Back to December — Episode 5: Professional Sabotage

I'm sat down listening to Mike Turner of Turner Galleries. Mike is a friend of a friend of Luke. Luke set me up on this meeting to convince Mike to showcase my art at one of his galleries. Yup, my man is getting the Boyfriend of the Year award. Don't tell Luke I said that. I can't risk Luke knowing I like him. It would go over his head. He's already too vain for his own good, so I'm not attempting to make it bigger than it needs to be.

Haley, nice to see you here. Who's your date? He's handsome if not a tad short.

Luke, go away. I mean it.

Oh, so you're confirming it is a date? Wow. That feels like a stab to the back.

No. I'm confirming we'll talk about this later in private. Leave right now.

Hey man, I'm Hailey's boo. I hope she mentioned she had one. Well, this might be embarrassing for us big time.

The only one who should be embarrassed is you. I won't tell you again. Leave.

You look like a pompous old git. Are you?

Mike, I'm so sorry about this. Could we rearrange this meeting? Mike stands up and heads off without confirming. You absolute dick!

Oh, I'm a dick. Why do you want a date with a man who isn't me? Answer that.

It wasn't a date.

Sure. Because it looked like it wasn't.

How did you know I'd be here?

Your brother saw you walk in here. He told me, Mike, what's his face had a hand on your back and that I had to stop you.

You're insane. You've lost your mind.

Have I lost my mind? Last week you nearly accepted my marriage proposal. And then this week I find you're on a date.

It's not a date. I can't keep rehashing that to you. You're acting like a child.

Well, this child is about to throw one L of a tantrum. I hope you're set to hear it, because I'm about to dish it out.

You keep testing me, and you won't know what hits you next.

So what do you call it then? Your date? A shopping trip on Mars? Come on, Haley. Stop thinking I'm stupid. I got an ace star in maths at school. I'm not dumb.

Someone else took the test for you.

Oh okay, fine. I'm dumb.

I'm glad you're capable of making that opinion on your own.

Okay. So if it wasn't a date, what was it?

A fucking work meeting.

You're good. You're the best liar on this planet, but no one plays me, okay?

I'm getting sick of this argument.

So tell me why you're dating idiots.

You know, if I could answer that, I wouldn't have dated you for longer than I needed to. I'm going home. Please don't call me. I walk off. Luke follows me. We're in a taxi. Luke's trying to get me to stare at him.

Why were you on the date?

I'm going to call Mike. You'll apologize for being rude to him.

Yeah. Fine.

Good. I take out my cell phone.

You need to know when I'm kidding.

Luke, I'm serious. You need to apologize.

Yeah? Well, I need to know why you're dating men behind my back.

I stare at Luke for a beat. He looks confused.

That was a date.

I continue to stare at him.

You look like you're telling me it wasn't.

You have no idea what you've just cost me. Mike Turner owns an art gallery.

Seriously? The small guy owns a gallery.

You set up the introduction to him through a friend, dummy.

And you know what? I think I met him. So why on earth don't I remember meeting him?

I was at the restaurant trying to impress him so that he would showcase your work?

Oh fucking hell.

Do you realize what you've cost me?

Hailey, darling, I'm so sorry. I'll do anything to set this right, but please. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Please.

What's the point? It's not like he'll take my calls or yours.

I could call Dan and No!

You'll leave it alone. You'll leave me alone as well.

Please, don't say that. I know you don't mean it. It was a mistake.

Yeah. A big one which I'll never forgive you for. I can't believe you did this.

I know, honey. I I'm stupid.

You can say that again.

I'm stupid.

I've worked 10 long years. I've worked myself to death to be an artist.

Well, you're still alive? And wow, you look like you want to kill me.

I've conquered so many battles. I've lost blood, sweat, and tears all for that one moment and that one chance to have it all.

I know, darling. I'm so sorry.

I do all that and then get given my one chance to shine. My one chance to show I did the right thing pursuing this path.

And then I walk in.

With your big head acting like a cave dweller, you ruin everything.

I know you have the moral high ground, but personal attacks hurt me.

