Book II Chapter 1: Fighter I

Four years have passed, and everything has changed.

Joella is in the final semester of college, standing at the edge of a new chapter in her life. The once-shy girl has blossomed into a confident young woman, ready to take on the real world. While she’s still as sweet as ever, she’s no longer afraid to speak her mind. Growth has shaped her, but at her core, she remains the same—just bolder, stronger.

Haden, on the other hand, is as cold and commanding as ever—at least to the outside world. But to Joella, he’s still the man who would burn the world down for her. Over the past year, he’s thrown himself deeper into his club, Blaze, while learning the ins and outs of Cooper Inc. under the watchful eye of his grandfather, Russo. With the old man ready to step down, the pressure on Haden to take over the family business has never been heavier.

Their return home should have been a fresh start—but nothing is ever that simple. Shadows of the past still linger, secrets lurk beneath the surface, and hidden agendas threaten to unravel everything they've built. They escaped once... but can they do it again? Will their love be enough to withstand the weight of the world, or will the pressure finally break them apart?

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Joella

"Come on, Ella, give me two more."

With a final burst of energy, I threw the last one-two combination against the pads in Haden’s hands. My arms burned, my muscles screamed, and the second he lowered the pads, I let my body collapse onto the floor in exhaustion. Training with Haden was no joke. He’d been drilling me non-stop in self-defense, teaching me not only how to fight but how to handle a gun. Now, we were moving on to knife training.

"Come on, Ella. One last run, and we're done."

I let out a tired whimper but forced myself to my feet. Haden reached for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine as we walked to the elevator and rode up to the main floor of the Russo Hotel. The moment we stepped outside, he released my hand and turned to me, his usual smirk in place.

"One lap around the block, and then you're finished."

I groaned, glaring at him, but all he did was wink before giving my butt a playful pat.

"Come on, baby, you're killing it today. You got this." He glanced down at his Apple Watch and tapped the screen. "Okay, go!"

I sighed but took off down the block, my body moving on pure muscle memory. This had become our weekend routine. Since Haden was back home, I flew in every weekend so we could train at The Dungeon. I had to admit—I was in the best shape of my life. The little bit of softness around my waist? Gone. My legs? Leaner. My endurance? Stronger.

Not that my curves were going anywhere. My hips, thighs, and ass were still very much intact. Mom always said I was blessed with them, and she wasn’t lying. But the difference now? I didn’t mind. I wasn’t self-conscious anymore. Haden made sure to admire every inch of me, leaving no room for insecurity. That shy, self-doubting girl I used to be? She was gone. I loved myself—every part of me—and damn, it felt good.

The moment I learned to truly love myself was the moment I was able to fully love Haden. He pushed me, supported me, and never let me settle.

I was in my final semester of college, and I was proud to say I’d already landed my first job as a marketing manager. Haden wanted me to come work at Cooper Inc., but I had something to prove to myself. I wanted this job because of my own merit, not because I was dating the owner’s son.

As I focused on keeping my breathing steady and maintaining my pace, I rounded a corner—only to collide with a solid chest. The impact nearly sent me stumbling back, but two strong arms caught me before I could fall.

"Sorry!" I gasped, regaining my balance and stepping back. My eyes traveled upward, locking onto a pair of dark brown eyes staring down at me.

"It's okay," the man said with a chuckle. "You came out of nowhere."

He bent down to pick up a stack of fallen papers, and I immediately kneeled to help.

"Yeah, I wasn’t paying attention. No one’s usually out here when I run by," I explained, handing him a few sheets. That’s when I noticed the sign behind him—Hamilton Electrics.

He stood, glancing at me with a curious expression. "Miss—?" He paused, waiting for my name, and extended his hand.

"Oh! Joella," I replied, shaking his hand.

His head tilted slightly. "As in Joella Stevens?"

I nodded, and he smiled.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Allen. I called you last week about your start date in a couple of months."

