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🕑 Added 2025-06-10 16:07:41 +0000 UTCChapter 247: Ace vs. Ace (Part 3)
If Michael Eisner had come to pick a fight, Dunn might’ve had to tread carefully. But now that it was clear he was here to “make peace,” Dunn felt a surge of confidence.
Michael Eisner? Pfft, no big deal!
Dunn had originally thought Eisner would go all out, ready to slug it out with Dunn Films in a no-holds-barred brawl. But the moment things got real and blood was drawn, Eisner’s legs turned to jelly.
The tough fear the reckless, and the reckless fear the ones who don’t care about dying!
To take on Disney, Dunn had gone all in, throwing everything he had into the fight without a care for the consequences. Clearly, Michael Eisner had weighed the costs and potential gains of a full-on battle and decided to back off.
Dunn’s life motto? If the enemy advances, I advance. If they retreat, I push even harder!
“By the way, Mr. Eisner, I once got a couple of annoying prank calls—really ticked me off!” The vibe at their first meeting was surprisingly friendly, and Dunn was feeling chatty.
“Oh? Really?” Michael Eisner had a sinking feeling in his gut.
Dunn said with a straight face, “You bet! The guy actually pretended to be you, claiming he was Michael Eisner! Naturally, I was furious and gave him a stern warning.”
The moment he said it, the higher-ups at Dunn Films who knew the story almost burst out laughing.
This Dunn—he sure knew how to mess with people!
The incident had become legendary around Dunn Films, a hilarious tale employees shared over coffee. The big boss Dunn had hung up on Michael Eisner not once, but twice, treating the calls like spam and scolding, mocking, and warning the guy each time.
It must’ve driven Eisner up the wall.
Sure enough, Michael Eisner’s expression shifted for a split second. But he was a pro at this game and quickly brushed it off with a chuckle. “Is that so? Ha, well, thanks for that. I’d hate for someone to go around tarnishing my name.”
Dunn bit back a grin and said earnestly, “Oh yeah, I was dead serious about it. Didn’t even give the guy a chance to talk—just hung up on him.”
Ron Meyer, the president of Universal, didn’t know the full story and took it at face value. He frowned and said, “Scam calls? This is a country of laws—how can stuff like that be tolerated? Dunn, did you report it to the police?”
“Uh, I don’t think so…” Dunn pretended to mull it over, then flashed a bright smile. “But I should have the call logs. I could look into it.”
Ron Meyer nodded gravely. “You should. Scam calls are a serious matter. File a report with the police.”
“Cough, cough…”
Michael Eisner nearly choked, barely keeping his cool. He waved a hand dismissively and said, “Oh, let’s not make a big deal out of it. If Dunn already… taught the guy a lesson, I’m sure he’s learned his mistake. No need to drag it out further.”
Reese Witherspoon, hearing this, couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears welled up in her eyes from stifling her laughter.
Oh man, this Michael Eisner—he was comedy gold!
But credit where it’s due: big shots like him really knew how to roll with the punches. That kind of composure was impressive.
Dunn was having the time of his life, feeling like he had all of Hollywood under his thumb.
Michael Eisner? So what?
First meeting, and he’s already eating humble pie.
“Yeah, I gave him a piece of my mind!” Dunn went on, smirking. “Some people, you know, they’re just asking for it. You don’t put them in their place, don’t show them who’s boss, and they start thinking they own the world. Gotta knock that arrogance out of them…”
Natalie, listening to Dunn’s rant, felt her stomach tighten. He was so obviously taking jabs at Eisner— even with all his polished manners, the guy might snap.
She slipped her arm through Dunn’s and gave him a subtle tug, then smoothly changed the subject. Her gaze landed on Britney Spears, the pop star Eisner had brought along.
“Miss Spears, I’m a huge fan of your music. It’s such an honor to have you at our party. If I’d known you’d be here, I would’ve hand-delivered your invitation myself.”
Britney, a total wildcard in the entertainment world with her one-of-a-kind IQ and EQ, didn’t catch the trap in Natalie’s words. She grinned and said, “Mr. Eisner invited me. Honestly, I haven’t even had time to check out Spider-Man yet.”
The second she said it, Eisner’s face darkened again.
