Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To confront woman who fancies my husband

196 replies

Pipsnips · 20/03/2019 12:12

Me and dh work at same place, me mostly from home, he from office. A woman at work who mostly works from home too is very flirtatious with dh and people at work have commented that she fancies him etc and he says he thinks she does too. Yesterday we were at a work event together, in a public place. I had to leave to get our little one from school so told her so. She randomly said, "oh your ex" and then said dh's name and then she said "speak of the devil" as he came in the room and she walked off. I was shocked and wondered did I actually hear that? I told dh and he said "oh wow that's weird". I then had to leave. After I was really upset and kicking myself that I didn't say anything, it was so quick and out of the blue. I hate confrontation and am not very confident. When dh got home we discussed it, he said it was out of order and he was going to tell her today at the end as he didn't want it to be awkward at the event. I feel like if anyone says anything it should be me but also that its a bit late now after the event, I don't want to look like a crazy paranoid person as I think she will gloat and I don't want to give her any power. We all have to work together in about a month and now I'm dreading it. Should I keep quiet and not give her the satisfaction or say something? What would you do? Sorry for the long post, its my first post and I wanted to give detail. I feel nervous and pissed off and a bit of a coward (blush) (sad)

OP posts:
IhateBoswell · 20/03/2019 13:32

All sounds very Heartbreak High...

Either eye roll when she says something again or completely ignore her.

ShirleyPhallus · 20/03/2019 13:35

The amount of batshit crazy advice on here is amazing. Have half the people on here never actually worked in an office?!

BadPennyNoBiscuit · 20/03/2019 13:36

''Could she have thought he is your ex''

No, she could not have thought that, she is bullying the OP. It sounds like under the radar bullying, no one else can see it and its difficult to tackle.

Pipsnips · 20/03/2019 13:36

BertrandRussell yep, I think when you weigh up all the varying opinions on here, I think you might be right!

OP posts:
Frenchmontana · 20/03/2019 13:36

No, she could not have thought that, she is bullying the OP.

You know her then?

Lweji · 20/03/2019 13:39

@ShirleyPhallus

But no actual advice from you? Grin

Pipsnips · 20/03/2019 13:42

Thank you to everyone who read my post properly (I get that's it long) and for your balanced views and helpful and empathetic responses. Some people on here are so grouchy, that's probably why I've waited so long to do my first post 😂. With reflection and weighing up your views, I think I will just ignore her and not add any fuel to her fire but I will keep my beady eye on things and if she says anything again I will be ready 👹

OP posts:
CryptoFascist · 20/03/2019 13:42

@PlainSpeakingStraightTalking, you're right actually, on second thought I would ignore my advice, and the troublemaker.

BadPennyNoBiscuit · 20/03/2019 13:42

You know her then?
Was there a huge 'we are getting divorced but will still work together so now he is single so go for it and do tell me all about it' scenario that I missed?

LadyOfTheCanyon · 20/03/2019 13:48

Well, sorry to be the one who kicks the can of shit over, but it's not without the bounds of possibility that your husband has been carrying on with her ( as you mainly work from home and can't witness all their interactions) and is now trying to discredit her/gaslight you.

Greatbigterribleshart · 20/03/2019 13:52

I would get DH to talk to HR to let them know her behavior is making him uncomfortable and if they could just help him keep an eye on things if they escalate. If it's enough that others have commented then it's enough that she could be either sexually harassing him at work and people are putting it down to men loving any old attention or she's going to escalate it to that level eventually if she hasn't already.
She's at work and it is not appropriate to behave like that.
Keep a diary too just in case it does escalate (you and DH both do that).

ReanimatedSGB · 20/03/2019 13:52

Honestly, take no notice. And suggest to your H that he takes no notice, as well. Doing anything else will make the situation worse, and running off bleating to HR will make you and your H look like a pair of childish crybabies incapable of normal social interaction.
This woman may have a desire to cause trouble, in which case, yet again, your best option is to take no notice. Partners are not property, they cannot be 'stolen' and behaving as though they are generally marks you out as a tiresome, unprofessional, immature loser.

Badtasteflump · 20/03/2019 13:58

it's not without the bounds of possibility that your husband has been carrying on with her ( as you mainly work from home and can't witness all their interactions) and is now trying to discredit her/gaslight you

Well going on the OP saying she trusts her DH - which is all we do have to go on - no, it's unlikely.

