Stepping into 2001, even though it was just January, Dunn could already sense the faint whiff of war in the air.
According to a special report in the daily news, the existence of Al-Qaeda posed a massive, unstable threat to the American public—especially to high-profile figures.
Dunn was terrified of dying. He'd always been extra cautious when going out, and he even added two more bodyguards to Natalie's detail. She grumbled about it, feeling like she was under surveillance, but there was no helping it—the atmosphere was tense these days.
Take Russell Crowe, for example. His starring role in Proof of Life hit theaters and immediately pissed off the real-life crime syndicate it was based on. They were threatening to kidnap him.
The FBI took it seriously, assigning four agents to protect him around the clock.
This wasn't just paranoia.
Celebrity kidnappings, robberies, even murders weren't rare. Indian actress Meenakshi Thapar had been brutally beheaded and dismembered. Even across the strait, where security was tight, there'd been a case like Saving Mr. Wu.
Russell Crowe's gripping performance in Gladiator had earned him a Golden Globe nod for Best Actor in a Drama. At the awards gala, Dunn spotted him from a distance.
The Australian actor was clearly rattled by the kidnapping threats—his face was drawn, his nerves frayed.
Dunn walked over, clapped him on the shoulder, and kept his voice low. "Hey, how you holding up? Everything okay?"
Seeing it was Dunn—someone he trusted—Russell didn't bother hiding it. "The FBI says they've got agents secretly watching me, but half the time, I don't even notice them!"
Dunn nodded. "Probably undercover. Still, you should get some solid bodyguards of your own. Relying on yourself beats relying on others. Need any help?"
"Thanks, but no need. The Aussie community's already sorted it out for me," Russell said with a sigh.
Dunn smiled. "Good to hear."
"This is the first I've heard of a terrorist group," Russell muttered, worry creeping across his face. "I never imagined someone would want to kidnap me."
Dunn didn't want to stress him out more. "Your performance in Gladiator was unreal. I've got my money on you for Best Actor this time!"
Russell's expression softened, and he gave a modest smile. "Honestly, I was just channeling Mel. His work in Braveheart—that's my benchmark."
"But you outdid him, didn't you?"
Russell laughed. "Dunn, you'd better say that to Mel Gibson's face!"
Dunn chuckled. "That big guy? I'd be scared he'd deck me! Seriously, though, he'd make a hell of a bodyguard for you."
"That's ridiculous!" Russell cracked up, shaking his head. "He's no Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan. He's all flash, no substance."
The Others had earned Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman stellar reputations in the industry.
Natalie didn't walk the red carpet with Dunn. Instead, she linked arms with Nicole, the two of them stepping out together.
After they passed the interview zone, Natalie couldn't hold back her curiosity. She leaned in and whispered, "Nicole, did you really move out?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I did!"
Nicole blinked, caught off guard.
Natalie frowned slightly, biting her lip before asking quietly, "So… did he kick you out?"
"Of course not! You know Dunn. We're friends—he'd never be that harsh. I chose to leave," Nicole said, flashing a polished smile. She waved graciously to friends in the distance while keeping her voice low with Natalie.
Natalie let out a soft sigh. "That's a shame. If it were up to me, I'd rather he dated you than all those random girls."
"What? Why?" Nicole's eyes widened, her casual tone vanishing as she turned to look at her.
"Because you've got principles," Natalie said matter-of-factly.
"Principles?" Nicole's smile turned wry. "As a foreign actress surviving in Hollywood, what principles do I have? Otherwise, would I have had to trade my body and sleep with your boyfriend for three years?"
Natalie shook her head. "That's not your fault—it's the system. Compared to others, you're already way better."
Nicole gave a bittersweet smile and sighed. "Maybe. Thanks, Nat, for understanding how tough it's been."
"I'm just being honest!" Natalie turned to face her, dead serious. "I've met most of Dunn's girlfriends. They're mostly trash—except you. You hold the line."
"Hm?" Nicole tilted her head, puzzled. "What line?"
"You…"
Natalie's cheeks flushed. She glanced around before leaning in and whispering quickly, "You never gave in to Dunn's crazy demands. I know all about it!"
"Crazy demands?"
"Yeah! He even brought it up with me. That jerk's always fantasizing about a threesome!"
"Cough, cough…"
Nicole choked, nearly fainting. Her face turned beet red, all the way to her ears.
How embarrassing!
It was true, like Natalie said—she'd always held that line. She'd been fine with Dunn, but never with another woman involved.
Except that last time… To push Rose Byrne into Dunn's arms, she'd caved and gone along with his wild request.
Every time she thought back to that night—the three of them tangled up together—her heart raced, and her legs trembled uncontrollably.
"You okay?"
"Oh! Uh, yeah, I'm fine!" Nicole stammered, her face a mess of awkwardness.
Natalie shot her a skeptical look, hesitated, then couldn't resist asking, "You lived with him so long… didn't you ever think about having a kid?"
Dunn was loaded. A kid with him—illegitimate or not—would set you up for life.
Nicole smiled wryly. "You think he'd go for that?"
"He wouldn't?" Natalie blinked rapidly.
Nicole shook her head, her voice soft. "Nat, I won't lie to you. I'd love for Dunn to be the father of my kid. But… he doesn't want me to be the mother of his. Get it?"
She pointed at her chest, then at Natalie. "We're not the same!"
"Oh…"
Natalie nodded, half-getting it, her face adorably blank. Inside, though, she felt a sweet rush, like she'd just tasted honey.
No wonder!
Dunn had so many women, yet all these years, not a single hint of a kid.
So it was his choice.
Nice!
"Maybe he's not that bad," Natalie thought, grinning. She glanced at Dunn chatting with Russell Crowe in the distance, then hurried over, her mood bright and bubbly.