After a night filled with excitement, wonder, and endless aftertaste, Nicole Kidman packed up and left the hillside estate early in the morning.
Rose Byrne, perhaps worn out from last night or simply enjoying the soft warmth of Dunn's big bed, was still fast asleep.
Dunn didn't leave her alone in the house. Instead, he went to his study, opened his computer, and started working on a new movie script.
He'd already announced to the media that next year, under Dunn Pictures, he'd establish a studio dedicated to feminist films. He planned to personally produce and write the first project, with Natalie Portman starring in the lead role.
Given the current landscape, this studio shouldn't be too large-scale, and the independently funded films… well, they'd likely stick to smaller productions.
Feminist movies weren't exactly rare over the past two decades, but most of them had bombed at the box office.
In 2000, when the feminist wave hadn't fully taken off, Dunn wasn't about to go against the tide and pour huge sums into it. The idea of turning something like the Star Wars franchise into a feminist narrative, as happened in later years, was unthinkable right now.
Dunn was diligently outlining the script's framework. The finer details? He could leave those to the writing team.
Rose Byrne padded over barefoot, wearing a navy-blue, semi-sheer leper nightgown that swayed as she walked.
She'd clearly just woken up—her hair was still tousled and a little messy. But those stray strands around her ears only added a touch of charm. Especially since she wasn't wearing anything under the nightgown; from a distance, you could clearly see the enticing sway beneath it.
Dunn grinned and waved her over. "Awake?"
"Just woke up. Last night totally wiped me out," Rose said with a playful pout, tossing him a coy glance.
To a guy, that's the ultimate compliment. Dunn's mood lifted, and he teased, "Satisfied?"
"Beyond satisfied. I've never felt anything like it. When I woke up this morning, it was like I was still floating," Rose said dreamily as she sauntered over and plopped into his lap. Lowering her voice, she murmured, "Dunn, you really are the best."
Dunn pulled her close with a tight hug, laughing heartily before letting out a sigh. "Such a shame, though. Nicole wouldn't stay no matter what I said. Last night… man, it was incredible."
Thinking back to the wild scene from the night before, Rose's cheeks flushed, but she cooed sweetly, "I liked it too…"
"Yeah, we'll have to find a chance to trick Nicole into coming back sometime!" Dunn said with a mischievous grin, unable to resist planting a kiss on her shy, alluring face.
Rose blinked, giggling. "You're so bad!"
"Men aren't loved unless they're a little bad!"
"Twisted logic," she teased, then hesitated as something occurred to her. "Dunn, if… if you really liked the vibe with Nicole and me together, I've got an idea."
"Oh?"
"I know this friend—a young actress. She's only 17, maybe 18? She's done just one TV show, but she's already kind of a big deal in Australia."
Dunn chuckled, caught off guard.
He got it. Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman had brought Rose to Hollywood and nudged her into his orbit, probably hoping she'd pave the way for more Aussie actors to break into the U.S.
It was her duty, in a way.
But Dunn hadn't expected her to pull the "pillow talk" card so soon.
Rose's chest heaved with nerves. "She looks a lot like Nicole Kidman, so she blew up overnight. Back in Australia's entertainment scene, they call her 'Little Nicole.'"
Dunn raised an eyebrow. "'Little Nicole'? That's intriguing… What's her name?"
"Abbie. Abbie Cornish."
"Oh, her…" Dunn muttered under his breath, a flicker of recognition crossing his mind.
Rose's expression shifted curiously. "You know her?"
"Huh? How would I know her?" Dunn laughed it off. "You two close?"
"We're okay. Met a few times, get along pretty well," Rose said, catching the spark of interest in Dunn's face. Her heart raced.
Dunn nodded. "Nicole's gone, and the house feels a bit empty. Since she's your friend, invite her over. She can hang out, go shopping with you. If there's a good role for her, we can hook her up."
"Whoa!"
Rose hadn't expected her first attempt at pillow talk to go this smoothly. She squealed in delight, throwing her arms around Dunn's neck and snuggling into him.
Her first day at the hillside estate, and she'd already scored a win!
Even if Abbie Cornish showed up and Dunn wasn't into her type, at least she'd be in Hollywood, living at the estate. Dunn would have to toss her some perks, right?
That kind of success would let Rose hold her head high among the big-shot Aussies back home, proving her worth.
As for whether this approach was too awkward or beneath her dignity? Rose didn't care one bit.
Even Wall Street's early fortunes came with some original sin—Hollywood was no different.
For Australia's entertainment circle right now, breaking into Hollywood was the top priority.
Everything else? Secondary.
And as a woman, what was wrong with sticking with Dunn? Last night alone, Rose had felt a fulfillment and satisfaction she'd never known before.
"Alright, stop squirming. I've got work to do. Keep it up, and I'll have to deal with you right here!" Dunn gave her firm backside a playful smack, laughing.
"Work?" Rose's eyes flicked to the laptop. She quickly turned away, then asked hesitantly, "Can I take a look?"
"Of course!" Dunn smiled, shifting her so she could lean against him. "It's a movie script. Hmm… there's a supporting role you could try out for."
"Really?"
Rose's voice lit up with excitement. She dove into the script—it was just an outline, a story about an unmarried teen girl getting pregnant, pushing against mainstream values.
It clicked fast. "'Juno'… this is that feminist movie you mentioned?"
Dunn nodded. "Yep, that's the one. Nat's playing Juno. You could take on her best friend, Leah. It's not a huge part, but it's got some standout moments. Don't let the small budget fool you—this role's way more memorable than that handmaiden in Star Wars: Episode II."
Rose beamed. "Sweet! Another chance to work with Natalie!"
She didn't actually care about working with Natalie Portman. What mattered was that Dunn was writing Juno.
A movie he was personally involved in—how could it not make waves?
Even a B-movie like Saw had caused a stir in North America, hadn't it?
Rose skimmed the outline quickly. Though unfinished, she grasped the main thread—simple, rebellious, youthful.
One character caught her eye: "Vanessa."
Vanessa was a married woman, childless after years, who decides to adopt Juno's baby. Even when her husband bails for weak reasons, she sticks to her guns.
Like Juno, Vanessa carried a strong feminist vibe—a role with real depth.
But age-wise, Rose didn't fit. She was better suited for high schoolers.
"Dunn, what do you think… could Cate play Vanessa?"
"Cate? Cate Blanchett?"
"Yeah, her!"
Dunn laughed, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Rose, that's not how pillow talk works! I know Cate's done a lot for you, getting you into Hollywood, but Juno's a low-budget flick. Vanessa's a supporting role. With Cate's status now, does that even make sense?"
"Why not? It's your movie," Rose said, tilting her head confidently. To her, anything Dunn touched was top-tier.
Dunn smirked. "I'd love for Cate to take it, but I can't promise what the production team would offer. Probably no more than $100,000."
"What?" Rose's face fell. "Aren't you the boss?"
"I'm the boss, but I can't just ignore market rules," Dunn said, standing slightly and scooping her up by the waist. "I've got the cash to spare, but if I mess up the pay scale and piss off the industry, I'll be the one paying for it. Get it?"
"Oh!"
Rose's cheeks flushed, her eyes dropping shyly. "W-why'd you pick me up?"
Dunn huffed. "To teach you a lesson—pillow talk's not a free-for-all!"
Her eyes sparkled with a mix of nerves and allure. "Just me? I'm scared…"
"Ha, let's see how tough I can be!"