Chapter 274 — Another Piece of Good News
Aaron's Upper East Side townhouse wasn't far from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Before the gala had even ended, the two had already slipped away.
The moment they stepped inside, they fell into each other's arms, kissing with unrestrained intensity.
Sophie Marceau remained as captivating to Aaron as ever—her allure never once fading.
---
Lying together on the sofa, Sophie suddenly asked,
"You haven't been paying much attention to the Cannes Film Festival, have you?"
Aaron lifted his head with a faint smile.
"Of course I have. Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction made a stunning debut—it's causing quite a sensation in Cannes."
He continued, almost thoughtfully:
"It's a perfect example of postmodern black comedy—Tarantino took everything he loved—characters, dialogue, music, pop culture—and fused them into something entirely unique."
As he spoke, he slipped off her evening gown, his hands tracing along her silhouette.
"You planning to go to Cannes?"
Sophie's breathing grew softer, more uneven. She kissed his cheek as she helped him out of his clothes.
"They invited me to be a presenter at the closing ceremony," she explained.
"I'll probably fly in the day before it ends."
Aaron nodded, his hand resting lightly against her.
"That makes sense. You're hugely popular in France—it's only natural they'd invite you."
She didn't reply—just pulled him closer and kissed him again.
---
Downtown Manhattan, West Village—Dawnlight's New York office.
Paula Wagner had come to meet Aaron.
"What brings you here, Paula?" Aaron asked, pouring her a glass of wine.
She smiled.
"Nothing special—just accompanying Tom Cruise for the promotion of Interview with the Vampire."
The film was set for a June release, starring two of Hollywood's most recognizable leading men—Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.
Even the promotional posters alone had already drawn massive attention from fans.
---
"What about Anne Rice?" Aaron asked.
"She had issues with the casting, didn't she?"
Paula nodded.
"We sent her a videotape of Tom's performance. After watching it, she changed her mind."
"She's now actively encouraging readers to go see the film."
Aaron smiled.
"Good. Neil Jordan did an excellent job directing—and Tom's transformation in this role is impressive. A real departure from his usual image."
Paula agreed.
"It really is."
She added,
"Oh—and Con Air is progressing smoothly as well."
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"And what about Mission: Impossible?"
As the first project from Cruise/Wagner Productions, it was clearly a priority.
Paula replied confidently,
"Once Con Air wraps, we'll move straight into full development."
---
As the Cannes Film Festival came to a close, Pulp Fiction lived up to expectations—winning the prestigious Palme d'Or.
Despite its modest budget, the film featured a strong ensemble cast including Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman.
---
Back in Burbank, at Dawnlight's headquarters, Aaron finalized two major deals with William Dean Singleton:
Dawnlight acquired the Houston Post for $120 million
Dawnlight and MediaNews Group jointly acquired the Los Angeles Daily News, with Dawnlight taking a 45% stake
Aaron's sudden move into the newspaper industry caught many off guard—including Rupert Murdoch, who himself had built an empire starting from print media.
---
But the least pleased party was undoubtedly Hearst Corporation.
They had long set their sights on the Houston Post—and just as it was nearing collapse, Dawnlight stepped in and took it instead.
In response, William Randolph Hearst III publicly stated:
"The Houston Chronicle remains the leading newspaper in the region—"
"And we welcome competition."
In Aaron's office, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of the Houston Post, Karen McKee, sat across from him, discussing the paper's future.
"The printing plant should be sold," Aaron said calmly.
"Printing can be fully outsourced."
"What the Houston Post needs right now is to increase circulation while cutting operating costs."
After spending $120 million to acquire the paper, Aaron had no intention of running it at a loss.
---
Karen McKee—an MBA graduate from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania—had been personally recruited by Aaron to take charge.
"I understand," she replied confidently.
"With Dawnlight backing us, the Houston Post no longer has to worry about survival."
"As for our biggest competitor, the Houston Chronicle—their circulation may still be strong, but I'm confident we can surpass them."
Her confidence wasn't unfounded.
Dawnlight's dominance in Hollywood meant a clear edge in entertainment coverage, while Aaron's ownership of the Houston Rockets ensured strong sports content.
Together, those advantages could significantly reshape the paper's appeal.
---
Aaron nodded.
"Good. You'll have full access to Dawnlight's resources."
---
After Karen left, Don Steel stepped into the office.
"Aaron, I've received a disaster film script—partially adapted by Michael Crichton. It's quite promising."
"A disaster film?" Aaron raised an eyebrow. "What's it about?"
"Tornadoes," she said. "The script's titled Twister."
Aaron paused for a moment before flipping through the script.
A large-scale disaster film centered on tornadoes—ambitious, but feasible with current visual effects technology.
He nodded.
"The story works. Dawnlight can develop this—don't hold back on the budget."
Another piece of good news.
Just as he finished reviewing the script, the NBA playoffs' second round had concluded—
The Houston Rockets defeated the Phoenix Suns 4–3, advancing to the Western Conference Finals.