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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:
FranceIsWhereItsAt · 14/10/2024 20:46

There are times when I really hate men OP!!

I am SO sorry that you've been through this once, let alone a second time. How dare he treat you like this? I think in all honesty, the fact that he spent time with her while you were away, and had no intention of telling you, says an awful lot. Who's to say that he didn't see her every day that you were gone? OK he's admitted to spending 2 hours with her, presumably because he couldn't handle the guilt when asked by you face to face, but that doesn't mean that he's told you the WHOLE truth. The fact that he knows what happened to you before, and yet still chose to do this, absolutely boils my piss, and in your shoes, I'm afraid this would be the end for me, because even if he stops the relationship with her now, he's doing it with a bad grace, and if it's happened once, it will happen again at the slightest opportunity, he'll just be better prepared to hide it from you. He's proved he can't be trusted, so my advice to you, while I know it's going to hurt like hell, would be get rid of him now, before he has another chance to hurt you. Don't waste another moment of your life on someone who is prepared to see another woman behind your back. Whether they had sex or not, is irrelevant in this situation, as it's clear that if they haven't yet, then it's on the cards.

I'm SO sorry OP!

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:49

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.

Edited

This made me laugh thank you ! Not it’s not Wordle fan Mavis, she is a pink haired younger woman who he said looks good.

OP posts:
GirlMumGabby · 14/10/2024 20:52

Even reading this makes me sad. I had the same OP.... together for 8 years. No kids but planning our future. Ex started a new job..... made a female friend (10 years older than me). 6 months later he ups and leaves to move in with her and her 3 kids.
I get it. My now husband gets it. He would no way make me feel like this. Trust your gut.

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:53

FranceIsWhereItsAt · 14/10/2024 20:46

There are times when I really hate men OP!!

I am SO sorry that you've been through this once, let alone a second time. How dare he treat you like this? I think in all honesty, the fact that he spent time with her while you were away, and had no intention of telling you, says an awful lot. Who's to say that he didn't see her every day that you were gone? OK he's admitted to spending 2 hours with her, presumably because he couldn't handle the guilt when asked by you face to face, but that doesn't mean that he's told you the WHOLE truth. The fact that he knows what happened to you before, and yet still chose to do this, absolutely boils my piss, and in your shoes, I'm afraid this would be the end for me, because even if he stops the relationship with her now, he's doing it with a bad grace, and if it's happened once, it will happen again at the slightest opportunity, he'll just be better prepared to hide it from you. He's proved he can't be trusted, so my advice to you, while I know it's going to hurt like hell, would be get rid of him now, before he has another chance to hurt you. Don't waste another moment of your life on someone who is prepared to see another woman behind your back. Whether they had sex or not, is irrelevant in this situation, as it's clear that if they haven't yet, then it's on the cards.

I'm SO sorry OP!

This is my opinion too. He did say( after I called him duplicitous) that he wished he never told me. The fact is , the first time when they were excitedly planning their coffee catch up and I said I’m not happy with this. He said he would not pursue the friendship outside work - he waited till I was away.

she thinks I’m just crazy and overreacting. But I count give a flying fuck what she thinks.

OP posts:
FlyingontheGround · 14/10/2024 20:54

It’s brazen behaviour from both of them in my opinion. I don’t think you’re being unreasonable in the slightest.

safetyfreak · 14/10/2024 20:54

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:23

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.

Yes, funny that!

Sorry OP, sounds like its happening again but you know the warning signs this time round. I would not be happy with his response, it sounds like he is gas lightening you.

CocoPlum · 14/10/2024 20:54

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?

This is not what she's doing.

My (not so) new DP has female friendships and has never given me a single reason to doubt that they were just friends. What the OP is saying is ringing alarm bells for me. The conversation is inappropriate, the meeting up in secret is a betrayal of trust... this is not the behaviour of a man who respects his partner.

Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:55

GirlMumGabby · 14/10/2024 20:52

Even reading this makes me sad. I had the same OP.... together for 8 years. No kids but planning our future. Ex started a new job..... made a female friend (10 years older than me). 6 months later he ups and leaves to move in with her and her 3 kids.
I get it. My now husband gets it. He would no way make me feel like this. Trust your gut.

I’m also sorry this happened to you. But glad your husband gets it.

