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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask her to back off?

144 replies

Comebacktomefin · 10/01/2018 21:20

This is really long and I have name changed as I don’t want it linked to my other posts.

I’m single and 26 and work for a large organisation with loads of staff doing loads of different jobs. I’m office based and have, over the past few months, been flirting outrageously with another member of staff who I’ll call Fin. He’s 29 and works all over the site. Nothing has happened but it was getting to the point that if he didn’t ask me out I was goi g to ask him as it really felt like that was where we were heading.

At a staff event a month or so ago fin got into a bit of banter with another member of staff, Lucy (38 - 40 at a guess - I think the ages are relevant) who was hosting the evening. It was all over a microphone and very funny in the context of the night. Fin was sitting at my table and laughing about it with me.

Anyway as far as I know that was the first time that fin and Lucy had ever spoken to each other apart from pleasantries. he will have been to her office and completed jobs for her etc but he probably dealt with her team rather than her directly. She is quite senior in the organisation so wouldn’t necessarily instruct him or take any notice of him coming in and out of her building.

Since that night fin has completely withdrawn from me; he used to pop in for a chat when he passed my office and we would go and collect our lunch together sometimes. he doesn’t do either anymore and although he is perfectly nice when I do see him he definitely doesn’t speak to me as much.

But I have seen him talking to lucy a lot. They don’t go to the cafeteria together but when they’re in there they will be chatting or at least smiling/waving to one another. Also I have seen them talking around site which could be work related but it looks (to my sad lovelorn eyes anyway) like flirty banter

I know I sound tragic and stalkery but the thing is I think lucy is married, she definitely was previously. She could have separated but I haven’t heard anything about it and our work is fairly gossipy so it’s the kind of thing I feel I would have known about...

I have no real reason to speak to lucy at all. Our departments don’t cross over and she would speak to my boss rather than me if there was an issue. I have spoken to her in passing though and she does seem nice and she has a reputation in our workplace for being friendly and funny and a bit of a live wire

I just get the feeling that she is having what she thinks is a harmless laugh with a younger man but I think Fin is a bit smitten and therefore has withdrawn from me...

So WIBU to ask her to back off if it’s not serious for her? And if so how would i go about it?

OP posts:
Iwanttobe8stoneagain · 10/01/2018 21:36

Only do that if you promise to come back on here and post what happens. Please reread your post and have a think!

LexieLulu · 10/01/2018 21:37

Just ask him out and leave her out of it!

isadoradancing123 · 10/01/2018 21:37

Don't be ridiculous you cannot do that

pasturesgreen · 10/01/2018 21:37

Jesus Christ, OP, calm right down! You're not in a relationship with this man, you're not even dating...What should 'Lucy' back off from, exactly? Cool your heels, you don't want to gain a reputation as the office nutcase.

Snowdrop18 · 10/01/2018 21:38

Someone had a very big plate of crazy for dinner.

C0untDucku1a · 10/01/2018 21:39

Is this a reverse?

GirlDownUnder · 10/01/2018 21:41

Are you sure her name is Lucy? Not Jolene?

seven201 · 10/01/2018 21:42

I really thought it was a joke post and was enjoying it until the very end. Do NOT ask Lucy to back off!!!!

OnionKnight · 10/01/2018 21:43

Don't be a twat OP.

PoorYorick · 10/01/2018 21:43

What are you smoking? And why aren't you sharing?

DaisysStew · 10/01/2018 21:43

Completly unreasonable and very unprofessional.

Please don’t say anything, at best it will end in embarrassment for you and at worst they (both Lucy and Fin) could put in a formal complaint to HR over it.

Comebacktomefin · 10/01/2018 21:45

Ah bugger - I do sound like a dick don’t I?

I think in my head talking to her was less embarrassing than talking to him but clearly no!

Also just to clarify I didn’t mean that I would be all ‘back off’ aggressively just more letting her know that I actually really like him.

I should talk to him and I will if i get the chance (and the courage) but it kind of depends on him coming to me when he passes (which he hasn’t been doing...) as I am stuck in my office and unless something goes wrong in there he doesn’t have to come in.

OP posts:
ArchchancellorsHat · 10/01/2018 21:46

Bonkers. He's not your property, and it sounds like he just enjoys a bit of office flirtation to get through the day. You'll look like a crazy person if you go warning her off your not-boyfriend, and probably scare him off as well. I really wouldn't recommend it.

(IS this a reverse? Go to HR)

ReanimatedSGB · 10/01/2018 21:46

IF this is real and not the plot of some woman-hating crap novel, what you need is a large cup of growthefuckup. Finn owes you nothing. Lucy doesn't know or care who you are. Get yourself an online dating account and remember that poking the payroll is always a bad idea.

category12 · 10/01/2018 21:46

You'd be bonkers to do any such thing.

SnowFairyDust · 10/01/2018 21:46

No OP no!! You can't say 'back off I fancied him and now you're spoiling it'

Unless you want to sound absolutely batshit and like you're about 12

Move on from Fin, I'm afraid he's moved on from you.

Snowdrop18 · 10/01/2018 21:49

OP are you really 26?

IAmLucy · 10/01/2018 21:49

(Completely unrelated username) Grin

Please don't OP, I actually shrivelled up a bit inside just reading it. You will look absolutely batshit if you do

MadMags · 10/01/2018 21:49

He sees you as a friend and fancies here is my guess.

But you sound a bit stalkerish so maybe dial it waaaayyyyy back before you say anything to him!

greenmagpie · 10/01/2018 21:50

Also, my brother was 28 when he met his (then) 44 year old parent. I say without doubt they are an amazing couple who really shine together.

i'm sorry what

NewYearNiki · 10/01/2018 21:50

Omg so you're jealous he is friendly with her. You want to tell her to leave a man alone who isnt even dating you or apparently interested in a friendship. You think at 38 she is passed it?

Jesus Christ almighty.

Actually yes go and do it. Come back and tell us what she says.

NewYearNiki · 10/01/2018 21:51

@greenmagpie I assume parent ought to read partner.

MadMags · 10/01/2018 21:52

Actually yes go and do it. Come back and tell us what she says.

😂😂😂

category12 · 10/01/2018 21:53

Thank goodness you asked, eh, OP? You are hopefully going to escape a reputation of being the office bunny-boiler now.

AnneLovesGilbert · 10/01/2018 21:54

This is amazing.

On the off chance it’s true. OP, you don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with you.

Get some self respect and widen the dating pool a bit.