, coughing lightly before lowering his voice. “Well… truth is, in the crew, Nicole and I have been living together the whole time.”

“She’s an old flame—doesn’t count,” Natalie said, rolling her eyes. She grinned mischievously. “I’ve been watching. The A Beautiful Mind set’s got plenty of pretty girls. Knowing you, back in the day, two weeks of filming would’ve meant a trail of broken hearts.”

“Come on, it’s not that bad!” Dunn shot her a look.

Every film crew has its share of gorgeous girls, especially a movie like A Beautiful Mind with its college campus setting. But most are extras or hopefuls on the fringes. The only actress with real name recognition? Nicole Kidman.

Hollywood’s full of temptresses, and even with Dunn’s stamina, he couldn’t possibly… date them all. He had to pick and choose the best.

Especially with some of the lower-tier actresses—those on the outskirts desperate to climb the ladder—they’d pull out all the stops, no holds barred, consequences be damned.

Sleep with the wrong one, and the fallout could outweigh the fun.

By comparison, the bigger the star, the safer the bet.

“You know I’m in a big fight with Disney right now,” Dunn said, shaking his head. “I’m trying not to give them any dirt to use against me. For all I know, some of those pretty girls on set could be Disney plants.” It wasn’t paranoia—it was a real possibility.

Natalie smirked, teasing him. “Here I thought you were some untouchable wild card. Turns out you do get scared!”

Dunn huffed. “I’m bold, not stupid!”

Natalie covered her mouth, giggling uncontrollably.

Just then, Dunn’s phone buzzed. He glanced down—Reese Witherspoon.

“Reese, what’s up?”

“Well, there’s something… Uh, you know how a bunch of my Stanford alumni are into startups, especially in Silicon Valley?” Reese sounded a little sheepish. Lately, six or seven of her old classmates had leaned on her to connect them with Dunn. Most were tech companies floundering in the dot-com crash, hoping for a lifeline from his cash.

Dunn’s money didn’t grow on trees. He only threw it at Wall Street or Silicon Valley because he had foresight—an edge.

For companies he’d never even heard of? Stanford cred or not, it didn’t matter.

“Reese,” he said coolly, “next time, just stall them if you can. The tech crash is a tidal wave—I’m no insider with the power to turn it around.”

“I get that, but they’re so earnest. And… one’s a much older alum—I couldn’t brush him off easily,” Reese said, a bit awkwardly.

“Alright, fine. What’s the company?” Dunn had already turned down a slew of funding pleas—what’s one more?

“It’s an online video rental thing…”

“No need to ramble!” Dunn cut her off. Plane calls were spotty anyway, so he kept it sharp. “Just give me the name.”

“Netflix.”

“What?”

“Netflix!”

Dunn sat up straight, pulling away from Natalie, his face lighting up with excitement. “You mean… the Netflix that does online video rentals?”

“Yep. Wait—you’ve heard of them?”

Dunn nearly burst out laughing.

Heard of them?

They were a thunderclap in his ears!

Right now, Dunn was practically taking on Hollywood single-handedly. With his “sunglasses system” and prophetic edge, he’d gathered some serious mojo.

Even so, surviving Hollywood was a grind. Disney alone had nearly wiped him out.

But Netflix? In the real world, they’d gone toe-to-toe with all of Hollywood—and won!

As the internet rose, Hollywood’s old-school ways were slowly drowning. Movies and TV weren’t their exclusive turf anymore.

Streaming flipped the game upside down. Giants like 20th Century Fox and Time Warner faced pressure from streamers, forced to sell off chunks of themselves.

And leading that charge? Netflix!

Netflix wouldn’t fully dive into streaming for another decade.

Hollywood had seen the internet’s threat coming, though. Back in 2007, Fox, Disney, Universal, and others launched Hulu, a streaming site with unbeatable library muscle thanks to their backing.

But when Netflix stepped up, years of perfecting online rentals, payments, and streaming gave them a massive edge. Their user base and know-how catapulted them forward.

Even with Hollywood tying their hands on licensing, Netflix pivoted fast—original shows. That move sent them soaring, especially with House of Cards, a hit that echoed worldwide and pushed their valuation to $70 billion!

Add up every other streaming company’s worth—they still didn’t touch Netflix.

Later, they got gutsy, making movies. Hollywood kept them in check, and the Motion Picture Association audits were a hassle.

