BROKEN VOW (can a broken heart be mended?)

LOCATION : Hayden Anderson OFFICE ( Anderson GROUP OF COMPANIES)

THIRD PERSON NARRATIVE

Inside the wide capacious office, the air conditioner blowing so cold with a quirky fragrance, the glass desk littered with so much files, a pen cup, a apple laptop which was sparkling neat and glittering as it was made of annaeled glass, two iPhone, two iPad and a office telephone.

And just in front of the glass desk were two black twirling seats. A mini bar placed at the far end of the desk and a plasma television which was hung on the wall.

There was a blue coloured cushion some meters away from the desk right beside the wall, four black throw pillows was placed on it making it look comforting for a nap, a little table.

The door and walls around office was made of glass and done in such a way that only a person from within the office could see what was going on outside the office, he could see when a person was coming to his office, but no one from the outside could see a thing, the office was convenient for the boss alone.

Hayden Anderson sat down majestically on the chair in his office reading through the file in his front on the desk, three buttons was loose on his long sleeves exposing his sexy albs, his tie hung loosely on his neck.

The door of his office was suddenly opened, he raised his head up and saw his two best friends Gerald and Lucas with a mischievous smirk plastered on their faces.

"Hey man." Lucas greeted seating in the seat opposite him together with Gerald.

"I heard Tessa is back from England." Lucas said

"And what does not have to do with me?" Hayden asked furrowing his brows.

"You are such a bad boy, i bet you are the first to know and you didn't seem it fit to inform us." Lucas said ignoring Hayden's question

"To think we are your best friends and you have to hide the fact that you both are getting married." Gerald added

"I don't get you guys, i am confused." Hayden arched his brows

"Here take a good look at this, let's see if you will deny it." Lucas handed his phone, a news article was displayed on it

Both Luca and Gerald focused their eyes on Hayden studying his expression.

"Do you think anyone is gonna snatch Tessa away from you?" Lucas jokingly asked looking at his best friend

"To think you always say you hate her so much or is there something you are not telling us." Gerald scoffed furrowing his brows

"What is the meaning of this? Who the hell made this article?" Hayden yelled with an unreadable expression not believing what he saw on the article.

"Don't tell us you don't know about the marriage between you and Tessa?" Lucas asked when he saw the dreaded look on Hayden's face

"Don't tell me that is an arranged marriage that rich parents always make out for their kids." Gerald asked with a shock expression.

"No i have no idea about this, how could my parents do this to me? How could they get me betrothed with my consent." Hayden yelled trying to control his temper

"Oh my God, this is terrible, do you think Tessa already knows and could this be the reason that she is back to this country from England?" Lucas arched his brow

" I can't believe that my father betrayed me by getting me betrothed to the least person i like without my consent, i always knew that he was greedy. How could that old man do this to me?" Hayden felt betrayed and sad at the same time

"I guess that daughter of Lucifer knows about it that is why she is back." Hayden clench and unclench his jaw

"I think my father has a lot of fucking explaining to do, thanks guys for informing me." Hayden said picking up his car keys from the desk and his jacket from his seat, storming out of the office with both his friends trailing behind him.

"Dude please calm down, should i drive you home?" Lucas offered the moment they all where at the company garage.

"Don't worry no matter how pissed i am I will be able to drive safely, i think you guys should get back to work." Hayden said entering his car, he turned the engine on and zoomed off

∆∆∆∆∆

ANDERSON RESIDENT

Upon arriving home, Hayden headed straight to his father's home office after inquiring about his father's whereabout from one of the maid.

He barged into his father's office without knocking and that was so not like him but he didn't give a fuck about it, his father had to give a perfect explanation as to why he had gotten him betrothed to that devil Tessa Lina Cooper.

"Son why did you barged into my office without knocking and why is your face that way?" His father Mr Marcus Anderson asked taking his eyes away from the document in his front.

"Can you fucking explain this to me, dear father!" Hayden said emphazing on the dear father, showing his father the article

"Oh! This i am glad you already found out about this." His father said with a voice which was void of emotion concentrating on his laptop

"You have no right whatsoever to decide my future father, you have no right to choose a bride for me." Hayden seeth trying to keep his anger under control

"I am your father and I have every right to decide what is good for your future." His father yelled

"Tell me your reason for such rash decision, i deserve to know." Hayden asked glaring at his father

"The company is having financial issue son and we need the Cooper, I know you have your little company, but we need you to help us save the company." His mother Martha said walking into the office

"Your dad had no option but to strike a deal with the Cooper's which involved getting you and their only daughter married, your father had to do it to save the company and our legacy." His mother explained

"But mom, you both should have talked to me before you went ahead to make your plans."