Recognition clicked instantly. "Oh yes! Very nice to meet you, too."

His smile was warm, easygoing, and he gave me a slight nod. "We’re looking forward to having you on the team. Our CEO was really impressed with your transcripts and resume."

I felt a small swell of pride at that.

"How long will you be in town?" he asked. "We’d love for you to fill out the paperwork in person. I could introduce you to everyone while you're at it."

"I fly back to L.A. on Monday, but I’ll be back Friday afternoon," I answered.

Allen pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to me. "Call me when you get back. I’ll have everything ready for you."

I was about to respond when the sharp screech of tires made me whip my head around. A sleek black car came to a sudden stop beside me, and before I could blink, Haden was out of the driver’s seat, his intense gaze locking onto mine. His sharp eyes scanned my body quickly, checking for any signs of harm.

I smiled, watching the tension ease from his shoulders as he strode toward me.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close.

I nodded and gestured toward Allen. "Yeah, I'm fine. I, uh, ran into him—literally. But he’s also going to be my supervisor when I start working here."

Haden’s expression shifted in an instant. His jaw clenched as he glanced up at the building, and something dark flickered in his eyes. Why did he look pissed?

"Hamilton Electrics?" he said slowly, his gaze snapping back to mine.

"Yes…?" I answered cautiously.

Without another word, Haden turned to Allen, finally acknowledging him. He extended his hand, though there was an unmistakable edge to his movements.

"Haden Cooper."

Allen’s brows lifted slightly in recognition as he grasped Haden’s hand. "Nice to meet you. We’re excited to have Joella join us."

Haden let out a dry chuckle, the sound holding no real amusement. "I’m sure you are. I’m sure your boss is thrilled, too."

That tone. I knew that tone. Haden was not happy, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why.

Allen, unfazed, responded with cool confidence. "Mr. Hamilton is excited because of Miss Stevens’ impressive credentials."

Haden chuckled again, this time darker. "Yeah, right." His gaze sharpened. "Just do me a favor—tell younger Mr. Hamilton to keep his damn hands to himself. We’re grown now, and I’m far more lethal than I was in high school."

Before I could say anything, Haden’s fingers wrapped around my wrist, firm but not rough, and he led me toward his car without another glance at Allen. He pulled open the passenger door, and I slid inside, still trying to process the conversation. By the time he jogged around and slipped into the driver’s seat, the tension rolling off him was thick enough to suffocate the air between us.

"Haden, what the hell was that?" I demanded.

But he just gripped the wheel, his jaw still tight, eyes locked straight ahead. Something told me that this was far from over.

---

"So, do you want to tell me what that was all about?" I asked as we stepped into Haden’s penthouse, the tension from earlier still thick in the air.

Haden shut the door behind us and turned to face me, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "Come on, Ella. Think." His voice was sharp, edged with frustration. "Hamilton Electrics." He emphasized the name like I should’ve already figured it out.

And then it hit me.

My stomach dropped. How the hell had I not put that together sooner?

"Oh… Do you think that’s why they hired me?" My earlier excitement wavered, doubt creeping in.

Haden exhaled through his nose, shaking his head as he closed the distance between us. He cupped my face, his touch warm and grounding, before pressing a soft, reassuring kiss to my lips.

"I have no doubt they were impressed with your credentials," he murmured. "You’ve had a 4.0 from the start, and you’ll be a huge asset to them. But let’s not kid ourselves—there’s no way Mr. Hamilton doesn’t know exactly who you are."

He was right. Mr. Hamilton knew me very well. Too well.

I let out a heavy sigh and sank onto the couch, rubbing my temples. "I mean… we’re all adults now, right? I’m sure Josh is over all that petty stuff."

Haden let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head before muttering, "For his sake, I hope so."

With that, he turned and walked toward the half bath, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Yeah, I thought to myself, me too.

But deep down, something told me it wouldn’t be that simple.