Did Netflix care? Nope. Their films skipped theaters, going straight to subscribers online.

That gamble paid off big—their value shot past $120 billion!

Compare that: Time Warner sold for $85 billion. Fox’s core assets? $71 billion.

And now, in the middle of this tech crash, that legendary company was begging Reese Witherspoon to get Dunn’s attention for funding.

It was laughable—and ironic as hell.

“Reese, tell your alum I’m impressed with Netflix’s online-offline combo. Have him meet me… let’s say the morning after tomorrow, at my office!”

Dunn fought to keep his excitement in check, already picturing a towering future.

Netflix was his final stronghold!

Sure, Dunn had a cheat code in Hollywood, but that didn’t mean he could do whatever he wanted. Disney’s pressure alone often left him scrambling.

What if… one day, he pissed off the wrong people and Hollywood turned on him? Or Disney dangled enough cash to unite the other giants against Dunn Films?

Even with his edge, he’d be toast against that kind of mob.

Lately, that fear had weighed heavy on him.

But Netflix? It was a lifeline!

His last bastion!

If Dunn Films crashed and burned, if he got booted from Hollywood—no sweat. He’d still have Netflix.

With that shell and the internet’s reach, he could still shake up movies and TV from the outside.

And then? No more playing nice, no more Hollywood rules—he’d swing big and bold!

Hollywood’s strong, but Netflix doesn’t flinch!

Of course, that’s a last resort. Dunn wouldn’t ditch Hollywood unless he had no choice.

He let out a long breath, stretched, and grinned.

Talk about luck—Netflix dropping into his lap right now? It’s a dragon egg, its glow still hidden.

Once it hatches, that dragon’s taking flight!

Before, the “package investment plan” was Dunn’s ace, Dunn Films’ lifeline.

But now? His confidence was sky-high. Compared to that, Netflix was the real trump card!

Chapter 245: Ace vs. Ace (Part 1)

With Spider-Man raking in over $1.19 billion worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film in history behind Titanic, it was only natural for Dunn Pictures to throw a massive celebration bash.

Bill Mechanic, the president of Dunn Pictures, personally handled the arrangements. The party was set at the Hilton in Beverly Hills, with bigwigs from Universal Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, and Marvel Studios on the guest list—not to mention the Spider-Man crew.

It was a formal affair. Dunn and Natalie showed up dressed to the nines, right on time, instantly stealing the spotlight.

Before they arrived, the golden couple everyone had been buzzing about was Spider-Man’s leads, James Franco and Jessica Alba.

“Director! Long time no see—you’re looking great!” James Franco had sharp eyes—or maybe he’d been watching the entrance. The second Dunn appeared, he darted over, flashing a bit of a suck-up grin. He even tossed a compliment Natalie’s way. “Miss Portman, that dress tonight? Stunning.”

“Thanks,” Natalie replied with a small, professional smile.

Dunn, though, stayed cool as a cucumber.

There was a time he’d seen big potential in James Franco—dreamed of molding him into a Leonardo DiCaprio-level star.

But during the Disney-Dunn Pictures feud, Franco had played it vague, refusing to pick a side. That tanked Dunn’s opinion of him fast.

Smarts? Emotional intelligence? Franco was top-tier among actors. Too smart, maybe—always trying to ride the fence, play both sides, never ruffling feathers.

Dunn couldn’t stand that kind of person.

Take Mel Gibson: people trashed him, called him dumb, hotheaded, even racist. But when push came to shove, his “dumb” loyalty and guts earned Dunn’s respect for life.

Looking at Franco now, Dunn’s old warmth was gone. He gave a stiff, professional smile. “Seems like you’re doing well. Keep in shape—six months from now, we’re kicking off the Spider-Man sequel.”

“I know, heh, I’ve got a nutritionist on it. By the time we shoot the sequel, I’ll be in even better shape than I am now!” Franco had signed a mega-deal with Marvel Studios—locked into the Spider-Man role for at least the next 20 years.

He’d come to terms with it. Spider-Man was a global sensation, and that role was destined to shower him with unmatched fame. From here on out, he’d live and breathe Spider-Man, onscreen and off.

After some small talk, Jessica Alba wandered over, a little late to the party. Her gaze at Dunn was layered with something complicated.

Natalie, well aware the two had a fling, made up an excuse and slipped off to chat with someone else.

Seeing Jessica Alba stirred mixed feelings in Dunn.

