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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you want to know?!

106 replies

helpmechoose1979 · 02/07/2018 15:30

Long story short - very senior guy at work is having an affair with one of my colleagues. I am
So angry about the whole
Thing. I have suspected
For months - lots of small signs etc - but we had a night out last week and it was made very clear that everybody at work knew - they disappeared off together very early. She stayed over in the hotel with him despite living 2 miles down the road etc.
Anyways long and short of it is I have this guy on Facebook - has a wife - 3 young children - plays the doting dad - usual type. His wife is a SAHM and I just feel so bloody sorry for her. I am
Very tempted to message her and reveal - AIBU? I would 100% want to know if that was my DH and I was at home like a mug while he was behaving that way - but also appreciate it's None of my business etc. Very tempted
And keep thinking about doing it but then backing out... what do you think I should do?

OP posts:
DaffoDeffo · 02/07/2018 16:29

it depends how senior you are at work

I was in a job where I was v senior (and on the same level as the man involved) and I did arrange a meeting with him where I confronted him and told him it had to stop as everyone was talking about it and it was unacceptable (they were always sloping off together and even if you asked the PAs where he was, they would say in X's office). I had proof it was happening though.

He denied it, never gave up denying it but I do know that after that it stopped.

People always think they are being discreet but they aren't and are often surprised when you say that everyone is talking about it fgs

doesn't help the wife though

blearyeyedbear · 02/07/2018 16:30

I was the wife in this scenario.

To those saying she probably knows, I'd hazard a guess she probably doesn't. I didn't. Most people don't until something happens like OW gets in touch, or falls pregnant, or someone else tells the wife. It is so easy for men (or women) to cheat when they regularly work late, or away.

Letting her know isn't acting as morality police. It is allowing her to make decisions about her and her dcs future herself, with all the facts in front of her.

My own particular public humiliation as a result of no one having the decency to tell me, was attending an overseas with all his colleagues when they all knew. Looking back it makes me want to curl up and die a bit. I was so happy (I thought). I couldn't understand why one particular colleague went weird when I was around and couldn't look me in the eye. My DH said he was an odd ball. I took that at face value. I thought people a little unfriendly, but figured it was because they didn't know me. No, it was because they knew HER. Not one of the cowardly litte shits bothered to tell me anything, and I hate them for it.

I guess you could say it was not their business. Or I 'probably knew' because yeah, most women just say 'hey ok, that's fine honey you carry on' when their DH is shagging around Hmm. Or it wasn't their job to act as the morality police. Or any other classic opt out clause that comes up on here.

The reality is pretty much everyone who has had their marriage torn apart by an affair will say they wish they'd known earlier. Women have gone on to buy houses, have dcs, give up their job to follow a DH's career location move etc when they absolutely wouldn't have compromised their independence had they known.

So yes, I'm venting, but FGS tell the poor woman so she can get a SHL and stop wasting her life with a piece of shit DH.

helpmechoose1979 · 02/07/2018 16:34

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe - hmmm not sure sending an anonymous message is creepy.
More trying to stop myself getting sacked while doing the right thing.

OP posts:
helpmechoose1979 · 02/07/2018 16:35

@Inmyvestandpants I like the sound of flipping it on its head - however could come across as very threatening? Then I'd be wondering If the police trace that kind of thing?

OP posts:
helpmechoose1979 · 02/07/2018 16:37

@blearyeyedbear sorry to hear that a similar thing happened to you. Life can be so shit. And I keep putting myself in her shoes and I would absolutely want to be told. It's so tricky.

OP posts:
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 02/07/2018 16:37

Just do it OP, anon if wish, give her as much detail as you can.

Whether knows and is ok with it, is neither here nor there. If she does know, then she'll ignore. If she doesnt and has the details she's in a better position.

helpmechoose1979 · 02/07/2018 16:38

@DaffoDeffo relatively senior - most of us in our group are. I'm one level below him, but the same as his OW.
He's not my boss so would be very difficult to have that level of conversation with him

OP posts:
hidinginthetrampoline · 02/07/2018 16:39

The wife might already know.

Thesearepearls · 02/07/2018 16:43

This is absolutely crackers

Nothing more to say

dogzdinner · 02/07/2018 16:47

blearyeyed - agree 100% with what you've said.

