Page 128 of Under Construction

"Nervous?" Dennis tries for lightness.

Chris's teeth grind. "Let's get this over with."

The moment they enter his father's office, Chris transforms—same mask from the gala. Every muscle coiled like he's preparing for impact.

Dennis’s father stands at his window, reading glasses perched on his nose as he studies a document. "Sit."

No greeting. No pleasantries. Pure ice in his voice.

He settles opposite them, removing his glasses and laying the paper down. "Five delayed permits, three rejections, and one missing truck." He levels that CEO stare that makes board members squirm. "What's next?"

"The permits were properly filed," Dennis starts. "We followed every—"

"That's no excuse. One permit, I can accept. But five in two weeks?"

Dennis blinks. His father's right—this is unprecedented.

His attention shifts to Chris, who sits unnaturally still. "And you—" He glances at the papers. "Mr. Chris…Rhodes? Is Chris short for something?"

"Just Chris."

"Ah, Just Chris." His father's lip curls. "How convenient,Christopher."

Chris stiffens. Dennis’s gaze bounces between them, confusion mounting.

"Before this project you were working with Westbrook Engineering here as their structural lead?"

"Yes."

The revelation hits Dennis—Chris is an engineer? Well, of course—it explains his expertise, but adds to the growing list of questions, especially as his father continues:

"And before that? In Seattle?"

Chris's fingers dig into his thighs, tendons standing out in his neck.

Dennis’s stomach drops—that same instinctive warning he felt when Chris faced Mr. Lancaster at the gala. Like a match about to strike.

"Sir," Dennis cuts in, using formal Korean honorifics despite the conversation being in English. "Is there a point to this meeting? We have urgent matters—"

"I just want to know where your site manager picked up these bad habits, since he's not even completing his working hours during a time like this,Architect Kim." His father's voice carries that particular Korean formality that turns Dennis’s title into a weapon.

Shit. The formal address means his father is truly angry.

"He—" Dennis starts, but Chris cuts him off.

"I had a severe case of flu, Sir. I've been running to the clinic because I haven't felt well. I apologize for the inconvenience."

"That's no excuse, Mr. Just Chris. Miss work again and you're fired. You understand?"

"Dad—Sir, wait—"

His father turns his back. "That is all."

Chris stands, turns, and leaves. Gone before Dennis can even process what happened. By the time Dennis reaches the door, the hallway is empty.

"As for you, Architect Kim." His father's voice freezes him. "I'm disappointed. I thought your judgment was better." The dismissal rings clear. "Close the door as you leave."

Dennis rushes to the elevator without a word, hoping to catch Chris.

---