Their fling had been short-lived—over as soon as Spider-Man wrapped.

She’d landed the female lead partly thanks to James Cameron’s nudge, and partly because Dunn couldn’t resist her looks.

But filming Spider-Man brought out a problem—one he hadn’t hit with Titanic, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, or Star Wars: Episode I.

Jessica Alba’s face… it was a nightmare to shoot.

In his past life, she’d been a Cameron favorite yet stayed stuck in B-list territory for a reason.

Looks-wise, Jessica was drop-dead gorgeous—flawless, even. She outshone Dunn’s past leading ladies like Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, and Natalie Portman in raw beauty.

But movies aren’t static photos. It’s a flowing art form, and being pretty didn’t guarantee looking good on film.

If it did, Hollywood wouldn’t bother with huge casting calls—just pluck models from Victoria’s Secret, home to the world’s prettiest faces.

Truth is, those VS angel faces were built for flat shots. They were 2D—think modern influencer vibes. Movies needed 3D faces.

Take Kate Winslet in Titanic. When the camera circled her in a full 360, you didn’t just stay hooked—you drowned in the beauty and romance.

Jessica Alba, though? She gave Dunn headaches on Spider-Man.

Every shot of her face had to nail the perfect angle to look stunning—like those influencers who only shine at a 45-degree selfie tilt.

It’s not that other angles made her ugly—they just didn’t match.

A 360 spin around Kate Winslet? Seamless, constant beauty. Jessica? Nope.

From the front, her face was soft, delicate, blooming like a flower—peak Asian aesthetic.

But shift the angle, and it flipped. Mixed-race or not, her Caucasian traits dominated: deep-set eyes, sharp nose, chiseled jaw. That screamed strength, defiance—total Western vibe, clashing hard with her front-facing softness.

Front: Asian-style gentle beauty. Side: Western-style sharp coolness.

In movies, a role’s depth leans heavy on facial expressions. Jessica’s face just wasn’t cut for nuanced, multi-angle close-ups.

That boxed her in—narrowed her range. For something like Dark Angel, they ditched frontal shots for side angles to play up her tough-agent edge.

It was a natural limit. Even Dunn, with his golden touch, couldn’t fix it.

During Spider-Man, he’d clocked the issue and kept his distance. He knew she was Endeavor Agency’s golden girl, groomed by Ari Emanuel to be their top star.

But Dunn couldn’t help her there.

“Hey, Jessica, heard you snagged a new role?”

“Yeah, Beyond Paradise. I’m the lead,” she said with a sweet smile that could light up the whole party.

“Oh, nice! Congrats.”

She shook her head modestly, flashing pearly whites. “All thanks to Spider-Man’s boost.”

Dunn grinned. “We’ve got a few more Spider-Man movies coming. Your role’s safe.”

“Thanks.” She paused, giving him a deep look. “No matter what, I owe you. Spider-Man was a game-changer for me.”

“Heh.”

Dunn let out an awkward laugh. Tough topic to roll with.

Beyond her tricky face, Jessica’s EQ was a weak spot too. She didn’t catch his discomfort, pursing her lips and dropping her voice. “Dunn, if… you ever want to, I’m still up for it anytime.”

“Cough—!”

Dunn nearly choked.

He knew exactly what she meant, but he had zero interest in rekindling anything physical—or friendly-plus.

Favors like that are a pain to repay!

Hollywood’s full of gorgeous women. Even with Jessica’s looks, Dunn wasn’t about to twist himself into knots over a fling.

He was in it for fun, not torture.

Just then, his little secretary Isla Fisher swooped in to save the day.

Petite and peppy, she rocked a tight red-and-black striped dress and sky-high heels, trotting over without a care for grace. Heads turned.

“Careful—don’t trip!”

Dunn flinched, rushing a couple steps to grab her arm. “Why’re you running?”

Isla, panting, ignored his question. She swallowed hard, voice tense. “Eisner… Eisner’s here!”

“Who?”

“Disney’s chairman, Michael Eisner!”

“What?”

Dunn’s eyes shot wide, his face darkening in an instant.

What the hell was he doing here?

Chapter 246: Ace vs. Ace (Part 2)

At such a formal event, Isla Fisher’s quick jog caught a lot of attention. Many people started to suspect something big was about to happen.

When they saw Dunn’s expression suddenly change, it only confirmed their suspicions.

What exactly was going on?