"What would your reply be huh? You would have made a big deal out of it, you would have kicked against it." His father said, he was beginning to get angry

"This is my future, my life not yours or mom's future and life." Hayden yelled seething in rage.

"Are you trying to tell me that i can't decide your future now? I am your father and i have every right to decide for you. Tessa Cooper is the perfect choice for you, she is smart, beautiful, resourceful and she is the heiress of the Cooper's and Laurel's fortunes."

"Do you think betrothing me to Tessa is the best thing for me dad? Dad you never care about my feelings in the first place, you never cared of how i will feel. You just went ahead to do your fucking wish."

"All you ever care about is yourself, money and the fucking company, you have always been selfish father, you always like controlling my life."

"Watch your tongue young man." His father said landing a slap on his face, a loud gasped escape from his mother's mouth.

"How can you betrothed me to that bitch Tessa father? Beside there is no way that I am going to get married to her, I won't give you what you want." Hayden yelled loudly as he stomped out of the home office

"This isn't your decision to make dear son." His father said coming after him as they headed to the living room

"Father, how is this not my decision to make?" Hayden scoffed "

"We are talking about me getting married here, What about my feelings don't they matter? I don't feel a thing for her, even if i were to get married it was definitely not to her!" Hayden whispered yelled holding back the rage that was trying to overlap his emotions

"Son, this is the only way to save the company from going bankrupt, your father and grandfather worked so hard for the company to get to a higher status."

"Tessa is our only hope, try to understand, your marriage with her will be a revolution for the family's business, your father is at the verge of loosing everything we have, we are at the verge of bankruptcy."

"You have no brought a woman home neither have you had a girlfriend, so i don't understand why you wouldn't want to get married to the woman you always wished to marry when you were still young, you and Tessa used to be close and inseparable, you were best friends." His mother said trying to convince him

"That was long ago mom, you are pushing me to marry a woman that i don't even have any feeling whatsoever for, i don't know her anymore, she is completely a change and different person and i am never getting married to Tessa, never!" Hayden spat

"You are going to get married to her, Hayden Leo Anderson, i won't seat down and watch you destroy everything that I and my father worked hard for with our blood and sweat to build, i won't let you destroy my legacy. Never!" His father yelled

"You are getting married to Tessa Cooper and that is final." His father angrily said to his face

"I won't get married to her, never will i ever get married to that daughter of Lucifer, why don't you divorce mom and get married to her if you are so desperate to save your company." He yelled back at his father.

"You should be happy that the Cooper's are allowing their daughter to get married to their heiress, every man in your shoes will kill for this opportunities." His mom spoke

"Then go and give birth to another son so that he will get married to her."

He picked his car keys which he carelessly threw on the table and stormed out of the house

"Hayden... Come back here... Hayden... You brat get back here this instance." His father called out his name which he ignored.

He went straight to his car, entered inside, turned on the engine and drove with speed out of the compound.

LOCATION : THE COOPER'S RESIDENT

THIRD PERSON NARRATIVE

"How can you do this without my consent dad?" Tessa questioned as she set down the glass of wine on the table.

She glared at her father who chuckled.

How can they tell her to come back from England only to give her the shocking news that she is getting married to the least person she expected.

"You know that the Anderson and us are like family, it was through their company that our company got to the height that we are currently now. They made us what we are now, we owe the Anderson a lot and this will also be beneficial for our company." Her dad Mr Oliver said trying to convince her

Tessa pursed her lips trying to process everything that her father said

"But you should have consulted me about it first before going ahead with your plans, dear dad." She emphasize

"We are your parents sweetheart, we know what is good for and Hayden is good for you, we watched him grow up." Her mother chipped in

"I know you and dad are my parents, but when it comes to the issue of marriage you both have no right to make the decision for me, mom you both are way out of line." Tessa spat trying to control her anger

"But dear, please do this for us, we owe a lot to the Anderson. Please, please." Her mom said

"I know that we owe our company success to the Anderson for their support when our company was going through a hard phase, but isn't there another way to help them out without making me get married to that Hayden" She questioned holding the wine glass tightly

She can't bear the thought of getting married to Hayden Anderson, she surely knows that he detest her after their last encounter.