Natalie smiled. “Oh, you’ve got to make time to see it. It’s really amazing.”
Britney pouted. “I’m not big on action movies. But I love Director Walker’s Titanic. I cry every time I watch it. Director Walker, could you send me a signed copy of the VHS?”
Dunn chuckled. “Of course I can!”
“Wow, you’re so nice!” Britney beamed, then glanced at Eisner beside her. “Before we got here, Mr. Eisner said you’re tough to deal with and that there’s some misunderstanding between you two. He told me to get close to you. But now that I’ve met you, you’re, like, super, super awesome!”
At that, the expressions around the room turned… interesting.
People wanted to laugh but couldn’t, and their attempts to hold it in twisted their faces into something hilarious.
Especially Michael Eisner. His old face was a picture of pure embarrassment. No matter how composed he was, having Britney casually spill the beans like that was a blow to his dignity.
This was Hollywood. Bringing a young, gorgeous girl to “get close” to a famous director—and dragging her to someone else’s party, no less—only meant one thing.
Eisner knew Britney could be a little “naive,” but she’d been in the entertainment game long enough to pick up on subtext. Or so he thought.
Turns out, she was naive to the point of cluelessness.
Talk about a disaster!
Eisner glanced at the Universal execs nearby and caught their weird, almost absurd looks.
The legendary Disney chairman and CEO, Michael Eisner, showing up with a hot pop star to butter up the young upstart Dunn? If word got out, it’d be the laugh of the century.
Especially with Dunn Films and Disney already at each other’s throats over that ban. This was basically handing over a pretty girl as a peace offering.
But Britney wasn’t done. She grinned at Dunn and said, “Oh, I read in the papers you’ve dated tons of girls. Is that true?”
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Even a zoned-out Taylor Swift would know better than to ask something like that in a setting like this.
Eisner was on the verge of tears, regretting every life choice that led to bringing her here.
She was wrecking everything!
And it was his party she was crashing!
Dunn caught the pained smile on Eisner’s face and couldn’t have been happier. He laughed and said, “Nah, that’s all fake. Just media rumors. Natalie’s the only girl I’ve ever been with—our relationship’s rock-solid.”
“Wow! Cool!” Britney squealed, her teenage brain lighting up at the idea of a forever-first-love romance. “Natalie, you must be so happy, right?”
Natalie gave a gentle smile. “Yeah, he’s really good to me.”
“Aw, I’m so jealous! I hope you guys stay happy forever!”
Britney Spears had officially stolen the spotlight, bouncing around like an overgrown kid.
Compared to her, Natalie—who was the same age—might as well have been a master strategist. She could hold her own chatting with industry titans without breaking a sweat.
Against Britney’s intellectual steamrolling, Natalie had her spinning in circles with just a few words.
Dunn, keeping it casual, said, “Thanks, Britney. I’m sure you’ll find your own Prince Charming someday.”
Eisner’s eyebrow twitched as he shot Dunn a deep, searching look.
Was that a hint?
In terms of looks, Britney could outshine half of Hollywood— even Natalie couldn’t quite keep up. And Dunn was just… passing on her, no hesitation?
That threw Eisner for a loop.
Natalie smiled faintly, glancing at Dunn with total confidence.
She knew him inside and out.
Sure, Dunn’s personal life was a mess—that was no secret. But he had a thing for control. Any girl he got with had to be someone he could keep firmly in his grasp.
A wild card like Britney—scatterbrained, neurotic, loud, and running her mouth nonstop? No matter how gorgeous she was, if she couldn’t be tamed, Dunn wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole.
That’s why Natalie didn’t sweat his flings on the side.
She’d figured it out: those other women were just passing through, toys he played with. They’d never make it to the main stage.
Then Britney piped up again, flashing a big, toothy grin. “Oh, Mr. Eisner told me to smooth things over between you and Disney. Dunn, are you and Disney fighting or something?”
Dunn nearly lost it laughing.
Eisner looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor.
What a disaster!
…
Little Taylor had been dragged to the party by her mom and was watching from a distance, wide-eyed at the scene unfolding.
Her tiny hand clamped over her mouth, trying not to giggle.
Finally, she couldn’t hold it in. She tugged her mom’s hand and whispered, “Dunn’s so shameless—he lies without even blushing!”