Natalie walked over, looking at Dunn with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Dunn glanced around and noticed several people edging closer. His chest tightened a little as he lowered his voice. “Michael Eisner’s here.”

“What?”

Just like Dunn, Natalie couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp when she heard the news.

In Hollywood, Michael Eisner’s name carried serious weight!

Sure, over the past while, Dunn had been holding his own against him—sometimes even getting the upper hand.

But Michael Eisner had been a powerhouse in Hollywood for twenty years. His track record of turning things around in the clutch had earned him a king-like presence.

If Dunn had stunned Hollywood in 2000 with his breakout moment, then Michael Eisner had been stunning it every single year for the past two decades!

Dunn’s current rise was basically a remix of Eisner’s dominance over the last twenty years!

“Is something going to happen?” Natalie, still young and a bit rattled, grabbed Dunn’s arm tightly, her face paling.

Isla Fisher nearby looked just as uneasy, while Jessica Alba stood there confused. What was the big deal? The chairman of Disney showing up to celebrate Spider-Man’s massive success seemed like a good thing—a point of pride for Dunn Pictures. So why did it feel like they were bracing for a fight?

Seeing everyone’s eyes on him—and a few more people drifting over—Dunn took a deep breath, waved a hand casually, and grinned. “It’s fine, everyone. Keep enjoying the drinks!”

Facing a titan like Michael Eisner, even someone like Bill Mechanic would be out of his league and unable to handle it.

This was a burden Dunn had to shoulder himself.

So he couldn’t afford to lose his cool.

No matter why Michael Eisner had shown up uninvited, Dunn had to stay calm and steady—ideally projecting an air of breezy confidence to reassure everyone.

He patted Natalie’s waist and whispered in her ear, “Stay cool, don’t panic!”

Natalie was sharp and caught on quick. She realized her earlier reaction had been too obvious.

In that moment, she was representing Dunn Pictures—especially with so many female guests at the celebration watching her every move. Right now, Dunn Pictures and Disney were locked in a fierce behind-the-scenes battle. She couldn’t afford to look shaken.

Taking a deep breath, Natalie nodded firmly. “Don’t worry, I know what to do.”

Dunn gave her a small smile. He’d always trusted his girlfriend, especially when it came to handling people.

Just then, Kevin Feige, the assistant to Marvel Studios’ president, approached with a furrowed brow and a hushed tone. “Boss, everything okay?”

Dunn smirked. “When the enemy comes, we fight; when the flood comes, we build a dam! It’s just Michael Eisner—what’s the big deal? I’ll go deal with him.”

Isla Fisher watched Dunn’s bold confidence with stars in her eyes.

Lately, she’d finished the first draft of her book Gone Girl and showed it to her writer mom, who’d given it praise like never before.

That had reignited her dream of being an author. After seeing the ugly, private sides of so many Hollywood actresses, her interest in acting had faded. She’d rather stick by Dunn’s side as a laid-back little assistant than chase that life.

Dunn clapped Kevin Feige on the shoulder and said firmly, “Keep things steady here. No matter what happens, this is Spider-Man’s victory party—we can’t lose face!”

“Got it!” Kevin nodded decisively.

“Good.” Dunn took Natalie’s hand, giving her a deep look. “Let’s go meet this Disney chairman.”

“Alright!” Natalie quickly pulled herself together, flashing an easy smile that made her look cheerful. But the faint tension in her brow still betrayed a bit of nerves.

Michael Eisner was like some larger-than-life villain—his reputation left an indelible mark.

Hand in hand with Natalie, Dunn strode toward the entrance with his head held high, moving at a steady, unrushed pace.

A small crowd had already gathered there.

Then a young guy hurried over—Dunn recognized him as Bill Mechanic’s secretary. He quietly told Dunn that Michael Eisner had come through Ron Meyer, the president of Universal Pictures, bringing gifts and a female companion. It didn’t seem like he was here to pick a fight.

That was key info. Combined with rumors from a few days ago about Disney wanting to bury the hatchet with Dunn Pictures, Dunn had a hunch about why Eisner had shown up unannounced.

Was he trying to smooth things over?

Dunn let out a cold smirk.

Not a chance!

Sure enough, as he got closer, he saw Bill Mechanic, president of Dunn Pictures, and Vice President West Cotton chatting amiably with a sharply dressed older man.

