The news of *Titanic* changing directors had been brewing for days before finally exploding across the United States.
A film that was already facing skepticism suddenly appointed an 18-year-old kid as its director. The gossip tabloids were in an uproar, and even respected media outlets across the country published scathing critiques.
*The Chicago Reader* ran the headline: **"Fox Takes a Huge Gamble—Can an 18-Year-Old Save Titanic?"**
> "Since the inception of *Titanic*, Fox executives have been making one disastrous decision after another, pushing 20th Century Fox to the brink of financial ruin. Now, just three days ago, led by Bill Mechanic, Fox has done the unthinkable—hiring an 18-year-old to direct a nearly $200 million project. This is unprecedented and absolutely absurd!"
*The Los Angeles Times* was even harsher, publishing an article titled: **"A Cocky Kid's Outrageous Boast—Is $1.5 Billion Just the Baseline?"**
> "Confidence is one thing; arrogance is another. And arrogance inevitably leads to failure. Dunn Williams Walker has suddenly become a household name in America after being named *Titanic's* director. But his claim that the film will gross at least $1.5 billion, with $2 billion as the ultimate goal, sounds more like the daydreams of an overenthusiastic teenager than a realistic projection. It seems young Mr. Walker still hasn't outgrown fairy tales."
The *New York Times* took an even sharper tone, stating outright that "Dunn Walker is destined to be nothing more than a passing name in Hollywood." They even hinted that he was merely a pawn in a power struggle within Fox and predicted that this decision would not only crush his career but ruin his entire future.
Meanwhile, *The Times* of London scoffed: **"With so many accomplished directors in Hollywood, they chose a kid who still reeks of baby formula? This is an insult to the entire film industry!"**
Specialized film magazines weren't any kinder. They outright declared that *Titanic* was destined to be the biggest financial disaster in history, branding it "the greatest farce ever played out in Hollywood." According to them, Fox and Dunn Walker were about to make cinematic history—for all the wrong reasons.
Fox Responds to the Firestorm
Feeling the immense pressure, Fox Studios was forced to hold a press conference, defending their choice. They described Dunn Walker as a "directorial prodigy, possibly even more talented than a young Steven Spielberg." They argued that in the face of *Titanic's* mounting troubles, he had the courage and vision to take charge.
"Fox believes in Dunn Walker," their spokesperson declared. "We are confident that he will lead *Titanic* to success and deliver a masterpiece for film lovers worldwide."
Fox also reassured the public that James Cameron was still involved as a producer and that he would continue overseeing the film's production. "There's no need for concern," they insisted.
But despite these reassurances, the criticism, mockery, and doubt continued to drown them out. The skepticism was so overwhelming that even Rupert Murdoch, the head of News Corp, personally called to question the decision. Yet Bill Mechanic stood his ground, firmly believing that Dunn Walker was the best possible choice to direct *Titanic*.
This was a declaration of war. Inside Fox, the tension was palpable.
The Calm Within the Storm
While the outside world was in turmoil, the *Titanic* set remained surprisingly calm. The reason? Dunn Walker's skill had earned everyone's respect.
Even James Cameron, initially skeptical, was impressed by his creativity and innovative ideas. He even admitted publicly, "Dunn's technical expertise is outstanding—it's honestly surprising. Of course, I'd like to see him focus more on the finer details, but his talent is undeniable."
However, not everyone was at ease. One person in particular was more anxious than anyone else—
Kate Winslet.
With filming in Los Angeles wrapped up, the crew was set to fly to Mexico City the next day. And there was something she needed to resolve before then.
A Late-Night Visit
That night, filming wrapped up early so everyone could rest for the early morning flight. Dunn returned to his luxury hotel suite—a spacious three-room setup, far more extravagant than the tiny motels he used to stay in.
At around nine o'clock, after taking a relaxing bath, he sat on the couch in his bathrobe, flipping through the storyboard script with a red pen in hand, making edits.
Then, there was a knock at the door.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
Dunn stood up to open it—
To his surprise, it was Kate Winslet.
She had clearly just taken a bath herself. Her golden-brown curls draped loosely over her shoulders, still damp, framing her face in a way that was effortlessly seductive. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled like gemstones, set against her flawless, fair skin. Her lips were a luscious shade of red, and her smile held an unspoken promise.
There was no denying it—she was breathtaking.
Sexy, confident, utterly captivating.
Dunn had read her profile. At 5'7" and around 120 pounds, she didn't have the stereotypical "supermodel" figure, but the idea that she was "chubby" or "overweight" was pure nonsense.
Still, he found it odd that she was here so late.
"Sorry to bother you so late, Director," she said softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Would you mind if I came in for a cup of coffee?"
Dunn raised an eyebrow, giving her a skeptical glance.
*Coffee? At this hour? Seriously?*
"Sure," he said, stepping aside. "Come in."
As he turned away, Kate let out a quiet sigh of relief, pressing a hand to her chest as if calming her nerves.
She knew that Dunn Walker was easygoing—most of the crew simply called him "Dunn." But she had been sticking to the formal "Director" title, waiting for his permission to drop it.
Tonight, that was going to change.
After pouring her a cup of coffee, Dunn returned to the couch, continuing his work on the script.
Then, a soft floral fragrance filled the air.
Strands of damp hair brushed against his cheek.
Before he realized it, Kate had slid onto the couch beside him, her voice laced with unmistakable charm. "Director, you're still working this late?"
Dunn turned to look at her—
Her delicate features, her enticing curves—it was impossible not to notice.
He swallowed unconsciously. "I'm just cutting unnecessary scenes."
Kate glanced at the script, noticing the large X marks over some of the storyboard sketches, but she didn't question it—that wasn't her concern.
"Director, we have an early flight tomorrow," she said with a playful smile. "You should rest."
Dunn smirked internally. *You're telling me to rest, yet you show up at my door in the middle of the night for 'coffee'?*
Last time, he had let things slide. But this time, she was pushing boundaries.
He was about to call her out—
Then he saw her expression.
Those soft eyes. Those parted lips. The gentle tilt of her chin that accentuated the alluring curve of her body.
Even if he had been oblivious before, at this moment, he understood exactly what she wanted.
"Oh…"
Dunn felt his heartbeat quicken. His mouth went dry.
This—
This was Hollywood.
"Director…" Kate leaned in, pressing her warm body against his chest. Her voice was a sultry whisper. "I was wrong last time. Forgive me, won't you?"
Dunn was still a young man. How could he resist?
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he lifted her effortlessly and carried her toward the bedroom. His voice was firm, teasing, yet filled with anticipation.
"That depends on how well you make it up to me."
Kate Winslet let out a soft giggle, draping her arms around his neck as she murmured sweetly, "Director… Rose needs your punishment…"
Dunn nearly stumbled.
Hollywood actresses. When they turned on the charm—
No man could resist.
Absolutely no man.