Partner working away/networking with women

[Celia24]

Every time partner comes back from a conference he has new female and male followers.

Anyway I make him this welcome back dinner and during the meal he says he met this Spanish woman, Maria, with natural red hair and got talking to her about if it was natural (because it's unusual). I also am a natural redhead. Meanwhile she complimented his hair which is also impressive and the main feature he likes about himself.

I joked I'm glad you enjoyed your time flirting abroad while I was busy at home and he laughed it off. Now I notice 'Maria' 'favouriting' his professional posts.

I trust him and vice versa and he always checks in before bed during these trips but AIBU to think that encounter above sounded flirtatious? Why bother telling me about it?

Followers on what - Instagram? Is this part of his job?
Personally I would find the hair conversation a bit odd and wonder why he told you - unless hair is part of his job.

Hmm strange one, think I'd wonder if he was trying me to make me jealous or something!

Assume you don't tell him similar stories about other men OP? 🙂

Would your H tell a male colleague he liked his hair and ask if it was natural? If so, he's just a guy with an interest in hair. If not then he's a guy who treats his female colleagues differently to his male ones. And there's no need to do that.

I couldnt be on with a wanker like that. Can't you let him go and find someone less self obsessed?

I'm not sure @5128gap - he might do!

I suppose it annoyed me as he has always loved my hair and Ive just cooked your fecking dinner/put on a nice dress and here you are telling me about some woman you met. And now she's interacting with all your posts...

Makes me wonder if I'm built for this life with him working away although I trust him. Off living the life even though it's work.

I think its fair to say that marriage to men who befriend other women, compliment them and carry on ongoing messaging with them, isn't for everyone. Especially coupled with the absences. I'm sure there are men who do all these things and never put a foot wrong, but it stands to reason that the more open they are to other women, the more personal their interactions get and the more opportunities they have, the higher the risk. You know the man. What's your instinct? Is he just a guy who gets on well with women, or is he a flirt and a charmer? How he treated you when you met gives you a clue.

I used to work away a lot. And professionally meet men. DH was never in trouble because he's better than all of them but there was the opportunity. If he's flattered, would step a little out of line, likes flirting, it's a very short step.

It's not really about if what he did this time is 'flirting' per se, it's more that you have to have a very strong eye on your marriage when you work away. I would present to rooms of men and during the intros I would say, "blah blah qualifications blah blah DH" just to put a stake in the ground.

Did his conversation with her mention his DW's lovely hair? And how much he missed you?