I wasted years of my life, I'll never get that back. Someone could have told me and I could have moved on with my life a lot sooner than I did.

jigsawpiece · 02/07/2018 16:49

Leaving aside the emotional side of things, there's his wife's health to consider. If he's sleeping with two women he could pass on an STI. They are rife.

Justaboy · 02/07/2018 16:52

What a shit situation to be in:( Do you know anything about the OW in this instance maybe some communication with her perhaps?. OK maybe another can of worms but it takes two to do this dance of deceit;(

Confusedbeetle · 02/07/2018 16:53

Back off and keep out of it. Tell the bloke you take a very dim view of it. Unfriend all of them on facebook. Live your own life. Everyone hates the messenger. She has done you no harm

Sparklingbrook · 02/07/2018 16:53

I would stay well out of it all, unless I knew his wife as a friend.

BasicUsername · 02/07/2018 17:02

I am so shocked at the amount of people saying "myob".

If you can do it anonymously, please let her know. As other posters have said, be specific with OW's name, etc.

Something similar happened to me years ago, except no dc and not married, just LTR. The fact that everyone knew and said nothing was incredibly painful.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 02/07/2018 17:18

It's the stalking that's creepy, OP - 16.02.44. What makes you think that it's ok to do that?

Either you have the courage of your convictions and you want to let the woman know - and will do so in your name - or you'll be a coward. I wouldn't accept an anonymous message, I'd think you were a spiteful, pathetic person with an axe to grind.

Your call I guess. Don't be so sure that you'll protect your job (since that's so important to you), and I hope you get found out. I really loath cowards.

ADarkandStormyKnight · 02/07/2018 17:19

I am so shocked at the amount of people saying "myob"

It's a horrible situation but it's the OPs place of work.

Imagine if boss and colleague thought that XXX from accounts had dobbed them in it and made her life hell?

SofieMonde · 02/07/2018 18:07

If u unfriend hinm suddenly wont he suspect

SofieMonde · 02/07/2018 18:10

What if she had evidence he was stealing money from the company? Should she also mind her own business?

ADarkandStormyKnight · 02/07/2018 18:12

Then it would be a work-related issue. Completely different.

Rocinante1 · 02/07/2018 18:12

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe

Eh... why are you speaking to the OP with such disdain towards her wanting to protect her job? You said "if it's that important to you" as if she's just trying to keep the beat parking spot. This is her job. You think she should happily put her job at risk? She should just calmly risk her financial security, he position in the company, her chance at promotions etc? Because none of that is important is it; it's not like she has bills to pay or a future to worry about?

Her colleague is having an affair, she wants to tell the wife because she can't watch someone being treated this way... But she doesn't want to risk her job so she's a coward? What are you on? Really... who cares about her job, as long as the colleague gets found out. That will pay her bills won't it. Honestly. Some people.

Her job is important. She should not have to be alienated at work simply for helping another woman. She has every right to do it anonymously. It is not cowardice.

Kisskiss · 02/07/2018 18:15

Does your company policy allow inter company relationships? If not ( and it sounds inappropriate especially if one party is in a senior role ) you could probably just report to HR and let them sort it.
The fact that work people have noticed makes it sound like it is in fact also a work problem

ImanaveragepersonAMA · 02/07/2018 18:16

I would want to know

Kisskiss · 02/07/2018 18:17

Sorry forgot to add: itwould kill two birds with one stone as his wife would probably figure it out when he gets suspended and there will be no repercussions on you OP as if it somehow affected your job later you could always raise a grievance as you had previously lodged this complaint

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 02/07/2018 18:23

I think the OP should have some integrity and think about why she wants to blow apart of the life of a woman she doesn't know, has no affiliation with and do so in the most cowardly manner.

OP has said this is NOT her boss, just a level above her and OP is the same level as the OW so, that being the case, why does OP need to stick her nose into somebody else's marriage?

This isn't a friend and OP could let this be found out as if this pair are so indiscreet then it's a matter of time. Better that then anonymously and cowardly telling someone with whom you have no relationship, no kindness and no motive other than perhaps a wish to stop the affair. OP will not be able to achieve that whatever she does, only this man can do that.

If her job is important then she should get on with it and stop stalking and documenting things online that will make her extremely recognisable. Only a fool does that and this man may have grounds for complaint against her. But gossips are gossips...

She has NO right to tell anonymously she just chooses to do it and it IS cowardice. I really don't care that you don't agree Rocinante.

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