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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:
Luciev · 20/10/2024 20:31

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 18/10/2024 07:54

I understand why you feel the way you do based on your previous experience.

But controlling your partners friendships is really unhealthy.

You either trust him or you don't and if you don't the relationship is doomed.

I’m not controlling his friendships. He has female friends in Germany and that was cool. This is different.

OP posts:
Luciev · 20/10/2024 20:35

buffyajp · 18/10/2024 08:27

There’s nothing cool about not being controlling. I’m sorry for you and the op for bad behaviour in the past but neither of you have the right to dictate partner’s friendship. Maybe before getting into other relationships you should have therapy to deal with trust issues as while it’s understandable it is controlling behaviour and will destroy future relationships. If the sexes were reversed people would go mad at a man dictating a woman’s friendship. There is no way I would let my husband tell me who I can and can’t be friends with. The previous partner’s infidelity is not the fault of the new one.

He had female friend when we were in Germany and it was cool with me. I had male friends in fact we all all friends together. There was nothing underhand. You are right though, I do not trust him anymore so ……

as for therapy, I had therapy after the last time. It wa more about being able to walk away from dishonet duplicitous people - which I can now.

OP posts:
Babyboomer60 · 20/10/2024 20:38

At the very least he us being very disrespectful to you.

Builtforspeednotcomfort · 20/10/2024 20:40

Luciev · 20/10/2024 20:04

I actually don’t think they have moved that far that they are actually having sex. I think it’s like someone else said here, it’s laying the groundwork- it’s a the getting to know you phase. I can’t be arsed to do all that. I might wander past at some point and see if I can see his car 😊 but she is working In that office so I am sure he will be there. You should be an investigator!

I caught a cheating ex out with a lot less than that. I got her a mobile on my contract, to help her out. I got the bill and was like how come it's that much, assuming they had made a mistake. I checked the itemized bill, the same number came up multiple times and for weeks. I asked her who were all of these calls and texts to? She said her sister was going through a tough time and had been chatting to her about it a lot.I am usually quite trusting but it didn't add up. So I said 'I rang the number and a man answered!' ( I didn't call the number) I expected her to laugh and say 'oh my god call it again now, that was her boyfriend' or something. She just said I'm really sorry, we met up a few times but nothing happened. I told her give me the phone, Nothing happened... yeah right, when I checked the phone it was all there, nasty to read but the "Don't worry he hasn't got a clue! xxxx" And "I can't wait until you're inside me again xxxx" No talking your way out of that, get your stuff and get out! I had the tears and pleading, he meant nothing, I love you so much, I'm sorry. No, you're just sorry you got caught. Now get out!

Luciev · 20/10/2024 20:41

grumpygrape · 18/10/2024 20:45

OP, you told your partner you are not comfortable with his relationship, outside work, with a colleague. Why did he not make a decision without putting the ‘blame’ on you ? That is a childish denying thing to do. She doesn’t need to know about your unease, just his decision, which I get the feeling he isn’t going to stick to despite knowing your past experience. Telling you she thinks you are ‘crazy and overreacting’ should not even come into it because he shouldn’t be discussing your feelings with her, only that he would not see her outside work.

He's told you they have a ‘connection’ and he says she ‘looks good’. What on earth do her looks matter if there’s ‘nothing wrong’ and perhaps he’d like to define ‘connection’…

I think your life would be better without a person who puts a good looking person he has a connection with higher than you in his priority list.

Have a great time at the HoL. Try to take time to just look around and absorb the sights and atmosphere.

Apologies for this but I first read one of your posts to say she travelled an hour to spend two hours dogging with him. (Blush)

Chin up, he’s not worth it.

Hhahahaha - nooooo. A dog walk.

thank you for your responses - I appreciate it.

im really looking forward to the reception - I’m work in disability rights and it is all about that.

OP posts:
SunsetSkylane · 20/10/2024 21:10

But @Builtforspeednotcomfort if you've had to resort to that kind of creepy shit, the relationship is already dead!

Do people actually do these things if they're not in a bad soy movie? Surely not.

bluebsheets · 20/10/2024 21:24

He shouldn't want to. Mine wouldn't do this and if he did it would ring alarm bells and I wouldn't be comfortable with it.

No history, no cheating, not trust issues... he just wouldn't do it. Nor would I it would be weird.

Sorry if that's an unpopular opinion but it's true for us.

I'm sorry op, I'm glad you own the house and glad you seem to have a plan.

Luciev · 20/10/2024 21:41

SunsetSkylane · 20/10/2024 21:10

But @Builtforspeednotcomfort if you've had to resort to that kind of creepy shit, the relationship is already dead!

Do people actually do these things if they're not in a bad soy movie? Surely not.

It’s not my thing. I felt guilty looking at his phone. But our phones are open and we use each others from time to time. Anyway, It looks like he deletes all the messages now because I saw messages from her in July. Now they are gone. Only messages up to May are there.

OP posts:
TheCatterall · 20/10/2024 21:55

Luciev · 20/10/2024 21:41

It’s not my thing. I felt guilty looking at his phone. But our phones are open and we use each others from time to time. Anyway, It looks like he deletes all the messages now because I saw messages from her in July. Now they are gone. Only messages up to May are there.

Has he perhaps switched on disappearing messages (if it’s WhatsApp). I believe you can get something similar for text messages.

have you looked in his deleted messages (again if it’s WhatsApp) as unless you delete them from there I believe it keeps them
for 30 days?

