Chapter 314 – Direct Competition
Inside a villa near Hollywood Reservoir in Hollywood Hills Park, Aaron sat on the sofa with the stunning and elegant Kate Beckinsale in his arms.
"So," he asked with a smile, "how did it feel attending your first Hollywood premiere?"
Legends of the Fall was Kate Beckinsale's very first Hollywood movie.
For a newcomer, it was already an impressive start.
And on top of that, she had also starred that year in Twilight Pictures' horror film Scream.
"You should be the one I thank," Kate replied warmly as she rose from the sofa and retrieved a bottle of wine from the cabinet, pouring two glasses.
"How else would I ever have gotten opportunities like this?"
Aaron walked over, accepted the glass, and clinked it gently against hers.
"The promotional tour for Legends of the Fall is probably going to keep you busy for a while."
"Then the movie officially releases next month."
Kate nodded.
She wasn't in a hurry.
Once both Legends of the Fall and Scream hit theaters, she should finally gain some real recognition.
"Aaron," she said softly, "you've been really busy lately, haven't you?"
"The news about Dawnlight trying to acquire MCA Universal is everywhere."
"It's manageable," Aaron replied casually.
"I just got back from Japan."
"But I'm confident."
As he spoke, he stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her gently on the cheek.
"What about you?" he asked.
"Still staying in London lately?"
Kate closed her eyes and leaned back into his embrace.
"Mhm."
"But you haven't come to London to visit me."
Aaron responded by kissing her lips directly, his hand sliding over her soft curves.
Kate eagerly returned the kiss before turning around and looping her arms around his neck, their lips and tongues entwining passionately.
---
The next morning, Aaron woke up holding Kate Beckinsale in his arms.
"Why don't you move in here from now on?" he asked lazily.
Kate blinked at him.
"I think the apartment on Fountain Avenue in West Hollywood is already nice enough."
"Living here feels a bit too much."
Aaron laughed and gently caressed her smooth body.
"What's wrong with this place?"
"I've got plenty of houses."
"It's quiet here, private, peaceful."
"I'm still a newcomer," Kate murmured as she rubbed lightly against him.
"And you're always away anyway."
"It'd be boring staying here alone."
"Maybe in the future, once I'm famous and need to avoid reporters, I'll move somewhere like this."
Aaron sighed helplessly.
"Suit yourself."
"My women are never short on opportunities anyway."
Kate smiled sweetly.
"That may be true…"
"But you really do have a lot of women."
"Anyway, I'm heading off to promote Legends of the Fall next."
"Will you be coming to England?"
Aaron shook his head.
"Probably not."
"But once you're back in America, I'll come see you."
"Okay."
---
With Dawnlight Pictures' final film release of 1994, Legends of the Fall, approaching theaters, the studio had no more major projects scheduled for the remainder of the year.
Meanwhile, Twilight Pictures' Halloween release Copycat had earned twelve million dollars domestically.
And Monica Bellucci's sensual beauty had become one of the film's biggest talking points.
---
Los Angeles.
Great Western Forum.
The defending champion Houston Rockets were playing an away game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Aaron attended the game with Jennifer Connelly.
Compared to the previous season, Houston's dominance no longer looked quite as overwhelming.
Inside the private suite, while watching the game, Aaron suddenly received a phone call.
"…What?"
"Willie Brown is dead?"
"He was shot and killed in Oakland by a group of armed robbers?"
Just this year, after stepping down as Speaker of the California State Assembly, Willie Brown had been shot three times and killed outside a bar in Oakland by a Black armed robber.
"Aaron, what's wrong?"
Beside him, Jennifer Connelly noticed that Aaron's expression had darkened after taking the phone call.
Aaron shook his head, leaned over to kiss her on the cheek, and gently patted her.
"It's nothing."
But inwardly, Aaron was deeply shaken.
Only a few days earlier, he had informed Leon Panetta that Pete Wilson intended to investigate Willie Brown.
And now the man was dead?
The Clinton faction truly was ruthless when it came to eliminating problems.
---
The next day, Aaron traveled to Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Ventura County, California.
He had come specifically to attend an event hosted by Leon Panetta.
Opened in 1991, the Reagan Presidential Library was one of the thirteen presidential libraries managed by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration—and also the largest among them.
Inside a small conference room in the library, Aaron sat on a sofa staring directly at Leon Panetta.
"Anything you want to explain?"
Leon Panetta shook his head calmly.
"Willie Brown knew too much."
"And frankly, he had far too many problems attached to him."
"I don't care about that," Aaron replied as he took a sip of wine.
"But none of this can affect me."
"Once Dawnlight finishes acquiring MCA, we'll begin preparations to go public."
"Dawnlight already has enough influence to reshape Hollywood."
"And I have plenty of enemies."
Leon Panetta smiled faintly.
"In the future, Dawnlight won't have any more problems with public relations in Washington."
"And even if the MCA acquisition fails, we'll still ensure Dawnlight becomes an official member of the Motion Picture Association of America."
"You'll replace Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and officially become one of Hollywood's Big Seven studios."
Aaron glanced at him thoughtfully.
Before becoming White House Chief of Staff, Leon Panetta had spent years serving as a Democratic congressman from California.
"You understand Hollywood's current power structure better than anyone," Aaron said as he slowly rose to his feet.
"Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company, and Paramount Pictures are all controlled by Jewish capital."
"Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Pictures belong to Japanese corporations."
"And 20th Century Fox is controlled by the Australian-born American Rupert Murdoch."
"My identity, my background, and my faith mean I was never destined to become too close to Jewish interests."
"You people keep expanding Jewish political influence."
"That's not necessarily a good thing."
Leon Panetta spread his hands helplessly.
"President Bill Clinton received tremendous support from Jewish capital."
"Strengthening their political standing is partly meant to ease their concerns."
"In today's America, Jewish capital is still primarily concentrated in finance and entertainment."
"But with you in Hollywood, that balance may gradually change."
"There haven't been any more negative stories about you or Dawnlight coming from The Washington Post lately, have there?"
"As for the Bronfman family, they currently don't have much support in Washington."
"This time, you can compete with them head-on for MCA Universal."
"And networks like ABC, NBC, and CNN will all rally behind you."
"The American golden boy reclaiming Universal Pictures from the Japanese."
Aaron slowly nodded.
"Good."
(End of Chapter)