"I am not some sort of trophy or goods that you can just hand out." She whispered yelled

"The only way to save the Anderson companies is by getting you both married, that way we will be able to convince the shareholders and investors that the company was merged as one because of marriage, the bankruptcy will be covered as well, we will get more investors to invest and we will also benefit from the partnership." Her dad explained

"I don't care dad, partner, invest with them, do whatever you want but not the marriage." She said

"Tessa sweetheart, i thought you and Hayden were close and best friends, so why are you objecting this marriage, i thought that you will be glad when you find out about your marriage with your best friend." Her mother said

"Not anymore mom, that was a long time ago, I don't have any feeling whatsoever for him, beside i am a completely different person and so goes with him."

"Do this for our sake pumpkin and for the sake of our business and that of your God parents the Anderson's, think about the people that will loose their Jobs if the Anderson go bankrupt." Her dad pleaded

"Fine dad, i will do this for you, the Anderson and the workers. We owe the Anderson a lot, I can't bear to see them fail in business."

"I will endure and go through this hellish arrangement even though i am against it." She sighed sipping from the glass of wine

"So is this a big yes?" Her mom asked as she used her finger to rub the tip of the glass of wine

"Partially i am doing this for you, dad and the company so none of you should think that i want this marriage." Tessa rasped using her fingers to brush her hair

Her dad chuckled, sipping down the rest of the tequila on his glass. " Thanks sweetie." He said with a proud smile on his face

Tessa got up from her seat, picked up her car keys from the table.

"Are you heading out?" Her mother asked which she nodded in response

"I have got to hangout with Joan, beside i need to rethink and clear my head about this whole marriage stuffs. I am looking forward to changing my mind and finding a accurate solution to this charade." She said to her parents with a soft voice

"I hope and pray that you don't have a change of mind." Her mother said and she shook her head sideways

Tessa watched as her father poured himself another glass of tequila, she chuckled when her father sent a cheers in the air to her before she headed out.

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

As Tessa drove down the road heading to the club, that she hanging out with her best friend Joan and Mona, she spotted a car which was wrongly parked in the middle of the road.

"How the fucking hell will someone parked a car so carelessly on the road." She mumbled glaring at the car

She honked at the car severally but it wasn't getting the attention of the driver of the car, she got down from her car, walked to the car and knocked on the window of the driver of the car which was parked carelessly on the road.

She knocked severally for sometime but she got no response from the occupant of the car, she was growing impatient before the person opened the door of the car, she had her eyes on the incoming vehicles which was driving with great speed.

She turned to looked at the owner of the car so as to give the person a piece of her mind but the owner of the car ducked, the person was a man, he slammed the door roughly and quickly started the engine of the car and drove off with speed before she could see his face.

"Hey you fool, wait up." She shouted and cursed at the driver

"Who on earth is that big fool." She cursed out loud glaring at the speeding car

"Such such foolish and rude behaviour, I am sure his mama didn't have enough time to give him a good upbringing." She thought out loud still looking at the direction that the speeding car took.

"I should have just let a car fucking smash his car from behind, that way he won't park his car wrongly." She mumbled getting into the car, turning the engine and heading straight to the club.

∆∆∆∆∆∆

LOCATION : CLUB

"Here comes the latest bride." Her friend Joan shouted the moment she walked close to her in the club

"Cut it out." She snickered picking the glass of cocktail which she was served

"Why didn't you tell me that you were coming back because of your wedding with Hayden?" She questioned

"I never knew anything about the damn wedding, my parents planned this, they both trick me into coming back." I revealed shocking both Joan and Mona

"Oh my God! This is bad, do you think Hayden planned all this with them so he can exact his revenge on you." She said

"He probably does, but too bad, this marriage is going one hell of fun." Tessa said with scarcism dripping from my voice

"What reason did your father give for arranging this marriage?" She questioned

"He said that the Anderson are having financial problem and the only way to help them is by getting I and Hayden married that way they will be able to merge both companies and covered the bankruptcy." She explained picking up the glass of cocktail

"But i thought Hayden have his own company, why is he agreeing to marry you?" Mona asked

"Maybe he wants to help his parents company from going bankrupt. You and I know that Hayden company cannot be able to raise a huge amount of money to cover the bankruptcy, his company is just a little company." Tessa explained to her

"You are right, but I just hope that Hayden doesn't have ulterior motive for agreeing to the marriage." Joan said in a worried tone

"I don't care if he have any ulterior motive, I am just accepting this arrange marriage because of my dad and I am doing him a huge favour by saving his family's ass." Tessa sighed sipping the cocktail

"Girl your life sucks so bad right of all the hot guys that you dated, you are going to be stuck with that nerdy docky Hayden for life, Tessa Cooper Hayden Anderson " Joan teased giggling

"That name suck dear friend." Tessa giggled.