PeepDeBeaul · 20/10/2024 22:44

Wait ...so he's deleting messages from her too ...just her or does everyone get that treatment?

BUILTFORSPEED · 21/10/2024 00:07

SunsetSkylane · 20/10/2024 21:10

But @Builtforspeednotcomfort if you've had to resort to that kind of creepy shit, the relationship is already dead!

Do people actually do these things if they're not in a bad soy movie? Surely not.

No 'creepy shit' from me. I was giving thr OP some additional things to try. My ex was caught by pure accident and her own stupidity. FWIW I think this guy is shady and needs to be somehow 'caught in the act'. So checking the mileage on the car, even watching them leave from the office (even if they are laughing and chatting, he's lied, why?) And looking for condoms, does not constitute 'creepy shit'. Maybe the voice activated recording is kind of going there!

Luciev · 21/10/2024 07:37

PeepDeBeaul · 20/10/2024 22:44

Wait ...so he's deleting messages from her too ...just her or does everyone get that treatment?

Yes it appears so. The messages were definitely there.

OP posts:
PeepDeBeaul · 21/10/2024 07:59

Luciev · 21/10/2024 07:37

Yes it appears so. The messages were definitely there.

Red flag with flashing red lights and a Lazer beacon into the night sky.

Diarygirlqueen · 21/10/2024 08:09

I'm sorry OP, what shit luck you've had with men. You sound so strong, I'm glad to hear you have great boundaries and are getting yourself sorted. I wish you nothing but happiness moving forward.

Errors · 21/10/2024 08:16

I just want to say I admire your strength and boundaries here. I’ve read all of your updates and I wouldn’t be comfortable with this at all. It’s one giant red flag. He is being incredibly disrespectful

Amyknows · 21/10/2024 09:42

What a scumbag op. To know you went through this exact same scenario and to do the exact same thing to you is just an extra bit cruel. Off all things to do.
Take control of it and end it, you can change the ending. Rather than be someone that this happened to twice, turn that into something you stand up for yourself.

tommyhoundmum · 21/10/2024 13:32

I feel so angry for you. He should be looking at his own behaviour not blaming you.

Shelley999 · 21/10/2024 19:14

You did the right thing, stop all contact between the pair of them. My ex husband had a friendship with a trollop he worked with.
He packed up and left us - including 5 year old child.
Following on he remarried had another child and then left her. How I laughed at that one.
He had picked up with another trollop from work and had a child with her.
So don't let him gas light you

CraftyOP · 21/10/2024 19:24

YANBU my colleagues are married and in a relationship at work it's been going on for years

Luciev · 21/10/2024 20:01

Shelley999 · 21/10/2024 19:14

You did the right thing, stop all contact between the pair of them. My ex husband had a friendship with a trollop he worked with.
He packed up and left us - including 5 year old child.
Following on he remarried had another child and then left her. How I laughed at that one.
He had picked up with another trollop from work and had a child with her.
So don't let him gas light you

Bloody hell !! How did you get through that ? I thought my dp was a dick - he has nothing on your ex.

OP posts:
Luciev · 21/10/2024 20:03

CraftyOP · 21/10/2024 19:24

YANBU my colleagues are married and in a relationship at work it's been going on for years

Jeeze - this was what happened before. Everyone knew - except me I thought they were mates and I felt so humiliated. I used to drop her at her flat too and all the while they were planning to get me out the picture.

OP posts:
Luciev · 21/10/2024 20:04

Errors · 21/10/2024 08:16

I just want to say I admire your strength and boundaries here. I’ve read all of your updates and I wouldn’t be comfortable with this at all. It’s one giant red flag. He is being incredibly disrespectful

Thank you. I think that’s the crux of it - for me it’s waiting till I was out the country and then meeting up. I mean a dog walk is innocuous - but it’s all the other shit around it.

OP posts:
Pusheen467 · 21/10/2024 20:05

Shelley999 · 21/10/2024 19:14

You did the right thing, stop all contact between the pair of them. My ex husband had a friendship with a trollop he worked with.
He packed up and left us - including 5 year old child.
Following on he remarried had another child and then left her. How I laughed at that one.
He had picked up with another trollop from work and had a child with her.
So don't let him gas light you

Trollop 😂😂😂

I forgot that word existed!

Luciev · 21/10/2024 20:06

PeepDeBeaul · 20/10/2024 22:44

Wait ...so he's deleting messages from her too ...just her or does everyone get that treatment?

No it’s only this one. - since we had it out he has not been on WhatsApp for days. Usually it was pinging a lot.

OP posts:
Luciev · 21/10/2024 20:23

helgel · 18/10/2024 08:35

How's it going OP? Easy to know what to do, not always easy to actually do it.

It’s okay. I have tried to have an adult conversation about it but he ends up shouting me down and he continues to blame me. He simply cannot see how this is inappropriate at all. The dog walk is innocuous alone but with the other things around it - it makes it not okay - he can’t see it - won’t discuss it anymore so I’ve been shut down. He is in the office tomorrow when over the past 3 years he only ever goes in for meetings once a month. Now it’s 3 times in 2 weeks. As one responder said - I can’t control his friendships and that’s true - never did before and he had female friends when we were in Germany but there is a vibe with this one- like he said - a connection. I’m going to wait and see what happens next - the wall has come up in any case - I feel less anxious about it and I will bide my time. I feel in control of myself and my life. Thank you so much for asking - sorry for the “war and peace” response

OP posts: