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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner and female co worker

292 replies

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:15

A short back story so you don’t think I’m weird - my previous parter of 12 years struck up a friendship with a women at work. I didn’t mind because I felt confident in our relationship. Fast forward 6 months - he left me for her. She was 15 years younger. I didn’t see it coming. Naive ? Maybe. So when my partner of 5 years struck up a friendship with a woman at work I felt a tinge of dread - but as they were just talking at work on teams I didn’t see the problem until he said he was meeting her outside work for coffee. I said I felt uncomfortable with that as I don’t know her, and after my last experience I felt it was a bad idea. I looked at their text exchange and she was asking him how tall he was , saying how much they have in common and he said he liked her and had a connection. He agreed not to meet outside work and also to cool it with the texting up and down, sharing selfies etc outside work. Fast forward 3 months , I went to Spain with my female friend of years, while I was away they met up for a two hour dog walk. He didn’t tell me , but I had a feeling he would do it so I asked him outright - he hesitated and then said yes he did. And that she also knew I was away. I find this duplicitous behaviour. So I said that if the friendship is so important then go for it but he can do it as a single man. Apparently I am hysterical and over the top. But honestly it brings back all the humiliation as before. So he has now told her he can’t see her outside work because it creates anxiety for me and this makes it difficult for him She was very disappointed and is keen to pursue the friendship and can’t understand what the fuss is about.
have I been unreasonable ?

OP posts:
CocoPlum · 14/10/2024 20:18

I'm sure the cool wives will tell you you are being over the top.

But I've been you (husband had a friendship with a woman at work, I wad suspicious and told I was overreacting, he left me, funnily enough they live together now) and if it happened again I would trust my gut.

Deedee558 · 14/10/2024 20:19

YANBU, it sounds like they are being flirtatious. And hiding liaisons from you like that is a red flag.

Diarygirlqueen · 14/10/2024 20:21

You are not unreasonable and do not let him think you are. It's good to see you have strong boundaries.

Bellatrixpure · 14/10/2024 20:22

Not unreasonable. And I’m assuming he knows about your previous relationship? Why would he think this is OK?

Nogaxeh · 14/10/2024 20:23

I don't think you can keep a relationship going by preventing your partner from ever having non-work conversations with any women he's not related to ever again.

If he's committed to your relationship then he can be friends with women without it being an issue. If he isn't he's going to end up leaving you anyway, one way or another.

Do you really want a lifetime of policing his contact with the opposite sex?

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:23

CocoPlum · 14/10/2024 20:18

I'm sure the cool wives will tell you you are being over the top.

But I've been you (husband had a friendship with a woman at work, I wad suspicious and told I was overreacting, he left me, funnily enough they live together now) and if it happened again I would trust my gut.

I’m not a cool wife anymore. Funny how they don’t have these ‘connections’ with older women or other men isn’t it.
I forgot to add she is also 15 years younger than me.

OP posts:
anotherdayanotherissue · 14/10/2024 20:24

Not unreasonable at all, id be fuming that he had told this friend that it was making you 'anxious'...he should have enough respect for you to just take a step back and put professional boundaries in place....the fact that she is pursuing him still is also a red flag, she clearly doesnt care that he has a partner....which could mean hes not been very nice about you when they chat.

CryptoFascist · 14/10/2024 20:25

Is she attractive? It never seems to be women they don't find physically attractive who they have this "connection" with.

No, I wouldn't put up with this either. Fine if it's a long standing friendship, even if it's an ex. But suddenly becoming interested in spending time with a new woman? No.

Merryoldgoat · 14/10/2024 20:26

YANBU.

You don’t tell him he couldn’t see her - it’s a simple choice between a clearly inappropriate friendship and your relationship

However him saying you’re anxious would actually be the thing that pissed me off the most. A real cop out.

Ive got male friends. We chat and laugh and text - no talk of ‘connections’ etc.

DeeCeeCherry · 14/10/2024 20:27

He is stupid and disloyal. Telling her you're anxious etc? Who does he think he is? He wants to punish you for your concerns, and present you to her as unreasonable.

Relationships are about friendship respect and loyalty, as well as love. Much of that is missing in your relationship.

It's never an older woman at work these types strike up a friendship with is it...

AlertCat · 14/10/2024 20:27

YANBU and honestly, this has red flags all over it for me, too. Well done for sticking to your boundaries- it will save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:28

CryptoFascist · 14/10/2024 20:25

Is she attractive? It never seems to be women they don't find physically attractive who they have this "connection" with.

No, I wouldn't put up with this either. Fine if it's a long standing friendship, even if it's an ex. But suddenly becoming interested in spending time with a new woman? No.

He did say she looked good yes.

