Is there such a thing as "Love at first sight?" And if so, can Cindy find a way to show Alex? The names are changed, but the story is true. This story began 8 months ago. But the past has a way of rearing its ugly head when you least expect it to. Cindy King is a 48-year-old mother of seven, five boys, two girls, all over the age of 18. She had been working in her hometown of Wadsworth, Oklahoma for going on two years now, but still finding it hard to meet her ever going monthly bills, she makes a last-ditch decision and go to Vante, Oklahoma, and apply for a job at the only Casino there. Thinking this is just going to be a job to help pay her bills and maybe just maybe help her move away from her ex-husband and finally have a life to call her own. She walks into Dunbar's Buffet after the hour's drive over, she looks around and her eyes fall on a man that smiles' brighten the entire venue, and without realizing it she can not tear her eyes away from him. Even not knowing his name, can not hinder her heart rate that went from her normal 105/80 sky-rocketing to what felt like 300/160 in as little as two microseconds. Cindy had given up on love, especially after her ex-husband not only cheated on her but had mentally, verbally, and physically abused her during the 25 long years of the relationship and marriage. And after so many years of being told you are fat, ugly, and treated as less than a speck of dust under someone's shoe, you tend to start believing that everything they say is true. Even if it's not, and you think that you never deserve to find much less have someone that truly will love you. This is the way Cindy felt because as she looked into the unknown man's eyes, she thought 'If only I was worthy enough to have someone like him, then I could truly and finally be happy in life. But I will never be beautiful or worthy enough, so I won't even try." So she continued to say Hi to her new co-workers, even as she still could not look away from the man. Alex Martinez, a 22-year-old man, shy and mysterious, keeps to himself because his last girlfriend used him and cheated on him with another man for two years before Alex caught them. He is standing at the fryers about to pull chicken up, hears a timid voice of the new employee, another female. She is saying hi to the other co-workers, who are trying to get her attention, but when Alex raises his eyes to see what the female looks like, his eyes find her's unwavering from his. And he thinks " What is going on in her pretty little mind, why can I feel her eyes are touching me in a wonderful feeling as if her fingers are running along my very skin?" As he turns back to the fryer vat to pull the chicken he can still feel her gaze fixed on his profile, and he side glances at her to find that even though the others are between them it feels as if no one is there. Toby Parks, a 36-year-old man, loves his husband, but this new girl has his eye in a way that no other female has ever gotten to him. She is kind, sweet, but damn if she doesn't have fire in her eyes and a temper to match his very own. But why is her eyes on Alex, is there something happening, I say "Hi" and she kindly replies with a timid "Hi" back, but she never removes her eyes from him. And all I can think is "If he hurts her, I will kill him on the spot." Will Cindy and Alex make it, or are they doomed from the very start? Keep reading to find out.
Chapter 1 Pre-log: Cindy's failed life.
Connie yells once again at her mother Cindy for the rent and the rest of the bills that are due in three weeks, "Mom you know you have to have $600,00 for the bills. Why are you not looking for a better job? I swear if you don't have the money by the time the bills are due then I'm taking Cora and we going back to dad's place."
Cindy sighs, "Connie, I have an interview in the afternoon, don't worry I will have the money for the bills." Cindy looks at her daughter with a "trust me" look. But Connie just shrugs at her and turns around to walk away. As Cindy gets dressed to leave for her interview. Even as Cindy gets into her car and starts the engine, she wonders if today will be better than the rest of her miserable life. Cindy slowly backs out of the parking spot, and then pulls out of the apartments' parking lot heading to Vante for her interview.
Driving the hour to Vante, Oklahoma was tense, but the scenery was a bit better than that of Wadsworth, Oklahoma. As Cindy drives she realizes that once she gets this job, she will invertible have to quit her other part-time job, but that is okay with her, the other job does not pay much anyway. And as long as this job is more stable, she should do well.
Cindy receives a message from Cora, "Mom where are you? When did you leave the house?"
Cindy voice texts Cora, "On the road driving to Vante for my interview, and I left about 45 minutes ago, you were still asleep, and did not want to wake you, why?"
Cora, "Oh, Okay drive safe, hope you get the job, we need the money."
Cindy doesn't reply what she is thinking "yes, I know. but do you have to be so rude about it?" but sends "Okay, Will do, and I agree."
When Cindy arrives at Vante's Casino, she explains to the officer that she is there for an interview, and he tells her where to park. Then she parks and turns off the engine, and opens the door, and steps out of the car. when she turns to the casino she is awestruck by how nice the outside looks, and she sends a whispered prayer to whoever is looking out for the little people," please help me out, I need to get this job so I can move out soon." And so Cindy steps towards the Casino, with hopes in her chest. Walking into the Casino is like walking into a loud and brightly lit arena of a circus, but Cindy finds the Dunbar's Buffet and sits to wait for the interview to start. A few minutes pass and she feels like this may not work out like she was hoping, because the lady who comes out has asked many questions, and said that they deal with seafood a lot. Cindy is forthcoming that she has severe food allergies to the seafood and other food products, but the lady assures Cindy, that they are willing to work around her food allergies and make sure she will not have to deal with them.
Little did Cindy know that the buffet would not only break that agreement but also harass her because of her food allergies. But she signs the job offer and gets all the necessary items to start orientation the following Monday then start work the next Saturday. Cindy shakes the lady's hand as a farewell and says "thank you very much, I appreciate the job. I will see you next week."
Cindy gets up and leaves the Casino with a smile on her face, when she reaches her car she calls Cora and gives her the good news.
Cindy, "Cora, I got the job. I go to an orientation on Monday through Wednesday then I start on Saturday."