Andrea Swift shot her a look. “Hush, you’re a kid—don’t talk nonsense!”
“I’m not talking nonsense, hmph!” Taylor hated when her mom treated her like a baby. She muttered under her breath, “I know all about it—Dunn’s got a bunch of girlfriends. Weird, doesn’t Natalie know? I’ve gotta find a chance to tell her…”
“What did you say?”
Andrea was so mad she could barely speak.
Taylor stuck out her tongue and blinked innocently. “Nothing, I didn’t say anything!”
Andrea sighed, half-laughing, half-exasperated.
This kid—she had no idea what to do with her. Especially since moving from New York to L.A., Taylor had gotten wilder by the day.
Chapter 248: Ace vs. Ace (Part 4)
Michael Eisner had never felt so embarrassed. He’d figured that among Disney’s princesses, “Little Sweetie” Britney Spears had the biggest name and was the cutest and prettiest. But he hadn’t expected her to be this unreliable.
Natalie, always good at reading the room, sensed that Eisner was teetering on the edge of losing it. They couldn’t keep pushing him—especially not letting Britney Spears dig up more of his dirty laundry.
“Britney, let the guys keep chatting. How about we head over there? I’ll introduce you to a real superstar—Nicole Kidman!”
Natalie grabbed Britney’s hand like they were besties and cheerfully led her off to another part of the room.
Michael Eisner let out a long breath and cleared his throat. “Dunn, uh… there might’ve been a little misunderstanding earlier.”
Dunn laughed heartily. “Oh yeah, definitely a misunderstanding! My rep out there isn’t the best, but that’s just the media making stuff up.”
“Exactly, exactly! Some of those outlets are so irresponsible with their wild stories!” Eisner jumped on the excuse, quietly relieved.
Dunn not dwelling on it was a huge weight off his shoulders.
What a mess!
Especially with a bunch of Universal Pictures execs watching.
Universal, being Dunn Pictures’ distributor and partner, naturally hoped the two companies could patch things up. Ron Meyer chimed in with a knowing smile, “Yeah, some things start as a casual comment, but by the time it spreads, it’s blown way out of proportion. That’s how misunderstandings happen.”
Everyone there was sharp enough to know he was talking about the “ban” situation.
Michael Eisner shot him a small smile and nodded. “True. Hollywood’s not what it used to be—it’s facing a lot of outside pressure these days. But at the end of the day, we’re a community. We’ve got to stick together and not let outsiders laugh at us.”
Dunn clapped his hands enthusiastically. “Man, Mr. Eisner, you hit the nail on the head! Hollywood’s one big family. Old-school studios, new companies—we’re all part of it. If we get along and pull in the same direction, this family’s only going to get stronger.”
“Exactly!”
Eisner’s eyes lit up. He’d thought Dunn would be a tough nut to crack, but the kid seemed to know how to play ball.
Ron Meyer, seeing the two getting along, kept playing the mediator and decided to cut to the chase. “A while back, I heard something—not sure if it’s true or not, heh. Word is, Dunn Pictures and Disney issued bans against each other?”
Dunn and Eisner locked eyes and burst out laughing.
Eisner said, “A misunderstanding—there’s got to be some mix-up here!”
Dunn grinned. “Yeah, sure, Dunn Pictures’ movies have been stomping Disney lately, but I’m pretty sure Mr. Eisner’s not petty enough to slap a ban on us over it, right?”
Eisner’s face flushed, and he forced a stiff smile. “Of course not! Just normal market competition.”
Dunn nodded eagerly. “That’s what I figured! Disney wouldn’t pull something that shameless.”
Bill Mechanic, listening in, gave a wry smile and shook his head to himself.
He’d thought Dunn was genuinely open to smoothing things over with Disney after his earlier comments. But now? Nope—this guy was a smiling tiger, hiding a knife behind his grin!
Eisner was squirming. He was starting to regret showing up. Even if this was supposed to be a peace talk, doing it in front of all these people was a bad call. If they did strike a deal, Dunn’s sharp jabs would still leave Eisner’s reputation in the gutter.
Ron Meyer quickly stepped in as the peacemaker. “Disney’s brand is top-notch—no way they’d do that, right?”
