Page 169 of Under Construction

As police move forward with handcuffs, Lancaster's facade finally cracks. "Chris," he says, voice breaking. "Son..."

"Goodbye, Dad." Chris takes Dennis's hand, fingers interlacing. "I hope you find peace."

They watch together as Christopher Lancaster is led away, his empire crumbling behind him. Chris's grip tightens almost painfully in Dennis's.

"You okay?" Dennis asks softly.

Chris turns to him, and there's something like wonder in his eyes. "Yeah," he says. "I really am."

Jessica appears beside them, tears bright in her eyes. "My brave, brilliant boy." She pulls Chris into a fierce hug, then reaches for Dennis too. "Both of you."

Cameras flash, capturing the moment—not of Lancaster's triumph, but of a family rebuilt. Of love winning over power.

Of a future built on truth instead of lies.

58Bamboo Paradise

Despite the recent drama, with construction so far behind, they can't afford delays. So while Dennis tries to make Chris rest after the series of traumatic events, Chris just grins wide.

"Got my mom back, got my future husband right here—what's there to recover from?"

Dennis elbows him, face heating. He'd kiss Chris to shut him up, but that only encourages him.

"Can you not? My mom's already sketching kimono designs and wedding venues and we have a building to finish, you menace."

The first week feels unreal. Chris ambushes Dennis at every opportunity, yanking at his belt buckle and shirt buttons while Dennis tries—and fails—to bat his hands away between kisses.

"Now we have everything we need to make your vision come true," Chris says, crowding Dennis until he falls back onto the bed, catching himself on his elbows.

"Ourvision." Dennis hooks his fingers in Chris's underwear, dragging them down. "I'm not doing anything without my structural lead." His hand wraps around Chris's cock, drawing a long, satisfied exhale.

"As your whatever you want, princess—" Chris's words cut off in a groan as Dennis strokes him. Then he's on top of Dennis, both of them dissolving into laughter between wet kisses.

While they're lost in each other, the world keeps turning. Jessica takes back Rhodes Construction like she never left, splitting ownership fifty-fifty with Chris and making Isabelle's team permanent.

With Dennis’s help, the young guard who helped them escape gets tracked down and placed under Isabelle's top security specialist.

Dennis's father simply slides a folder across his desk the next morning after they put Lancaster away. Inside, paperwork naming Dennis owner and director of Kim Industries' new Sustainable Architectural Innovation division.

By Monday, they're finally cleared to return to the site. Dennis stands with his tablet, hair wind-swept, hoodie instead of a dress shirt, and wearing those jeans that make Chris's eyes glaze over, ready to tear down the police tape. Chris bumps his shoulder as he joins him.

"OK everybody, let's do this thing!" Chris calls out.

The site roars to life—trucks rumbling, boots stomping concrete, that awful speaker blasting music that somehow doesn't bother Dennis anymore. Workers spread across the pavilion, the crew back at full strength.

Many returned after Chris put out word that anyone who left during the Lancaster mess could come back, no questions asked. Jason's already rolling out their partnership program—their other kind of sustainability, keeping good people invested in their future.

Chris's hand finds Dennis's ass, squeezing.

"Hey!" Dennis yelps. "I'm still your boss, you know." He clears his throat while admitting reproachfully. “Well, until the pavilion is done, that is.”

Chris moves in close, stopping just shy of Dennis's mouth. "Still my favorite boss to work under. Or on top of. Or against any flat surface—"

"Oh my god, get out!" Dennis shoves at his chest, but he's fighting a smile. Chris’s whole presence lights up the site now, that magnetic charm fully focused on Dennis instead of hiding behind secrets.

Chris drops a quick kiss onto Dennis's lips before joining the crew, tank top riding high enough and pants low enough to show he definitely rushed out without underwear after their “just five more minutes” turned into thirty, that morning.

Dennis scoffs. Some things never change—but he'll have stern words about professionalism later. Very stern words. Probably while on his knees.

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