Destructive Irony

By Tabatha Kohler

When a wealthy man named Vince and a lovely woman named Eliza meet at the grocery store where she’s working, it’s love at first sight when their eyes meet. But the more they find out about each other, the more strange and mysterious things seem to get between them and their surroundings. They begin to fall in love rather quickly regardless of each having some deep, dark secrets. Do they forgive each other when they find out each other’s secrets? Does she run for her life in fear of what may happen next? As the relationship progresses further, their path to love may be more destructive than either could have foreseen. Their friends try to step in and help, but they only cause tumultuous waves for everyone. Can Vince and Eliza overcome the hurdles that lie ahead, or will the unforeseen forces tear them apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543459500

Tabatha Kohler

My name Is Tabatha Kohler. I am 37 years old. I enjoy reading and writing books. This is currently my third book. My other two books are called, Nightmare in Paradise, and Unspeakable Life. I also have a fourth book on the way called, Shadows of the Night. I am in modeling and acting as well as being a business owner of a bait and tackle shop in Quakertown, Pennsylvania called Tabbees Lures. When I am not working, I love the outdoors, especially when I am fishing. I love traveling around, and testing out my handmade Tabbees lures. I love being with my family and friends. I also enjoy helping kids. I even started a fundraiser called, Santa Fish, where we give gifts to children who are less fortunate.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Tabatha Kohler.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2017916247

ISBN:           Hardcover               978-1-5434-5948-7

                     Softcover                 978-1-5434-5949-4

                     eBook                      978-1-5434-5950-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/24/2018

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Destructive Irony

by Tabatha Kohler

Xlibris

reviewed by Jordana Landsman

He spent years building everything he has, and now, he has to fight not to lose everything, including Eliza.

The man Eliza meets during her shift at the grocery store is irresistible, and their erotic encounters soon assuage memories of her divorce and leave her wanting more. Vince is a catch, but he may have some secrets. For one thing, he’s cagey about divulging personal information… and professional information… well, any information really. But he is seductive and magnetic, and Eliza is hooked, even as he offers her a mysterious job for five times her current checkout clerk salary. Still, Eliza knows secrets are a rocky foundation for a relationship, particularly for a woman who isn’t exactly sharing the full story of her own past. But Vince has fallen hard for Eliza, and she finds few things are as seductive as being adored, particularly by a wealthy and enigmatic lover. So, they climb in deeper in an affair that seems to darken, like a tunnel, the further they go.

The story of Eliza and Vince is surprising and unexpected, much like the lovers it chronicles. Just when its genre finally seems identifiable (Oh, okay, it’s soft-core porn with a gangster backdrop and a beer chaser), it bobs and weaves again, like a mysterious romantic partner revealing yet another hidden layer in an already complex personality profile. As secrets are revealed and narrative gears shift, the book’s unique style showcases the explosive path of Eliza and Vince through colorful characters and a shocking climax. Like the duo themselves, the story is at times too hot to handle yet never loses its detached cool. If there’s wisdom to gain, perhaps it’s what lovers and readers already know: that no relationship or book runs exactly as expected. Love affairs don’t play according to scripts. Life crosses boundaries, and books about life are sure to do the same.

Pacific Book Review

This story starts moving quickly and doesn’t let up until the very last page. Written entirely in present tense, its fast-forward pace has the feeling of a runaway locomotive. The prose style is simple and straightforward. No attempt is made at stylistic flourishes or literary pretentiousness. The writer lets the narrative and the characters behavior dictate what happens. Rather than archetypal cliffhangers, chapter changes are ended and begun merely by the progress of the tale itself.

Initially, we are introduced to Eliza, a divorced woman in her late twenties. She lives alone and works as a supermarket cashier. In the course of her duties, she meets Vince, a rugged thirty-something guy who seems to have everything going for him. In addition to being a hunk, he’s also appears to be kind, courteous, just the kind of guy any unattached female would want to run into. We readers however, learn more about him that Eliza does. We find out he’s not only tall, dark, and handsome, but that he’s also dangerous, even deadly. Before you know it, bodies start to pile up almost as fast as Vince and Eliza’s relationship heats up. The author pulls no punches in portraying numerous graphic sexual encounters between the two healthy heterosexuals. Both it seems, appear to be falling head-over-heels in love. A prospect that unnerves Eliza because Vince is so reticent to discuss his background, or even what he does for a living.

