Michael Ovitz started his career back in the '70s, when the "red sofa" was still all the rage.
During the rise and growth of AA, it's no exaggeration to say that for nearly a decade, Michael Ovitz was Hollywood's biggest star "middleman," doing whatever it took to fast-track his clients to fame. Now, with his new AG agency, setting up Penelope Cruz and Dunn is just him getting back to his old tricks.
Michael quickly picked up on the little glances between the two. Clapping his hands, he grinned and said, "Alright, time to change! Then let's hit a few balls!"
"Sounds good." Dunn turned to Penelope Cruz with a playful smile. "Penny, think you could help me out? Pick something sporty that fits."
"No problem!"
Penelope tagged along beside Dunn, casually linking her arm with his. They looked so comfortable together, you'd think they'd known each other for years.
Los Angeles boasts some of the best golf courses in the U.S., and Griffith Park Golf Course is the crown jewel. It's hosted tons of international tournaments and has top-notch facilities. Take the temporary clothing shop, for instance—hundreds of brand-new outfits, sneakers, sun hats, and sunglasses, all laid out for VIPs to choose from.
Penelope picked out a Fila set for Dunn: a white short-sleeve tee and breathable black pants—simple and sharp. For herself, she went with an Umbro women's outfit: a red fitted tee paired with a red-and-white bubble skirt.
Next up was changing. Dunn shot Penelope a quick look and nodded toward a dressing room.
Penelope pursed her lips, sneaking a glance at Michael Ovitz. The old guy seemed oblivious, muttering to himself, "Dunn, hurry up and change. I'll give you 15 minutes."
Fifteen minutes is a clever window. Plenty of time for what you can do, but never enough for what you can't.
Dunn got the hint and chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll find you once I'm changed. I might not be great at golf, but with Penny's help, I'm not scared of you."
Penelope bit her lip lightly and started heading toward the dressing room Dunn had pointed out.
"What's up? Not into it?"
Once they were inside, Dunn pinned her against the wall, close enough to feel her breath, looking down into her captivating eyes.
Even as bold as she was, Penelope couldn't quite handle Dunn's intensity. Her gaze flickered. "No… I'm fine with it."
"Then why do you look hesitant?" Dunn leaned in closer, their noses brushing.
Penelope pressed a hand lightly against his chest. "It's just… it feels so fast."
Dunn grinned mischievously, lowering his voice. "But I can't wait any longer."
"Mr. Ovitz is still waiting for us."
"Relax, I'm not that impatient. Let's change."
Penelope nodded softly with a quiet "Mhm."
Changing was easy for Dunn, but for Penelope, it was a different story. She was wearing a tight, form-fitting bodysuit and needed to switch into a breezy sports bra. That meant baring everything in front of a guy she'd met less than 20 minutes ago.
She shed her outer layers, and now it was time for the undergarments. Her heart raced. She'd prepared herself for this, but still—things were moving fast. Biting her lip, she glanced over and saw Dunn already in his sports gear, lounging on the sofa, watching her with a relaxed grin.
"Mind if I enjoy the view?"
He made a move like he might step away.
"No, I don't mind!" Penelope blurted out. Then, steeling herself, she grabbed the sports bra and stepped right in front of him with a flirty smile. "Mr. Walker, until you're married, I'd love to be your companion and stick by your side."
Dunn clapped lightly, beaming. "The honor's mine! So, can I admire that stunning figure of yours?"
"Sure."
Penelope took a deep breath and, like she was in slow motion, started undressing right there under Dunn's gaze. Every move oozed temptation. She set her undergarments aside gently, not rushing to cover up. Instead, she stood there confidently, spinning once—right leg slightly bent, hand on her cheek, striking a sultry pose. Her voice dripped with allure. "Mr. Walker, what do you think of my body?"
Dunn didn't hold back. "Flawless."
Penelope's cheeks flushed as she stepped forward, sliding into his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. Whispering softly, she said, "Mr. Walker, for you, I'd give everything."