"You will need a lot of luck Tessa.' Joan laughed.

"Get up let's hit the dance floor." Mona screamed running to the dance floor

Tessa got up from my seat and went to join her

She was still dancing when someone bumped into me and I almost lost my balance, the person walked away hastily with apologizing

"Weird." She mumbled and continue with her dance

"Why I am encountering weird people today." She muttered moving to the bar to get herself a drink

HAYDEN POINT OF VIEW

I did my best to control my anger back in there with my parents and this time it was too much as i let it all out as i drove with great speed out of the compound.

"Damn you Fucking Tessa Lina Laurel Cooper." I screamed tightening my hand on the steering wheel

I pulled over when i was far enough from home, rolled the windows up, unbutton three buttons from my sleeve shirt and turned on the air conditioner in the car, I used my hands to hit the steering in the car.

Why does this have to happen to me?

Why that family?

Why Tessa Lina Cooper?

Why did my parents have to betrothed me to the devil?

Why?

Why her, after what she did to me?

I can't believe my own parents would do this to me. If it was my dad i will understand because he is always greedy for money, but my mom i just don't want know or understand how and when her greed for money started.

I heard my phone buzz, i picked it and switched it off, i just don't want any disturbance from anybody i just need to clear my head from this devastating news.

I lowered my car seat backwards and leaned on it, close my eyes, shutting the world off before drifting off to sleep.

I was woken up by the unending honking of another car, as i adjusted myself to sit well and start the car's engine, i heard someone knock on my car's window.

I turned to look at who it was because the person was annoying me with the constant knocking on my car door.

"I am so sorry." I said as i opened the door of my car in order to get out and apologize but then my jaw dropped with my eyes growing wide, fighting to fall off the socket and anger boiling up inside of me, when i saw her face.

I can't be mistaking, it is really her, her face and body structure. She looked more beautiful, sexy and curvy. Her hair was still the same brown colour. She look more breathtaking than the last time i saw her, by her new appearance doesn't matter because she is still the devil that i know.

She stood beside my car door with one arm on her waist and the other one of the hand on the door of my car as she had her face towards the direction of the road and when she looked towards my direction, i ducked my head back inside the car putting on my black shade and a face cap so as not to her recognised by her.

What in the world is she doing here?

I am not in any way ready to face her, I immediately slammed the door of my car without wasting time and caring if she will get hurt in the process. I drove as fast as i could without turning back.

She is the last person i want to see right now, how can she appear in my life after seven fucking years?

I just hope and wish to find a solution that will put an end to this nightmare. I drove off with speed to the club to meet my friends.

I was walking inside the club, using my eyes to scan for my friends Lucas and Gerald when i bumped into someone, i looked up and saw that it was Tessa.

Without wasting time and allowing her to look up, i stormed out of the club, heading to my car and driving off back to the house.

"Can this day ever get worst?" I mumbled

*****

TWO DAYS LATER

"Son, why are you dressed yet? We will be late for dinner at the Anderson." My mom asked walking into my room together with my dad

"Not like i care." I snickered concentrating on my phone

"You won't ruin this for me Hayden, you have no slightest idea how this is important for me and the business." My dad scowl

I scoffed glaring at him. "I don't care Dad, you can go ahead and divorce mom so that you can get married to her, i don't care about you and your fucking business, dear father." I snarled emphasizing on the dear

"You little brat!!" My dad yelled in outrage raising a hand to slap me but it was caught middle way by my mom

"Enough you two, Son please do this for my sake, if you love me attend this dinner with us." My mom said in a pleading tone

"No mom." I replied

"Please son, please just do this for my sake." She pleaded in a crack tone

"I am going to go with you guys, not for your husband." I muttered going into my walk in closet to get dress.

I sat down on the bed cogitated after getting dress, i can't believe that i am going to come face to face with Lucifer's beloved daughter.

"Hayden dear, let's go." My mom shouted from downstairs

I felt my throat becoming dry, how am i supposed to face Tessa after our last encounter that shattered me and broke our friendship?

I took a deep breath trying to calm my anxiety, i can't be nervous around Tessa.

I need to be in control, i need to show her that i am now strong.

"I am no longer the old Hayden that she hurt in the past." I mumbled going downstairs to join my parents in the waiting car

I won't let myself be humiliated by Tessa anymore, i won't let her pry on my weakness anymore.

I am going to show her that i am no longer weak and she can't walk over me again.

I am going to show her that i have changed.

Above all i am going to show her that i am no longer the old Hayden Leo Anderson who she humiliated and casted away years ago.