You've broken everything like a bull in a china shop. I've lost it all. The taxi comes to a stop. I pay and get out. Luke follows me out. I stop him from coming any further. I need to be alone.

No! We need to talk and develop a plan to fix it. I can fix this.

You're more likely to make things worse.

I wouldn't. And you know why that is? Because I see how much it means to you. So why would I want to bring you more pain?

I need to be alone.

You thinking about dumping me?

I don't know. I need to think.

Please, don't dump me.

I haven't decided.

Okay. Give me a chance to fix this then.

No. Stay out of it. I mean it, Luke.

Okay. Can I get a kiss goodbye?

Get lost, Luke. I walk off to my front door and open it. I send Luke a text. Next time, stay the hell away from my business.

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Now, let's get back to the story.

He answers the door. Did you turn up at his house?

What?

I walk into the house. Luke follows me into the living room. Mike Turner from Turner Galleries. You went over to his house unannounced and you threatened him. What the fuck?

Hang on. Who threatened who? I went over to Mike's house to get him to give you a second chance.

Yeah. And he said you did it.

I didn't! I didn't threaten Mike. I swear.

Really? Then why did he feel the need to call the police? What's wrong with you? There are two bottles of wine, white and red. Luke pours me a glass of red, my favorite.

And I tell you my version of events.

How about I tell you that last night? I convinced Mike to give me a second chance. But guess what? Dick? You got involved again and ruined things for me.

Oh Christ.

Fuck. Luke takes a sip of his wine. He looks horrified. I told you to stay out of it.

I went to see Mike. I went to apologize for my behavior. He took it well and accepted it. That's all that happened.

Then why would he feel threatened?

Because I I don't have to tell you.

Luke, I need you to talk right now.

Ugh. Mike's daughter came home. She'd been out with her friends, and Mike had a go at her, and I took his side.

You continue to amaze me.

I know. Look, things got a little heated, but I only shouted at Mike once. There were no threats. I swear. I swear on my life.

You're unbelievable. Do you know that?

Hey, what's unbelievable is a man grounding a 22-year-old.

It's over. We're done. You're dumped.

You're dumping me over one tiny thing?

My career isn't a tiny thing. It's a thing I've dreamed about since I was eight years old. That's not tiny.

I know that. But other opportunities will come. I can get my contact to get you other meetings. So your career isn't dead.

No, but my reputation is.

What?

Do you think Mike will forget this? He's the most celebrated art dealer in the state. Scratch that. The country.

That doesn't mean we can't fix this.

If Mike ever sees my art anywhere, he will have a negative opinion on me and my art.

Damn it!

And Mike will likely tell any buyer willing to buy my work that he hates me, which means I'll get no sales.

Come on, Haley. You're overreacting.

Luke, my career is dead. It's an audio stream, an audios me, it's audios us. That's the seriousness of this problem. Luke takes a sip of his drink.

I don't want it to be over. I love you.

I love you too. I don't want it to end either, but I need to be sure you've learned your lesson.

Why?

So you don't act like this ever again.

So it's a break. We're not really over.

No. We're over. I'm just saying there will be feelings left over where you're concerned. That's all.

So we'll be friends with benefits then.

I'm going home. Please don't call me.

Haley, please!

Goodbye, Luke. I pick up my glass of wine and down it. I then put the glass down. I aim to leave. As I walk off, Luke hand stops me. I turn around and he kisses me. I don't kiss him back for a moment. But then as the kiss lingers, I kiss him back. It's a passionate kiss. Luke's telling me I belong to him. I break off the kiss and then slap him hard across the face. He falls to his knees and I leave the house. As I'm being driven home, I send Luke a text. I'm sorry I ever got involved with you.

Back to December.

Starring Melanie Rose and Eurasian Robb. Written, produced, and directed by Joao and Sita. If this episode made your heart race or ache just a little, make sure you follow and subscribe wherever you're listening so you never miss what happens next. And while you're here, discover more from that love podcast. Check out The Runaway Bride, our six-part audio rom-com packed with sharp banter, chaos, and chemistry that refuses to behave.