Dunn held her gently, chuckling. "I can see that."
Nibbling her lip, she murmured, "I've heard… Hollywood's full of bad people. Will you help me?"
"As long as you behave."
"I…" She pressed herself closer, her voice dreamy. "I'll do whatever you say."
Twenty minutes later, the three of them were out on the course, all changed up.
A few caddies trailed at a distance while Penelope guided Dunn through his swings, adding a little charm and flair to the scene.
Riding the cart to the next hole, Dunn couldn't help but ask, "Michael, with the five big agencies already dominating Hollywood, AG's not exactly in a great spot, is it?"
Michael waved it off. "No work talk today—just golf!"
Dunn huffed. "The house is practically on fire, and you're out here swinging clubs?"
Penelope, still a small fish in the pond and clueless about any "ban," giggled. "Mr. Walker, you're such a joker. What could possibly rattle you in Hollywood?"
Dunn pulled her close with a sigh. "Every family's got its struggles."
Michael shook his head. "Dunn, chill out. The bigger the mess, the longer it takes to fix."
Dunn shot back, "So we just let it fester? How's that different from kidding ourselves?"
Michael glanced at Penelope with a knowing look. "Dunn, that guy… if he's making a move, he's already got all his bases covered."
With Penelope there, they kept their words vague. Dunn knew exactly who Michael meant by "that guy"—Disney's big boss, Michael Eisner.
"So we need to build connections fast, rally our friends. Mediation, sanctions, whatever—just do something, right?" Dunn's tone was sharp.
Penelope caught the tension. She didn't know the details, but she was smart enough to stay quiet, nestling into Dunn's arms and resting her head on his shoulder.
Michael grinned. "Dunn, you're stressing too much. Let Penny keep you company and unwind for a few days. I've got this—I'll handle it."
Dunn frowned. "Unwind? You know the longer this drags, the worse it is for my company. Dunn Pictures' reputation can't take a hit!"
Seeing Dunn wouldn't budge, Michael tried a nudge. "Dunn Pictures grew too fast—especially this summer. It's over the top! Did you know your influence has already outstripped DreamWorks?"
Dunn's brow lifted as something clicked. "You're saying… Dunn Pictures is a target now?"
"Not quite public enemy number one, but you're definitely a threat to the big players. That's a fact." Michael glanced back at him, eyes sharp. "People hide their true selves. Don't judge by what you see—利益分配 (profit distribution) is what matters."
Dunn sucked in a breath, feeling the conversation hit a wall.
Michael's words were like a bucket of cold water in the summer heat, snapping him awake.
He'd been banking on the other five major companies stepping in, thinking they'd oppose Disney's dirty tactics for the sake of Hollywood's market health. But after Michael's breakdown, it hit him—mediation? What a laughable idea!
It was like during World War II, when Japan invaded, and the government pinned its hopes on the imperial powers to mediate. How pathetic, how ridiculous! Sure, those powers might've condemned Japan publicly, but behind closed doors, they were selling weapons to them, exploiting the chaos to manipulate the currency reform and control the nation's economy.
In the end, it's all noble talk on the surface, but underneath? Self-interest rules.
This mess with Disney targeting Dunn Pictures was the same damn thing.
Stepping off the cart, Dunn's enthusiasm for golf faded. He swung half-heartedly, handed the club to Penelope, and sidled up to Michael, voice low. "Got any solutions?"
"They'll sit back and watch Disney's moves because it benefits them. If Dunn Pictures goes down, Marvel's treasure chest is up for grabs."
Michael, a Hollywood vet of over 20 years, had seen this game play out a hundred times.
Dunn smirked coldly. "Yeah, the copyrights I'm holding are pretty tempting."
"Exactly. Where there's profit, they'll stay on the sidelines." Michael took a solid swing, watching the ball sail off with a grin. "Dunn, know how to beat someone at golf? If you can't weaken them, you've got to step up your own game."
Dunn's eyes lit up, a spark of understanding flickering.