Maybe it was the toll of several major surgeries, but at 58, Michael Eisner looked older than his years. Still, he hadn’t let himself go physically, a sign of the discipline he demanded of himself.

Since starting with Titanic, Dunn had been in Hollywood for four years and faced plenty of rivals. But Michael Eisner? Hands down, he was the toughest.

Still, Dunn’s eyes only lingered on him for a second before shifting to someone else.

Eisner’s companion today was a young, pretty, and playful-looking girl Dunn recognized: Disney’s golden princess and pop sensation—Britney Spears!

Right now, Britney Spears was the hottest name in music. Her second album, Oops!... I Did It Again, had smashed sales records, leaving even Madonna and Michael Jackson in the dust.

Natalie clearly noticed Britney too. She raised an eyebrow and murmured, “Looks like… he’s trying to tempt you with Britney.”

Given Michael Eisner’s status, there was no way he’d be romantically linked with Britney Spears. And even if he was, he’d never bring her out in public like this.

So Britney showing up as his “companion” at Spider-Man’s victory party? It was obviously aimed at Dunn!

Dunn’s lips curled into a faint sneer. “A honey trap? He’s seriously underestimating me.”

Natalie smirked too, her expression dripping with sarcasm.

Sure, Dunn had a reputation for being a bit of a player. But thinking he’d fall for a cheap trick like this? Pure delusion.

Natalie had total faith in him on that front.

A real big shot who liked women would keep them firmly under control—not plant a ticking time bomb by their side.

Dunn flashed a relaxed smile and extended his right hand toward Michael Eisner from a distance, his tone carrying a hint of apology. “Mr. Eisner, I had no idea you’d come in person. Sorry for not greeting you sooner—hope you’ll forgive me!”

His warm, almost buddy-like vibe made Eisner’s eyes narrow slightly. Eisner reached out with both hands, gripping Dunn’s enthusiastically. “Director Walker! Haha, I’m the one crashing your party—I should be apologizing to you.”

“No way! You’re too kind. Having you here at Spider-Man’s celebration is an honor for us,” Dunn said, radiating warmth and welcome.

Their handshake was firm, and Dunn could feel the heat and strength in Eisner’s grip.

After some quick small talk, Dunn was certain of one thing: Michael Eisner wasn’t here to start trouble.

That eased his mind a ton.

It wasn’t that Dunn feared him. The issue was the setting—this was Spider-Man’s big night. If things got messy, Dunn would lose face. Even if he managed to chase Eisner off, the fallout would still be a loss for Dunn Pictures.

Plus, with so many Universal Pictures execs in the room, getting shown up by a rival at his own party would tank his cred with them.

But now? His worries were overblown.

If Michael Eisner was actually here with a bit of a peace offering, trying to mend fences with Dunn Pictures, it’d be the cherry on top of the celebration.

Disney’s top dog personally showing up to “make amends,” even bringing the ultra-popular Britney Spears to “cheer up” Dunn? That was pure glory.

The Universal execs watching this unfold would see it in a way Dunn couldn’t have planned better.

Universal wasn’t exactly thriving these days.

After Vivendi bought Universal Pictures, just as Dunn had predicted, the Vivendi Group kicked off a major restructuring—splitting up departments left and right.

Ten years ago, Panasonic had shelled out $6.5 billion to snag Universal Pictures.

Back then, Universal was at its peak!

They had movies, TV, music, games, publishing, theme parks, home entertainment—the works.

But Vivendi, a French company infamous for asset reshuffling, changed all that.

After merging with the Seagram Group, they formed Vivendi Universal Entertainment, lumping in Blizzard, Sierra, Canal+ TV, Pathé Films, and Universal Pictures.

Universal’s gaming division got carved off into Vivendi Games. Publishing went to Vivendi Publishing. Music to Vivendi Music. Internet stuff to Vivendi Networks…

Compared to the old Universal Pictures, the current version had lost 60% of its assets!

Aside from the movie studio shell, all they had left was the theme park business. Universal’s execs had seen their power slashed, stripped bare by the French owners.

Once a Hollywood titan, Universal Pictures was now just one cog in Vivendi’s film division, sitting alongside France’s Pathé Films. Total humiliation!

Meanwhile, their partner Dunn Pictures was riding high—enough to draw Disney’s big boss Michael Eisner to their doorstep, uninvited, with a hint of flattery.

Ron Meyer watched Dunn handle it all with calm confidence and a casual laugh, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside him.