Dunn glanced at him with a half-smile. “Yeah, sure. Funny thing, though—a month ago, Dunn Pictures got hit with Disney’s ban. If Mr. Meyer had stepped in to mediate back then, maybe all these ‘misunderstandings’ wouldn’t have piled up.”
Ron Meyer’s face froze, looking worse than if he’d been crying.
The situation now was nothing like a month ago!
Back then, Dunn Pictures was on fire. They dominated the summer box office with Spider-Man, using Disney as a punching bag to grab headlines left and right.
Disney, fed up, played the bad guy and came after Dunn Pictures.
Even as their partner, Universal would’ve just sat back and watched.
Universal only got a 10% cut of Spider-Man’s distribution profits—and that included covering upfront costs like marketing and distribution.
If Disney had crushed Dunn Pictures back then, with the friendly ties between the two companies, wouldn’t Universal have swooped in on Spider-Man or other superhero projects? Compared to a measly 10% cut, that was the real prize!
Look at DreamWorks now—technically an indie studio, but most of its film business was already in Universal’s pocket.
This was Hollywood. Personal connections mattered, but at the end of the day, the big players cared about profits!
Things were different now, though. Dunn had teamed up with Michael Ovitz to cook up a tantalizing “portfolio investment plan.” It could shake up how Hollywood had financed movies for the past thirty years.
It was a simple, efficient, long-term, all-in-one funding model—seriously appealing.
If it worked, it’d solve the cash flow headaches plaguing Hollywood studios. For the big dogs, that was way more enticing than a few movie rights.
Maybe…
Maybe Eisner had caught wind of this through some back channel, realized how big it could be, and decided to patch things up with Dunn Pictures.
Dunn had just fired shots at both Disney’s head honcho Michael Eisner and Universal’s Ron Meyer, turning the friendly vibe into something a little tense.
Bill Mechanic waved a hand. “Hey, what’s done is done. We’re all friends here—let’s talk it out. No need to make it a big deal.”
“Totally, let’s just talk it out!” Ron Meyer nodded vigorously.
Dunn’s eyes locked onto Eisner, not budging an inch.
Eisner’s brow twitched, irritation bubbling up.
The kid had guts, sure—young guys often did. But this aggressive streak? It was too much!
“Dunn, the ban thing… let’s just drop it.”
Eisner decided it was time to switch tactics. Playing nice and conciliatory wasn’t working—this kid was taking it too far. If soft didn’t cut it, he’d go hard. His tone turned stern.
Dunn stayed relaxed, grinning. “Drop it? What do you mean?”
“It’s been over a month since the ban stuff started. It hasn’t spread too far, but it’s stirred up a lot of noise and bad vibes. How about we both take a step back and call it quits?”
Eisner ditched the friendly act entirely, his face hard and his words carrying a hint of a threat.
Dunn kept that infuriating smile plastered on. “Sorry, Mr. Eisner, I’m not sure I follow. For Disney, yeah, the ban’s been going for over a month. But for Dunn Pictures? It’s only been a little over two weeks.”
Eisner’s expression darkened, and that commanding aura he’d built over decades erupted. Even big shots like Bill Mechanic and Ron Meyer felt a shiver.
That sharp, regal edge—honed over twenty-plus years at the top—was unstoppable.
Bill Mechanic, who’d worked under Eisner at Disney back in the day, felt old shadows creeping up as Eisner unleashed his full presence.
Honestly, that burst of intensity caught Dunn off guard too.
But he had to keep it together—he had to stay steady. Right now, all eyes were on him. If he showed even a flicker of hesitation or fear, Eisner would walk away untouchable.
Dunn took a quiet, deep breath to calm the storm inside, keeping his face neutral. “What, did I get that wrong?”
Eisner’s eyes narrowed to slits, his expression grim as he stared Dunn down.
That look—it was like two piercing arrows aimed straight through Dunn’s skull.
But Dunn didn’t flinch!
“Screw it, I’m not some pushover, and you’re not President!”
“Trying to intimidate me?”
“Don’t forget—I’m the guy who produced Saw!”
Chapter 249: Ace vs. Ace (Part 5)
The originally cheerful atmosphere turned icy in an instant thanks to the showdown between Dunn and Michael Eisner. It felt like the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees.
