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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:
Vannymcvan · 18/10/2024 21:45

He's the ultimate CF and she is just encouraging him. I really hope you move on and live your best life without him in it.

coldcallerbaiter · 18/10/2024 21:51

Are you sure it was just a dog walk?

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 18/10/2024 22:27

Let's pretend that the messages are between Nigel, 57, from HR, and OP's fella, after they discovered a shared passion for model railways.

"How tall are you? We have so much in common"

"I like you. We have a connection"

Nah, not buying it.

Builtforspeednotcomfort · 18/10/2024 22:48

So have you ended it? It would be interesting to know if they've got together, if not, just maybe your past got in the way of your future. Whilst I get it, and agree it looks shady. There is a possibility that it was harmless banter and mild flirting, which I wouldn't class as cheating. That said, him saying you were feeling anxious was a convenient way of blaming you for their 'friendship' ending!

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 19/10/2024 03:23

Gosh, he’s even laid the ‘crazy ex’ groundwork.

tolerable · 19/10/2024 04:13

not entirelu
doll,youve got to go with your gut.
2hour dog walk unlikely land you in hellfire eternal.....
disrespecting your dp, potentially put your life,relationship,trust on the line-merits kickin off.
That said. Keep the heid. theres alwys big picture(you can walk away from at anytime)if (he gets that he was wrong..sorrys a start)words n actions.your gua
rds no up for nothin

MsDogLady · 19/10/2024 07:09

Well, @Luciev, it all sounds very ‘coupley’. They’ve been building emotional intimacy and reliance with their confiding KISA/Damsel dynamic and speaking of their connection. And he acknowledged his attraction when he told her she ‘looks good.’

He is very manipulative. He was clearly only paying lip service when initially agreeing to not meet up with OW and to dial back the contact, as they got together as soon as you left town, and are still having hour-long FaceTime sessions behind closed doors. He threw you under the bus by telling her that your anxiety is to blame for their not being able to meet again. Their accusing you of being hysterical and OTT is pure contempt and manipulation.

@Luciev, this guy does not place high value in (his) being honest or monogamous. I do hope you have an exit plan in the works.

Dreamsandlove19 · 19/10/2024 10:24

A man who wants to stay loyal won't give any reasons to be misunderstood and sticks to his business this sounds like a side gig keep your eyes open sorry

AllyArty · 19/10/2024 19:14

YANBU and he should not have put u in this position.

laraitopbanana · 19/10/2024 19:15

Hi,

I am a cool wife and hell no! If you have a gut feeling, he shouldn’t. That is as simple of that.

Let him go now. And be the one to choose yourself instead waiting for him to do it.

Good luck 🌺

wp65 · 19/10/2024 19:23

Another cool wife here... there is no universe in which his behaviour is OK. He is being horribly disrespectful of you and of your relationship. This is not the same as him simply wanting to have female friends and you having an issue with it. He's way over the line - they both are, and I dare say they know it. They don't care.

I would honestly consider leaving him over this.

Jack80 · 19/10/2024 20:29

Can you meet up with them and see what she is like. I get its not nice as you have been hurt by an ex. I would feel the same if I hadn't met her. I don't agree him speaking about your anxiety to her

PeepDeBeaul · 19/10/2024 21:00

I have a ton of male friends.

I would never ever meet up with one on my own while their partner was away unless the partner gave their blessing. I would want to have the partner talk to me directly for that. Biggest red flag ever!

Has she made any effort at all to get to know you? Has your husband even introduced you to each other? This friendship has two people in it, so while your hubby is definitely to blame, so is she. This is not an innocent friendship.

I think there do need to be ground rules for this friendship to continue. From what I just read, either he's incredibly naive or his eyes are wondering.

Sometimesright · 19/10/2024 21:15

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 ?

I believe you should always trust your instincts. I have never to my knowledge been cheated on but if my instincts have told me to step away then that’s what i have done.
Now I have a husband who I trust 100% and he can trust me.
your man lied by omission. I would be listening to my inner instincts. He knew you didn’t want him to spend time with her he did it anyway. That’s a red flag from me. Personally I would walk away. He has betrayed your trust.

Wonderlust233 · 19/10/2024 21:22

Omg... They are not friends. If they were they would meet up with you there.

I would set some very firm boundaries and literally tell DH I will leave if I sniff any similar behaviour.

He needs to tell her he can't speak to her because he has a partner. It's nothing to do with your anxiety. Any woman would feel the same.

Tiredofallthis101 · 19/10/2024 21:50

Well done OP. He's a liar who doesn't care about your wants and needs if nothing else so I'd be showing him the door too. Very good chance IMO if he's not cheating he will be given half a chance. Selfish dickhead.

August1980 · 19/10/2024 22:02

I don’t know… I get how this could open up a can of worms. Bringing up the old feelings, hurt etc but if the only way to keep him is by preventing his other friendships then it’s only a matter of time before he does leave you. Do you have a good relationship otherwise?

i just think if he wants to go he will..

User100000000000 · 19/10/2024 22:19

I've had a male friend for 24 years and I'd never, ever discuss or even wonder if him & I had a 'connection' 🤢 He's like a brother to me.

Echoing PP by saying that's not friendship chat that's saying app chat, as this was my exact first thought.

So sorry, OP.

WigglyVonWaggly · 19/10/2024 22:30

A two hour secret dog walk isn’t the way open and transparent friends behave. If they met openly, chatted openly and it was clear that topics which can be read as things about their chemistry were totally left out of it, it would be a bit different. The questions about height, selfies to each other and mentions of rapport seem a bit too much like things people would chat about if things aren’t platonic. Not the height on its own, but with the other things especially comments on her looking good. So YANBU.

jelly79 · 19/10/2024 22:33

They stopped sending selfies???
He lied about meeting her outside of work??
Not a work relationship this

Pippetypoppity · 19/10/2024 22:48

He’s having an affair with her in his mind already I guarantee you. Do not tolerate this shit. You are being made an absolute mug of I’m afraid Op. How dare he talk about you in those terms in front of her. Utter disloyalty. So so sorry Op.

Miaminmoo · 19/10/2024 23:34

Unbelievable - he actually told her about your insecurities and blamed you as an excuse for not being able to see her? Hello? How disloyal is this? Very early in my current relationship my husband had an 'old friend' who treated me appallingly, she was territorial and gave off massive 'mean girl' vibes. She had loads of male friends and made a habit out of pulling stunts to make them feel insecure. My (now) husband told her she made me insecure and I lost my temper with him for being so disloyal. It was his job to manage her crappy behaviour without throwing me under the bus. He never saw the harm in her but honestly she could have whipped her knickers off and spread her legs and he wouldn't have thought she was coming on to him, he's a little bit emotionally challenged to say the least. I know she didn't even want him, she just enjoyed the power trip of being 'important' to him. Your husband is behaving like an ass - it's decision time, her or you. Make him make it.

Horses7 · 19/10/2024 23:56

YANBU

FancyHelper · 20/10/2024 00:08

I would ask her round for a coffee and then tell her to fuck right off out of your lives, if there’s nothing going on then that’ll be the end of it. If not then you’ll have your answer

Thefsm · 20/10/2024 01:20

To me the texting selfies is absolutely the red flag for me. My husband sent a picture of himself eating a churro at a theme park to the Italian woman he worked with. I asked why and he claimed she didn’t know what a churro was. A few weeks later I saw the texts and realised he’d been cheating for six months.