OP posts:
Luciev · 14/10/2024 20:58

CocoPlum · 14/10/2024 20:54

This is not what she's doing.

My (not so) new DP has female friendships and has never given me a single reason to doubt that they were just friends. What the OP is saying is ringing alarm bells for me. The conversation is inappropriate, the meeting up in secret is a betrayal of trust... this is not the behaviour of a man who respects his partner.

You are right. He had two female friends when we were in Germany and there was no ‘vibe’ whatsoever. Everything was out there and I was welcome to join if I chose to. This is not the same - I have been shut out.

OP posts:
teatoast8 · 14/10/2024 20:59

YANBU

Duckingella · 14/10/2024 21:00

Genuine friendships don't get hidden and invitations from partners to socialise aren't usually ignored.

Crikeyalmighty · 14/10/2024 21:01

Genuine friendships don't ask how tall you are! Because they know this anyway and if it's just friendship it doesn't matter a jot!!

rarebits · 14/10/2024 21:04

Always, always, always trust your gut. And if in doubt, ask MN 👍

RedBulb · 14/10/2024 21:04

How many other friends does he see outside of work? I’m all for men and women being able to be friends, but it feels like he is making efforts to keep you both separate. I had many male friendships when younger, and it was hard when they found partners and pulled away, but I accepted it for what it was and respected the boundaries.

Clara202 · 14/10/2024 21:06

Not even slightly unreasonable. The content of their texts is suspicious, saying she looks good is suspicious, waiting until you’re away to meet up to walk their dogs together….what more are we waiting for? Seeing them share a candle lit dinner?! He’s an absolute idiot, it shouldn’t even be a question, it’s you or her and as you said, if he wants to keep meeting her, he can, as a single man. You deserve better.

Luciev · 14/10/2024 21:06

rarebits · 14/10/2024 21:04

Always, always, always trust your gut. And if in doubt, ask MN 👍

Exactly. MN brutally honest opinions.

OP posts:
Rudeypoohs · 14/10/2024 21:06

How bloody dare he. I’m outraged on your behalf. Sneaking about like that. You deserve better.

Luciev · 14/10/2024 21:08

RedBulb · 14/10/2024 21:04

How many other friends does he see outside of work? I’m all for men and women being able to be friends, but it feels like he is making efforts to keep you both separate. I had many male friendships when younger, and it was hard when they found partners and pulled away, but I accepted it for what it was and respected the boundaries.

He has been in the U.K 4 years. So doesn’t have many friends here. We have mutual female friends and one of them texts him a lot - there is NO PROBLEM for me there. We all go out together - this feels different. But I was worried I was bringing past experienced and applying it to this situation hence my ask from MN 🥰

OP posts:
DontBother123 · 14/10/2024 21:09

I couldn’t be fucked with this sly sneaky behaviour. Get rid of him and leave them to it. You don’t have to hang around for the shitshow you know is coming.

Dotto · 14/10/2024 21:12

YANBU. Does he tell his male work friends they 'have a connection', send them selfies and and hide walks with them, from you?

Luciev · 14/10/2024 21:12

Dotto · 14/10/2024 21:12

YANBU. Does he tell his male work friends they 'have a connection', send them selfies and and hide walks with them, from you?

Hahahaha nope - so on point there.

OP posts:
idriveaVauxhallZafira · 14/10/2024 21:12

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.

This is totally it. You definitely know the difference. You're not coming across as policing his friendships at all. When you know you know and this isn't passing the vibes check.

DoloresHargreeves · 14/10/2024 21:17

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 self ID as a cool wife and wouldn't be ok with this.

DoloresHargreeves · 14/10/2024 21:21

I have a few male friends, including colleagues. I text them semi regularly, we talk on the phone and we meet up when convenient. I have never exchanged regular selfies with any of them. In fact, I never have exchanged regular selfies with anyone (male or female) who I wasn't attracted to. I've also never gone on secret dog walks or tried to create drama around a partner having anxiety. And I would never in a thousand years push a relationship with a colleague if they have told me their wife wasn't happy with it.

You know the difference OP! This ain't friendship. They might not have done anything, but there will be an attraction.

user1471517057 · 14/10/2024 21:22

He’s full of shit and knows exactly what he’s playing at. Tosser.

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