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 14/10/2024 20:29

My DH has a female work friend. He really values their friendship for lots of reasons and they meet for coffee now and again but you KNOW the difference - there is zero vibe. It’s palpable when there’s an attraction.

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:29

AlertCat · 14/10/2024 20:27

YANBU and honestly, this has red flags all over it for me, too. Well done for sticking to your boundaries- it will save you a lot of heartache in the long run.

Yeah I’m holding my line here.

OP posts:
DrinkFeckArseBrick · 14/10/2024 20:30

They'd not actually met but she was asking how tall he was and telling each other they had a connection? That's not work chat that sounds like dating app chat.

And agree that the fact he waited you were away to do something that he knew you wouldn't like isnt just sneaky, but just plain wrong given he explicitly said he wouldn't.

If my husband asked me not to do something that made him uncomfortable and he had a valid reason then I wouldn't do it, unless it was really really important to me. Which shows what he thinks of her

But I think the nail in the coffin is that he doesn't actually think he should be stopping. He is blaming you and doesn't think he has done anything wrong. Which means that he is probably going to do it again and is taking absolutely no responsibility for and has no accountability for this situation

CryptoFascist · 14/10/2024 20:34

I would finish it with him, the trust has gone. Do you in your gut think he would take it further if he had the opportunity and could get away with it?

I'm really sorry this has happened, he is a coward and you deserve better, especially after what happened to you in the past.

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:35

Nogaxeh · 14/10/2024 20:23

I don't think you can keep a relationship going by preventing your partner from ever having non-work conversations with any women he's not related to ever again.

If he's committed to your relationship then he can be friends with women without it being an issue. If he isn't he's going to end up leaving you anyway, one way or another.

Do you really want a lifetime of policing his contact with the opposite sex?

I think sneaking around is a bit suss no? I did offer to host her here so she can see us as a couple. She is having relationship issues so I said she can bring her partner. But clearly I am not invited into this situation. ?
.The reason I have asked mums here is that I wanted some feedback from women I don’t know.

OP posts:
CryptoFascist · 14/10/2024 20:37

"she is having relationship issues" oh please. Men like to feel the hero and this plays right into that. I'm so sorry, this is really shitty.

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:39

CryptoFascist · 14/10/2024 20:37

"she is having relationship issues" oh please. Men like to feel the hero and this plays right into that. I'm so sorry, this is really shitty.

My response to that was actually this 😂

OP posts:
Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:40

Merryoldgoat · 14/10/2024 20:29

My DH has a female work friend. He really values their friendship for lots of reasons and they meet for coffee now and again but you KNOW the difference - there is zero vibe. It’s palpable when there’s an attraction.

She drove 1 hour to go on a 2 hour dog walk with him. That’s dedication !!

OP posts:
BESTAUNTB · 14/10/2024 20:41

I’m gutted for you because five years is quite a long time. It’s difficult to walk away when you’ve invested that amount of time in someone. But walk away you should.

CookieMonster28 · 14/10/2024 20:44

No way I'd not be happy about this. Fishy!

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:44

Bellatrixpure · 14/10/2024 20:22

Not unreasonable. And I’m assuming he knows about your previous relationship? Why would he think this is OK?

He knows the whole story and how much it hurt me. The thing is- looking back it’s like a playbook , I even said to him , did you call my ex and ask him what he said to my to keep the ‘friendship ‘ going. I know if he is going to cheat he will do it - but I don’t want to give him carte Blanche like I did before. I even used to pick them up when they went out together - what a tit I was.

OP posts:
PeggyMitchellsCameo · 14/10/2024 20:44

You are right OP he’s not meeting Mavis, twenty years older, they are both Wordle fans and enjoy watching Ludwig.
This man knows exactly what your previous ex did. If the situation were reversed would you meet a man under these circumstances? No, and neither would I.
He is basking in the attention and it’s so predictable it’s a joke, and she’s no friend to him either. She’s enjoying flattering his ego.
Why people behave like this and then shout at their partners I have no idea.
While I do think straight men and women can be friends it has to be done with boundaries. I am sorry but all too often it’s nothing to do with being mates it’s acting on a flirtation and then not putting a stop to it.
Has this man got so few friends he has to meet with this woman while you are on holiday? I think most of us can muster up enough mates that we don’t need to be behaving like him.
I have two male friends I have known since I was a kid. We have been through a lot together. Whenever either phones I tell my DP. There is no need for any type of jealousy and it works both ways. There is no secrecy involved whatsoever.
There is clearly something going on here which is why you are getting blamed. He is an arsehole.

GreatScroller · 14/10/2024 20:45

I’m sorry he fancies her, trust your gut and get rid of him