beyond the Bar

chapter 8

Beyond the Bar – Chapter 9

(Ivy’s POV)

Leaving Rose in the mess we all created wasn’t an option, but just thinking about Irish’s threats made me shiver with fear.

I could see it in his eyes that day when he made us sign that paper. It wasn’t just a threat — it was a warning. He was a man of his word. If only we had known that Rosalyn’s little fantasy about Irish would lead to this, I would’ve never supported her. The bet we made only gave her more confidence to approach him. If only we knew how dangerous he really was.

I regret the first time I ever set foot in Atlas. That was the biggest mistake of our lives. Me, Kay, and Mia — all high on drugs and foolish enough to destroy his property — made a mistake we can never undo.

I remember the first time we went to Atlas. It was supposed to be just a vacation stop, but that was the night Rose set her eyes on Irish. From that moment, she was obsessed. So obsessed that we started going with her every weekend. The journey from Harvard to Miami was long, but we didn’t care. It was for our friend.

We made a bet — if she managed to get in bed with that hunk we all knew as Irish, we’d do her assignments for the rest of the semester. Back then, we thought he was just some regular guy who liked to hang around the bar, always sitting in the same spot, laughing and chatting with the bartender.

It wasn’t until weeks later that we found out who he really was — one of the most powerful businessmen in Miami. The backbone of the city. A billionaire bachelor. We only learned the truth the night Rosa hooked up with him. We overheard the bartender gossiping about how the boss had found himself a new hottie again. That’s when we realized Irish wasn’t just a man who owned the room — he owned the bar too. And he was a notorious playboy.

When Rosa didn’t show up the next morning, panic hit us. We thought maybe he had done something to her, so we started searching. But when one of his bouncers thought it was smart to slap Mia, we lost it. The three of us decided to get revenge by destroying everything in that bar.

We smashed bottles, glasses, and even the four massive 50-inch TVs. We destroyed the wine cellar filled with the most expensive bottles we’d ever seen. But it didn’t occur to us why no one was stopping us — until we saw him. Irish stood there, watching us with a look that could kill. Behind that charming smile hid a monster.

That night, he showed us exactly what it meant to mess with the wrong person.

I still remember his words when the police took us away:

> “Your friend will pay for everything.”

Now here we were, sitting quietly on the train, on our way to drop out of university — all because of our foolishness.

Mia sat across from me, crying. Her background wasn’t like mine or Kay’s. Kay had parents who owned companies — people who could fix her problems with a single call. But Mia? She was on a scholarship. Her mother was gone, and her father was a drunk. Campus was the only home she had.

She looked at me and Kay with tear-filled eyes.

> “What am I going to do now? I can’t spend the rest of my life in jail… I don’t even have a home. Campus was my home,”

she said softly.

None of us answered. We weren’t allowed to speak to each other — someone was keeping watch over us.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, knowing I couldn’st help her. My heart ached for Rosa too. What would happen when her aunt found out?

Our one-year friendship had destroyed everything. Our teenage fantasy had ruined all our lives.

We were all going our separate ways now…

each of us broken, not knowing how we’d survive.

End of Chapter.