Cora, "Great job mom, but remember don't quit your other job until you at least get a good paycheck from this one first."
Cindy, "Yes, I know that already Cora. Connie would scream down my throat if I just quit before that. But I have to go, I'm about to start driving home now."
Cora, "Okay mom, drive safe. Bye..."
Cindy, "Okay let me know if you need anything and behave. Bye..."
As Cindy is driving home, she sees a car tailing her. Thinking they want to pass her, Cindy slows her speed to 50 mph. But to her utter surprise, the car slows down also, to the point that two big 4X4 trucks pass them both and continue down the road. Cindy regains her speed to 55 mph and the car that is tailing her speeds up also. But still not to where Cindy can see the driver of the car, and so Cindy calls her son Tommy. Tommy picks up after two rings.
Cindy, "Tommy, I think I'm being followed."
Tommy, "What? Where are you, mom?"
Cindy, "I'm headed back from Vante on Hwy 70. I tried slowing down so the car could pass me but they slowed down also, and when I sped up they did too. But not close enough for me to see if it is a male or female."
Tommy, "How far are you from Wadsworth?"
Cindy, " I'm about 30 minutes from home."
Tommy, "Okay, I'm on the way. I'll meet you at the four-way at 70 and commerce st. Then if they are still following you I can call the police, sound like a plan to you?"
Cindy, "Yes, and thanks, son. should we stay on the phone?"
Tommy, "Yeah, Just in case they figure out that you caught on. Can you tell me their license plate number?"
Cindy, "Yeah, Oklahoma tags, Zulu 774 Bravo Tango 938. did you get that?
Tommy, "Zulu 774 Bravo Tango 938, Oklahoma tags. Yup got it. Now Just stay calm and don't worry, I'm almost the four-way."
Cindy, "Me too, and they are still behind me. Oh, SHIT!!!"
"BANG," Just as Cindy reaches the four-way and sees her son in the turn lane to turn onto 70, the car behind her increases it's speed and rams into her car, forcing her car to enter the four-way on a red light, luckily one is coming into the road from the side. In complete horror, Tommy sees what just happen to his mother and hits the record on his dash-cam, catching the entire scene on the footage.
Tommy screams, "Mom, are you okay, I'm calling 411 eight now!!! MOM!!!" as he watches his mom slump over after hitting the steering wheel of her car. On the other line with 411, "Yes, hello? My name is Tommy, and I am reporting a hit and run at HWY70 and Commerce St. My mother was stopping at the lights and a car rammed into her at full speed. And then they drove off, Luckily my mom gave me the plate number."
411 operator, "Yes sir, hello? how may I assist you today? Okay, sir, can you relay the plate number to me, I have dispatched the officers and EMTs and the fire department trucks to the scene."
Tommy, "It is Oklahoma tags; Zulu 774 Bravo Tango 938, that is Zulu 774 Bravo Tango 938. I have on the other line but she is responsive, to my voice, it looks like she hit her head on the steering wheel, and she may be bleeding. I'm pulling up and blocking the road to prevent a bigger accident scene."
411 operator, "Thank you, Tommy. The police should be there in a few minutes. can you step out and look at your mother's condition and tell me how bad it looks?"
Tommy, "Yes, I am doing that now. She is bleeding from a gash on her forehead, and she is unconscious, (Bang, Bang, Bang,) Mom, hey mom wake up and talk to me... She is not waking up... (Sirens blaring as the police, EMTs and two fire trucks pull up.) They are here, thank you very much."
411 operator, "You are very welcome sir, and I told them you are her family, and you helped to secure the scene for them. Btw my name is Tammy, I hope your mom is not too badly hurt and the officers find who did this to her very soon. Bye, for now, Tommy, Nice to talk to you." And Tammy disconnects the call blushing, while Tommy stunned looks at his phone, and wonders what just happened...
Officer Rodney steps out of his car and walks up to the stunned young man looking at his phone, "Son is your name Tommy?"
Tommy, after hearing the concern in the officer's voice looks up and nods his head, "Yes, that is me."
Officer Rodney, "Okay, has she responded to you yet?"
Tommy, "No, did you put an APB out for the plate number I gave?"
Officer Rodney's partner Officer Cassidy walks up and answers Tommy's question, "Yes, I just finished, we should have news by the time she gets to the ER."
Four Firefighters come up, and open the door to carefully remove Cindy, but as they do she screams and swings her fits, and the connecting blow to the closest fighter jaw sets him reeling backward.
Tommy, "Mom!!! Shit, sorry about that. She tends to swing first then ask questions later. But please understand she only does it if she is in deep pain."
Officer Cassidy smiles at the explanation, "I see, Danny has not been dealt such a blow in a long time, is there a way to calm her down so they can do their job?"
Tommy, "Not that I know of, wait... BTS, she stays calm listening to BTS. You know that K-Pop boy band?"
Cassidy's eyes light up, "Really, she likes them too? Here I have a playlist with them on it, maybe that will help." Playing the music on her phone, Cindy immediately calms down, and the firefighters can remove her from the car.
Danny rubbed his jaw in pain, "Okay somebody should have put that on before we started this."
Everyone chuckled at Danny's statement but also nods in agreement.
The EMTs step up and clean the wound on Cindy's head, seeing that it is the only place she is bleeding, "Well, it looked worse than it was, but we need to take her to the ER just to make sure there is nothing else wrong with her."
Cindy wakes up, "FUCK, Can you all be FUCKING QUITE? And is my Car alright? Did you catch the assholes that did this yet, or are you too FUCKING LAZY?"
Everyone's jaw drops at Cindy's statement.
Tommy, "Okay, She is fine.