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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband sneaky behaviour with female coworkers

38 replies

Bcakes · 27/01/2024 20:38

I need advice. Married 11 years, had some things happen in that time which has really questioned my husbands faithfulness.
3 months after marrying, he spent time with an ex girlfriend whom he met while on a night out. Lied to me when he got home pissed at 5.30 saying he was at his friends house. I had a really bad feeling so I checked his phone and his friend had messaged and called several times reminding him he's married and to please go home. He got in a cab with her and went to her home. He pleaded and said nothing happened. I took him back wanting my new marriage to work.
Fast forward, mentioned a coworker a lot, made my senses go up for some reason. She worked in neighbouring city, so didn't see each other too much. But, here's the thing. She had a friend living in out town who she'd regularly come to go for drinks with, and each time she would message my husband and send pouty selfies saying come on it'll be fun bla bla. I found these messages when one night they were away at a work function and he went for dinner and drinks with her, despite loads of coworkers being in the same hotel. I flipped to be honest and demanded to see his work phone. They communicated a lot, a lot of flirty undertones from her, not from him, but he didn't shoot it down either. He had a message from her that night at about 11 saying wellllllll???? Said it was to get his room number to sort the dinner bill. I swallowed it hook line and sinker.
Anyway, laid my cards on the table and gave very clear expectations of my boundaries. He agreed and I tried to forget about it. Soon after he bad mouthed her a lot, initially she was the best thing since sliced bread, suddenly not so much. Strange I thought.
Then, all good I thought. But we'd a case of mentioning another coworker. They had same role in different parts of the country, both with the company over 15 years. I'd never heard him talk of her before. So, she gets a new role and they had to launch a pilot project. Of course had to communicate a lot for it, totally understandable. But the mentionitis got me on alert. Both working from home one day and she called, he went to another room to take the call and they just seemed so so comfortable talking to each other. No work talk, all just shooting the shit. It just made me feel uncomfortable. Anyway, they launched the project, had no reason to be communicating for work anymore. Yet it turns out they were speaking almost every day and sometimes up to 3 times a day, convos usually at least 25 minutes at a time. I won't lie I'm not proud, I checked his work phone and that's how I found out. They messaged a lot too, lots of her saying how much she'd miss him when they launched the pilot. I kept an eye on call log for a few weeks, and all of a sudden no calls. So brought her up in roundabout way and pushed for info. He eventually said ah we don't speak all that much anymore, she got pissy one day apparently so he pulled away. Really, wtaf. Sounds to me like it was something of an emotional affair? Then recently he was away for Christmas party, he wasn't drinking as working the next day, so he drove home after (2.5 hour journey). Anyway, when he got home he went straight to loo, his work phone beeped so I had a quick look and it was from her to check he got home ok. Now bare in mind she would have been drinking several hours at that stage, so why the f<ck was she thinking of my husband.
Then, he had to employ an assistant. She wasn't in the business long but he promoted her. Anyway, went to meet him for lunch, and we'll fuck me I almost passed out when I saw her. Early 30s,lips done, botox done, fillers, you name it. Each to their own.... However, he breasts were out, and 8 mean out out, like going clubbing out. I just thought wow, is that whu he employed someone with fuck all experience. I was honest and said I'm not comfortable with someone having their tits out around him all day. My hat off to any woman who says it wouldn't bother her! Anyway, he has since gotten a new position wfh. The thing is, I went to call his sister from his phone today and noticed he has deleted this girls number (same name as his sis). So I quickly checked his work phone, numbers gone and also whatsapp deleted. I don't understand. They need to be in contact with each other for work, so how can he do that without her number. And why the hell would he delete it?? Am I going crazy, please be honest

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 27/01/2024 20:44

You don’t trust him, you think minimum emotional affair. When the trust has gone, how can you relax in the relationship? What do you want to do?

TornApartByLisa · 27/01/2024 20:48

You don't trust him - and rightly so, he sounds like a serial cheat who has no respect for you or your marriage. I can understand you wanting to save your marriage if the first time had been a one off and if you could be sure nothing had happened (it's more likely something did happen) but it's a pattern that will never stop. So it doesn't really matter why he has deleted her number. She won't be the last one. I would leave, difficult as it is. I think you know that's the answer.

ChangeAgain2 · 27/01/2024 20:53

Your relationship is over. You don't trust him, rightly, so it's never going to work. You need to enc the relationship now. It's done and dead. At best he's investing his time and efforts elsewhere at worst he's a serial shagger. I wouldn't want him either way.

SleepingBeautySnores · 27/01/2024 20:56

Probably changed her name to Fred, or John, so that you won't be suspicious OP. I agree with other posters, looks like he can't keep it in his pants, and thinks of work as his playground. Don't waste any more of your life on him, give him his marching orders, and move on with your life.