In the real world there are people who are happy to try and shit stir just because they see a happy couple and are jealous. Doesn't mean anybody is 'carrying on' (not heard that turn of phrase for a long time, btw...).

I once had a 'friend' who had a thing for DH. She was so obvious it was almost funny for a while. She would actually say to me that she wished she could have what me & DH had - and once when pissed, she said she wished she met him first! Shock. She ramped it up eventually and started fabricating reasons she needed DH to go and help her with something, give her a lift etc. At that point we dropped her as she became a bit 'hand that rocks the cradle'...

After about ten years of not seeing her I bumped into her in a shop - literally face to face so I couldn't pretend I hadn't seen her. The first thing she asked was if we were still together! After a few seconds of shock I told her 'yes of course' and laughed in her face. Honestly, there are some bunny boilers out there.

Pipsnips · 20/03/2019 13:58

BadpennyNoBiscuit no not at all

OP posts:
Dahlietta · 20/03/2019 14:05

Read the first sentence of the OP!

Sorry, @CustardySergeant, I got lost in all the ins and outs Blush

HarrySnotter · 20/03/2019 14:13

She has declared war. Oh how dramatic ...

OP, I think you are absolutely right not to say anything to her. She made herself look like a dick in front of you and I wouldn't even consider giving her the satisfaction of thinking that she had got to me.

About 15 years ago one of DH's old colleagues told me one night at an event that she was 'waiting in the wings' for him and that she thought I 'had the right to know'. I laughed at her. (Don't get me wrong, I was bloody mad but I didn't want her to know that). I told DH and his response was that she would have 'a bloody long wait'. It did upset me, we'd only been married a few months but I really didn't want to let her see that.

americandream · 20/03/2019 14:13

I am a bit suspicious about all this.

Why did your DH not tell this woman right then at the time she called you 'the ex' that you are not separated?! Confused

My DH would have said 'what ex? I don't have an ex...' Confused

Why did he not say something?

I am a suspicious old cow, but could it be that this lady thinks you ARE his ex @Pipsnips ??

If this is not the case, and she is a bunny boiling stalky mcstalkerson, then you AND your DH need to set her straight - together. And if she doesn't cease and desist, you BOTH need to go to HR, because her behaviour is inappropriate.

TeddTess · 20/03/2019 14:15

Greatbigterribleshart Wed 20-Mar-19 13:52:49
I would get DH to talk to HR to let them know her behavior is making him uncomfortable and if they could just help him keep an eye on things if they escalate. If it's enough that others have commented then it's enough that she could be either sexually harassing him at work and people are putting it down to men loving any old attention or she's going to escalate it to that level eventually if she hasn't already.
She's at work and it is not appropriate to behave like that.
Keep a diary too just in case it does escalate (you and DH both do that).

i would do this. She sounds determined and unhinged.

TeddTess · 20/03/2019 14:15

americandream she said it to the OP, not her dh.

Tinyteatime · 20/03/2019 14:18

I don’t understand this at all. Do you think she thinks your his ex or do you think she was saying like a threat of ‘I’m going to pinch him off you’. Either way it seems bizarre.

CustardySergeant · 20/03/2019 14:18

Dahlietta "Sorry, @CustardySergeant, I got lost in all the ins and outs"

Currently, I plan to forgive you on 29th March, but that date may be extended until June 30th*.

*I think I may have been watching too much PM's Question Time. Wink

americandream · 20/03/2019 14:20

Oh she said it to the OP. Sorry.... Blush

Rest of my post still stands.

Jaxhog · 20/03/2019 14:20

She's a stalker, and your DH should tell her straight. Then she has to believe it. If you tell her, she will still make out that you are the one who is deluded.

Having had a stalker myself in the past, they can be very persistent. Even though I told him straight, he still insisted he was my 'boyfriend'. Eventually my real boyfriend (now husband) had to threaten him with the police. Hopefully it won't come to this with your DH.

Mummyoflittledragon · 20/03/2019 14:21

I agree with Greatbig and Bertrand. Your dh should inform hr - or manager if it’s a small company with no hr and log any future inappropriate behaviour. He should not confront her ever about the situation. It sounds as though she is living in a fantasy and either of you talking to her will give her more fuel.

Mummyoflittledragon · 20/03/2019 14:22

Sorry I should have added I meant face to face confrontation. Written form only.

Swipe left for the next trending thread