Executives from Dunn Films, Marvel Entertainment, and Universal Pictures were all sweating bullets for Dunn.
Standing across from him was Michael Eisner!
That kind of overwhelming pressure could choke even the most seasoned Hollywood veterans.
This face-to-face clash was thrilling but tense enough to take your breath away!
Dunn’s hands were clasped behind his back, slick with sweat. He could feel a bead trickling down his spine in a steady line.
No wonder they called him Michael Eisner—just his glare and expression alone carried a crushing weight.
But Dunn wasn’t about to back down!
In moments like this, the best way to dodge the pressure was to shift his focus.
It was a trick Natalie, who’d majored in psychology at Harvard, had taught him. She’d given him a bunch of techniques—“breath observation,” “target shifting,” “self-suggestion,” “mental dialogue,” and more.
They were meant to help Dunn shake off work stress fast, relax, and get his energy back.
Right now, facing Eisner’s intensity, Dunn kept his eyes locked on him while letting his mind wander elsewhere.
“Finally back in L.A. Penelope Cruz, that Spanish girl, is still crashing at the hillside estate. She’s probably living it up—I should head back tonight and have some fun myself!”
“Little Taylor said she wrote a new song. Tomorrow, I’ll carve out some time to hear it. That kid’s getting cuter by the day, but her attitude’s getting wilder too. Gotta straighten her out.”
“Tim Burton mentioned the world-building for Pirate League is taking shape. With Johnny Depp on board, he’s got some fresh ideas. We should have a quick meeting to hash it out.”
“The acquisition of Dick Clark’s TV production company is going great. The major shareholders are on board with selling. Now it’s just a matter of filing with the exchange to delist it and take it fully private.”
“Nina Jacobson’s out on maternity leave for six months…”
“…”
Dunn’s mind was buzzing, jumping from one thought to the next.
Michael Eisner was dumbfounded. What was going on?
Was this kid nuts? Staring at him without blinking—wasn’t there some rumor about him being into guys? That look… it was too intense!
Even love-struck couples didn’t lock eyes this hard without moving!
Eisner, who’d come in guns blazing, started to feel rattled. Dunn’s unwavering stare was throwing him off.
This kid’s willpower was unreal!
He had no clue Dunn’s thoughts were already miles away.
Finally, Eisner couldn’t take it anymore. He took a deep breath, let out a heavy grunt, and said, “So, what’s your take on this?”
“Huh?” Dunn snapped out of it, coughed lightly, and got serious. “Simple. I just want fairness!”
“Fairness?”
Eisner narrowed his eyes, sizing him up.
Dunn replied coolly, “Yep, fairness! This whole ban thing has been a mess, and I’d love to clear up the misunderstanding ASAP. But Disney’s ban on Dunn Films has been out there for over a month, while ours on Disney has only been up for half that. Time-wise, it’s uneven.”
Everyone caught Dunn’s drift right away.
He wanted Disney to make the first move—issue a statement lifting their ban on Dunn Films.
Then, half a month later, Dunn Films would drop their ban on Disney.
Whether Dunn was bluffing or not, if he was just playing Eisner to get Disney to lift their ban first, it’d put Disney in a real awkward spot.
Even if he was legit, Disney lifting their ban early would give Dunn Films half a month to respond.
Half a month wasn’t a huge deal in terms of impact, but the optics? Massive.
It’d send a message to everyone: in this showdown between Dunn Films and Disney, Disney caved, sued for peace, and blinked first!
Then, half a month later, Dunn Films could play the bigger person—seeing Disney’s good behavior and graciously lifting their own ban as a reward.
No way Disney could swallow that!
Eisner saw through Dunn’s sly move and wasn’t having it. “That’s not happening!” he shot back.
Dunn shrugged, calm as ever. “I’m a stickler for principles. If someone owes me ten bucks, they’ve gotta pay me ten bucks—not a penny less. Of course, if they try to overpay by a penny, I won’t take that either.”
Eisner waved a hand dismissively, his tone icy. “No matter what, I’m not agreeing to that!”
Dunn’s expression hardened in an instant. “Then we’ve got nothing left to talk about!”
“You—!”