Soon, marriage is being proposed, and then all of a sudden the plot takes a twist you won’t see coming. To tell you too much about it would deprive you of some big shocks that are in store. Just be advised that Vince isn’t necessarily the only one who isn’t what he seems. Once that plot detour is negotiated, and you think you may see where the whole thing is headed, another card gets played and the climax jumps this yarn from one genre to another.

Kohler does a good job with character development. Once Eliza and Vince’s personas are set, you can understand their motivations even though you may have a tough time empathizing with them. Specifics of menial day-to-day tasks are a bit overemphasized, and some key transitions feel a bit rushed. Still, Kohler manages to weave a tale of mystery, sex, murder and more, that will leave readers wondering just how it’s all going to turn out. There’s also a very good chance the ending will definitely surprise you. Whether it’s a surprise you’ll find appropriate or not, is a decision you’ll definitely have to make for yourself.

INTRODUCTION

This is about a woman named Eliza. Eliza lives in a two-bedroom suburban home. It is a quiet area located about half a mile from her work. Her home has a large living room with a huge fireplace on one side, a bar on the other side, and a couch in the middle facing a TV, which is where she likes to cuddle up while reading. Her home has a two-car garage and a beautiful garden with a medium-size tree in the front yard. The kitchen has cedar cabinets with a matching dishwasher and refrigerator set made of stainless steel.

Looking out the back window, she can see the fenced-in yard and an in-ground swimming pool with accent lights for nighttime use. Eliza loves to swim at night when the weather is nice.

While putting her dreams of having children and finding Mr. Right on hold until she is more financially stable, she finds herself a job at a nearby grocery store. Every day, she would wake up and go for a jog while listening to her favorite music. She would then shower, eat breakfast, go to work, come home, go for a swim, eat dinner, go to bed, then wake up and do it all over again the next day. But on this one particular day, after showering and putting on her work uniform, which consists of a button-down yellow shirt with black slacks and a yellow-and-black baseball cap, which all the employees have to wear, something different happens that could change her life forever.

CHAPTER ONE

Eliza makes her way to the kitchen, where she eats her breakfast and drinks a bottle of water. Once she is all ready to leave for work, she puts all her money in her pocket, since she never liked purses. She grabs her keys and the rest of her belongings and heads out to the garage. That’s where she finds her favorite car. Her baby—a red Grand Prix. She anxiously climbs in, backs out of the garage, and then proceeds to work as usual.

Like any other day, she clocks in and goes right to her register. She can see that the store is filled with customers. While scanning and bagging items, a man she has never seen before catches her eye. He is a tall man with grayish-blue eyes, with a smile and laugh that would make her melt. He is a well-built man, with shoulder-length black hair. He is wearing a black silk shirt with tan khakis. She likes his sense of style and couldn’t resist the smell of his cologne. He seems so outgoing and funny. As it becomes his turn to check out, she feels butterflies in her stomach and has trouble talking.

In a strong and confident voice, he asks, How are you doing?

You’re hot! is all she can manage to say. She gets red in the face while she corrects herself. I’m so sorry. I meant to say it’s hot.

While laughing, he says, That’s okay. He then reaches out, takes her hand, and proceeds to kiss it while saying, My name is Vince. I just moved here.

With a smile, she replies, My name is Eliza.

I see that. Vince points to the name tag on her shirt.

She giggles while she finishes bagging his groceries. As Vince gathers his bags, he asks, Where in town is a good place to eat?

Well, personally, I like to go to the Rib House.

I will have to try it out, he says, smiling.

As Vince walks away with his hands full of groceries, he turns around and smiles and says, Maybe I’ll see you there sometime.

She smiles and says, Maybe.

The next customer is a regular who is an old lady that Eliza knows. Eliza looks at her and says, Good morning, Mrs. Jacobs.

Good morning, Eliza. Looks like you have an admirer.

Eliza smiles and says, Yes, he is really cute, but I would like to get to know him first. After sending Mrs. Jacobs on her way, Eliza finishes her shift, all the while peering at the door in hopes of seeing Vince again. Her day comes to an end as she clocks out.

Upon getting home, she changes into her bathing suit, grabs a drink, and heads out to the patio. She enjoys a nice, relaxing swim. After which, she returns to her lounge chair and puts on her sunglasses. Just then, the phone rings. Eliza goes to answer it, only to get hung up on. Not thinking much of this as it happens quite often, Eliza goes back to the lounge chair with her cell phone and lies back down and falls asleep for a couple of hours, just to be awoken by the phone ringing again. This time, it is her friend Carla from the local bar.