DeeCeeCherry · 27/01/2024 21:43

Your husband is a creep. You can do better

Bcakes · 28/01/2024 08:09

No I suppose I don't trust him, and I hate that his actions have made me so suspicious. Over the years I've always battled with myself, wondering am I overly paranoid or is it staring me in the face. I feel so I'll right now 😔

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Bcakes · 28/01/2024 08:11

Yes the trust has been eroded away over the years. It's left me feeling unsure of my own gut feeling and questioning my perception of things unfortunately

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Bcakes · 28/01/2024 08:12

No name change, text messages on personal phone not deleted from her number. I just would love to know why delete it, genuinely at a place where I'm questioning my sanity

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Bcakes · 28/01/2024 08:13

Yes it certainly comes across that way, no denying it

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Wictc · 28/01/2024 08:17

You don’t trust him, you can’t spend the rest of your life checking his phone. What other women wear is completely irrelevant. I think you need to leave or you’ll spend the rest of your life paranoid and miserable.

Dismaljanuary · 28/01/2024 08:28

Some women manage to live with cheats, I guess is it something you can cope with?
Would you rather be alone, starts gain or make something out of it. Sometimes people are pragmatic and deal with the card they have.
Maybe you are your dh are brilliant friends?

Bcakes · 28/01/2024 08:29

I beg to differ, there's a strict dress code in his workplace, smart. Having boobs out on full display really isn't appropriate.

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Bcakes · 28/01/2024 08:30

Yes we are great friends, we bounce off each other so well. It's the trust for me which was broken so early is killing us, me in particular.

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Backhandcompliment · 28/01/2024 08:35

It doesn't sound healthy. You have evidence that he doesn't respect your relationship. He sounds like he has cheated or wants to cheat.

Bcakes · 28/01/2024 08:45

You're right, it's not healthy. I'm wound up and because there's been a few instances throughout our marriage, I don't feel like I can trust myself fully to make the right judgement

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Lighrbulbmo · 28/01/2024 08:46

Bin him, he likes his ego rubbed by a variety of a women and that won’t change. He sounds like one woman is not enough. Sorry.

donquixotedelamancha · 28/01/2024 09:01

It doesn't matter whether he's done anything wrong with this woman- you don't trust him to the point where you are checking his phone.

This is not a successful relationship. If you have kids, go to counselling (I'd try anything if I had kids) If you don't, just give it up.

2024GarlicCloves · 28/01/2024 09:11

I think it's a waste of energy to worry about the deleted number. You're married to a 'womaniser'. His exact methods, and the ins & outs of his extramarital relations, are side issues. From what you've said, he definitely cheated on you just three months into your marriage. And you're looking at one emotional affair at the minimum, probably more, and almost certainly more physical infidelities.

You can't spend your life worrying about your partner's up to, monitoring his activities and trying to catch him out. It will drive you nuts and destroy your personality.

As @Dismaljanuary says, some women live with cheating husbands because their marriages meet their needs - and they don't care what the husbands get up to when they're apart. The not caring part's very important.

I thought I could do this, and it seemed okay for a while but, as time went on, he was less & less 'present' with me and I was getting insecure. With hindsight, I should've dumped him the first time he disrespected me.

I learned that I am not the kind of woman who can happily maintain a semi-detached relationship long term. I don't think you are either. You do deserve better and it might be wiser to set each other free.

Bcakes · 28/01/2024 09:16

We have children, and I've asked to go to counselling in the past, he refused point blank

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Dismaljanuary · 28/01/2024 09:19

Well maybe that's what he needs to do, go to counselling and throw a hard ball op.
That you may leave him if he doesn't.

Bcakes · 28/01/2024 09:20

I'm sorry that happened to you. I suppose the first time we were newly married and I so wanted to believe him when he said they just chatted. And then with all these other indiscretions my head and heart are at war with each other. It's gotten to a point where I don't trust my own judgement

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Bcakes · 28/01/2024 09:21

I begged before and he wouldn't budge, dug his heels in. Selfish of him really knowing how much hurt he has caused

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Hiwhoeveryyouare · 28/01/2024 09:21

I get so cross when men just "refuse" counselling when they have a young family. To me it really shows where the issue lies and why. They are too proud, too stubborn and too selfish to sort out their own shit and put their family first.

gano · 28/01/2024 09:22

Lighrbulbmo · 28/01/2024 08:46

Bin him, he likes his ego rubbed by a variety of a women and that won’t change. He sounds like one woman is not enough. Sorry.

This right here.

I'm currently divorcing my husband.
I really don't think he ever physically cheated, but over the course of our marriage, he was persistently messaging other women. Not even anything sexual, but it was flirty. He needed the constant ego boost. At first I pulled him up on it, then I tried to ignore it, but ultimately it eroded our marriage and my trust.
In situations like this, you'll never be able to relax into the relationship and will always be on high alert. I got tired of checking his phone. I didn't want to be that person. I never was in past relationships, but his behaviour made me that way.
Ultimately, you have decide if it's something you're willing to live with. I wasn't willing to live with it and I'm so glad I walked away. Life is much less stressful since we separated, and I'm not constantly worried about what he's up to and who he's messaging. My advice would be to get out of your marriage and don't look back. It's nor worth the stress and will end up making you ill.

Bcakes · 28/01/2024 09:28

Exactly, I was absolutely devastated when he refused because I feel it may have given me clarity and we could have perhaps addressed things in a more productive way, rather than arguing and sniping. Just don't know what to do

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