Eisner sucked in a breath, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Dunn, do you even realize what you just said?”
The sharp edge of threat in his voice made Ron Meyer’s stomach knot. He jumped in to smooth things over. “Dunn, listen to me—don’t sweat the half-month thing. Dunn Films and Disney can just announce the end of the bans at the same time, call it quits, and move on.”
Dunn snorted, shaking his head. “Nope. Won’t do.”
Eisner’s voice dropped low. “Dunn, if Disney ends their ban half a month early, do you know what that means? Do you have any idea the pressure Disney would be under?”
Dunn burst out laughing, wild and unrestrained. After a while, he settled down and said coldly, “Disney’s under pressure? What about Dunn Films? Back in early August, Disney pulled that ban out of nowhere, breaking all the market rules. That first half month—think Dunn Films wasn’t under pressure then?”
Bill Mechanic, a steady and seasoned guy, usually played it safe. But Dunn’s old crew? They were cut from the same bold cloth as him.
Glen Feiyero boomed, “Half a month, and Disney’s whining about losing face? Well, guess what—Dunn Films was staring down bankruptcy in that half month! Mr. Eisner, your double standards are nauseating!”
Eisner’s face darkened. “Who are you? Who gave you the right to speak here?”
Glen stood tall, brimming with grit. “Name’s Glen—Glen Feiyero. I work in production at Dunn Films, produced Spider-Man. Mr. Eisner, I know you’re a big shot in Hollywood, can ruin someone with a word. But let me tell you—if you’ve got the guts, come at me!”
Eisner was livid, glaring at Dunn. “Dunn, this is one of your people?”
Dunn smirked faintly. “Mr. Eisner, drop the intimidation act. It won’t work on me—or Dunn Films. Let me be real with you: we’re a scrappy outfit. A few years back, I was a gofer on sets; Glen was just a guy at a print shop. Even if we lose everything, it’s no big deal!”
Then another of Dunn’s old crew stepped up—his assistant and buddy, George Paxton. With a mix of scorn and resolve, he said, “The barefoot don’t fear the shod. We’ve all lived dirt-poor days and handled it fine. Dunn Films doesn’t have a single coward. If we’re doing this, let’s do it for real!”
“Yeah, who’s scared of who? What’s so great about Disney?” Andrew O’Hare joined Dunn’s side, his fierce glare locked on Eisner. “This time, Disney picked the wrong fight. Dunn Films would rather die than grovel!”
Guys like Bill Mechanic and West Cotton, who’d been around Hollywood forever, still felt Eisner’s clout.
But Dunn’s crew—Glen Feiyero, Andrew O’Hare—these were folks he’d pulled up from the bottom through his “sunglasses system.” They didn’t give a damn about the rules.
Michael Eisner?
Big whoop!
To them, there was only Dunn and Dunn Films!
In a moment like this, the grit and loyalty of his core team fired Dunn up and touched him deep.
This was exactly what he wanted!
A company’s strength wasn’t just about profit—it was about loyalty and heart!
Disney’s cutthroat, profit-only style—kicking out legends, old-timers, even the Disney family? Dunn wouldn’t touch that with a barge pole.
The relentless push from Dunn Films caught Eisner off guard. The guy who’d been running the show stumbled, took three steps back, and barely steadied himself.
Eisner’s face went pale, all his earlier swagger gone. Dunn’s posse—his “warriors”—even made his eyes flicker with fear.
He was genuinely worried that if things got heated, these roughnecks might just charge him and beat him senseless.
“Dunn, what… what are you really after?”
Eisner’s voice wavered, shaky.
Dunn slipped his hands in his pockets, flanked by his crew, his presence towering. With a steely look, he declared, “I told you—I just want fairness!”
“Why’d Disney slap us with a ban out of the blue?”
“They started it half a month before we did—why should both sides end it at the same time?”
“I need an explanation. I need fair treatment. I need an apology from Disney!”
Those last lines, Dunn cranked up the volume. Nearly everyone at the victory party heard him loud and clear.
His words rang with power!
His vibe was epic!
His stance was massive!
His guts could swallow mountains!
Facing down Disney’s top dog, Michael Eisner, Dunn laid out his “three needs” with unrelenting resolve!
Disney? No big deal!