Hi, Eliza, are you coming out to the bar tonight? We are all missing you here.

I don’t think so. I have to work in the morning. Maybe another night.

How about I call you back on Thursday and see if you would like to join us on Friday?

I would like that, thanks. How are you doing, Carla? I haven’t heard from you in a while.

I am doing fantastic! I met this guy in the bar who is so incredible.

Another one, Carla? I hope you’re using protection.

No, this guy is different. He is not your average guy. He melts women just by the way he looks.

So how long have you and this guy been dating?

Well, that’s the thing . . . We went back to his place that one night a few weeks ago, and I haven’t seen or heard from him since.

Oh, Carla, haven’t you learned yet? Every guy you take home or end up at his place on the first date never bothers with you after they get what they want.

But this time it’s different. He says I’m the only girl he could ever see himself with.

What’s his name?

I don’t know. We were all caught up in the heat of passion, and I forgot to ask.

Let me get this straight . . . You went to some guy’s house, had sex with him, and never got his name?

Yes, but I know he will be back. We had something special.

Well, you seem really into this guy. I hope it all works out for you.

Oh, it will. He travels a lot for his job, so he should be back soon. Then we will be taking a vacation together when he returns.

That’s awesome! Sounds like you’re finally ready to settle down.

Yes, Eliza, I am. He is definitely the one.

Okay, Carla. Well, give me a call Thursday night about Friday, and I will let you know if I’m coming out.

Okay, I will. Thanks, Eliza.

You’re welcome, hon, have a great night.

You too. Bye.

Eliza heads into the house to take a shower and wash off the chlorine. After grabbing a bite to eat, she sits down to watch the television, where she falls asleep.

CHAPTER TWO

Awakened by her alarm going off in the morning as usual, Eliza starts the day with a jog, then a shower, then a bite to eat before heading off to work. While backing out of her driveway, she sees Vince drive by. She thinks as she smiles, I hope he is heading to my store. While driving to work, she notices Vince, who is three cars ahead. She watches him turn into the store parking lot. She is so excited. She quickly parks, runs to clock in, and makes her way to the register. While getting everything situated, she looks up, and to her excitement, there is Vince.

How are you? Eliza asks.

I’m doing great! I couldn’t resist coming back to the store to see you. And since you’re here, my day has gotten even better.

Oh really? Eliza says while laughing.

Vince looks around, noticing no one is in the store. Can you talk?

Yes, for a few minutes at least.

What are your plans after work tonight?

I don’t know yet. Why?

Vince reaches out to grab her hand and kisses it as he gazes into her eyes. Eliza feels things that she has never felt before. Eliza is overwhelmed with sensations of wanting and needing him so badly. It has been years since she has been with a man. She starts bashfully laughing.

Vince looks at her oddly. What’s so funny?

You never asked me if I am married or committed to anyone.

Vince smiles. Well, are you?

No, I’m neither. I would love to hang out with you after work. So where should we meet? Or where would you like to go?

Vince looks into her eyes. How about if we meet here at the store when your shift ends, and where would you like to go?

I have a better idea. How about we meet at my house around eight o’clock and I can make dinner?

Sounds great. I just need your address.

As she hands him her address, she asks, So what would you like me to make?

You can surprise me.

Okay, are you allergic to anything?

No, says Vince, I will see you tonight.

He gently releases her hand and starts walking out the door with a smile.

Okay, see you tonight, hon.

Eliza gets back to work. She smiles the rest of day thinking about the night. She can’t take her eyes off the clock. The time seems to move slower the more she looks. During her lunch break, she sits down and makes a list of the items she needs to get for tonight. Time seems to go by quicker in the afternoon due to more customers. Before she knew it, her shift comes to an end. Eliza hurries to buy the items she needs for dinner and heads home. As she is driving, she realizes that since her divorce, she has not dated anyone. She couldn’t help but think this may be her second chance.

She gets home in a matter of minutes. She grabs the groceries and rushes into the house for Vince’s arrival. She quickly tidies up the place and proceeds to set the table using her china set. Once she feels everything is just right, she gets a shower and gets ready. She looks through her closet to find an outfit that would surely catch his eye. She comes across a form-fitting black dress that she has not worn in a very long time. She takes it out and places it on the bed. After getting dressed, she proceeds to do her hair and makeup. She decides to leave her long brown hair down for the occasion. She puts on her jewelry, then goes back into her