Dunn was in a great mood.
First off, the fourth chunk of overseas box office cash from 20th Century Fox had just rolled in—$54 million total. Bill Mechanic was super nice about it, saying if Dunn needed funds ASAP, they could front him $50 million for Dunn Studios' operations and settle the difference later.
Second, he got word from AA, Endeavor, and Warner—Marvel Entertainment was ready to sit down and talk business with Dunn Studios. Jackpot!
Third, Nicole Kidman called him up. She straight-up invited him to dinner!
Dunn smirked at the invite, then blinked in surprise. He didn't expect this Aussie beauty to be so bold. Maybe splitting from Tom Cruise left her a little lonely too long? Who knows!
He was pumped for the date. No need to tell his assistant Reese Witherspoon—she'd get it. But Natalie? He'd have to smooth things over there first.
Nicole Kidman was tabloid gold—every move watched. Tonight's dinner was at a fancy spot, so paparazzi were a given. Tomorrow's gossip headlines? Oh, this date for sure.
Dunn didn't care about the buzz, but Natalie's feelings? That was a priority.
She was still mad about him bringing Reese home. Time for some damage control!
Around noon, figuring Natalie might be back from school, he gave her a call.
"Thought you were too busy in your little love nest to remember me!" Natalie snapped, not holding back.
Dunn laughed it off. "Come on, you know that's not true. You're way too important to me!"
"What, are you reciting poetry or song lyrics now?" she shot back, sarcasm dripping.
Dunn cracked up. "How's everything going? School treating you okay?"
"Don't change the subject—you still haven't explained yourself!"
Dunn rubbed his temples. "Explained what?"
"You know what!" Natalie was practically growling. "You and Reese! Don't treat me like some clueless kid. I'm not in LA, so you two are probably shacking up every night!"
"Ahem…" Dunn coughed, dodging the awkwardness. "Nat, I won't lie to you—I don't want to. Yeah, it's like you think, but I figured you'd understand."
"Understand? Dunn, don't you think that's ridiculous?" Her voice cracked like she might cry. "I'm your girlfriend! We're in love! How am I supposed to just deal with this?"
Dunn frowned. "Nat, since we're here, maybe it's time we lay it all out."
"Over the phone?"
"Just a quick chat for now."
"Fine, go ahead. I doubt you'll convince me."
"Alright," Dunn took a deep breath. "I've got a few reasons. Hear me out—see if they make sense."
"Okay."
"I think the soul and the body are two different—"
"Bullshit, next!" Natalie cut him off, not having it.
Dunn gave a wry smile and sighed. "This is Hollywood, Nat. Hookups are just how it works here. I'm a director—I'm part of this world."
She wasn't sold. "That's weak. What else?"
"Nat, my job's crazy, the pressure's insane. I need a way to blow off steam. You get that, right?"
"Nope!" She didn't budge. "I've been acting and studying for years—tons of stress—but I've never done *that*."
Dunn pressed on. "Still, you've got to let it out somehow, yeah? For me, this is the easiest, quickest, most time-efficient way. That's it."
Silence hung for a while. "Still not convinced," she said finally. "Got anything else?"
"There are so many gorgeous girls in Hollywood, and a bunch of them are circling me, wanting something to happen. I'm young, Nat—I've got needs."
"Lame excuse! I'm young too, and my school's full of hot guys!"
"Fair enough. Last reason then." Dunn wiped sweat off his brow, pausing dramatically. "Nat, you're a smart girl."
"Huh? That's it?" She sounded baffled.
"Yup, that's my big one."
Natalie pouted over the line. "I don't get it!"
Dunn took a breath. "Nat, I'm a director, you're an actress. We love each other, we need each other. In our careers, we lean on each other."
It was subtle, but Natalie—sharp as ever—caught it instantly.
A trade-off.
She'd talked this over with her mom, Shirley Hershler, a bunch lately.
Natalie knew her love with Dunn wasn't some innocent campus crush, a fairy-tale romance, or a Romeo-and-Juliet forever deal.
This was Hollywood love—tangled up with a whole lot of business.
She hadn't formally studied acting and knew her skills weren't top-tier. Her clean-cut, indie vibe meant building a rep in Hollywood would take years of grinding—tough stuff.
But with Dunn? Easy mode unlocked.
He could give her love *and* everything she dreamed of career-wise.
And what could she offer him besides love?
Her mom, Shirley, came from a middle-class American family, always chasing a higher rung on the ladder, scheming to change her fate.
With that upbringing and Natalie's quick mind, how could she not see how huge Dunn was for her future? For her family's whole status jump?
Pure, perfect, fairy-tale love?
Natalie shook her head. She'd dreamed of it once, but now she knew—that wasn't Hollywood.
"Dunn… that's a heavy reason. I can't argue with it, but…" Her voice wavered, nose sniffling.
Dunn caught the shift and panicked a bit. "Nat, sweetie, hang in there! You're tough, right? This is reality—we've got to face it strong, okay?"
"I know," she said, voice low as she sniffled. "It's just… disappointing."
"No, no, no!" Dunn raised his voice. "Nat, it's simple. This is between us. We love each other with all we've got—nobody else matters!"
"Other people?" she mumbled.
"Yeah, other people! The business, the career stuff—that's all outside noise. Our feelings? That's the only thing holding us together, right?"
"Maybe," she said, still down. But her fire to fight his flings had fizzled out. "I want to talk this over with Mom. Is that okay?"
"Uh… sure." Dunn wasn't thrilled—middle-aged moms weren't as easy to sweet-talk as a 17-year-old. "But, Nat, no matter what, we're not breaking up, right?"
"Yeah, I don't want that either."
Natalie bit her lip hard.
---
After hanging up, Dunn leaned back, lost in thought.
The call had cooled Natalie's anger, but spilling the truth like that probably shattered her girlish dreams of perfect love.
Reality's no fairy tale—when is it ever kind?
"Maybe… I should make more time to visit her in New York."
Dunn cared about Natalie a lot.
No way he'd ditch the whole forest for one tree.
But this tree? Too rare to let go.
---