Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

This is an emotional affair, right?

244 replies

onemorestep123 · 18/02/2014 15:39

I suspect my partner of 3 years of having an emotional affair with a work colleague. For the past few months they have been sending each other facebook messages on a daily basis...I questioned him about it a couple of weeks back and he accused me of being insecure and jealous. We argued, he said I was trying to control him and I said that it made me feel insecure, but wanted assurances that they were just friends, he stonewalled me, would not say anything. We had a break for a couple of days then he contacted me saying he was sorry, that I was right he was speaking to her too much on fb, it was every day sometimes for hours at a time, and that the last thing he wanted to do was hurt me, he promised to cut down contact. Fast forward two weeks, he is still talking to her on fb (she is still at the top of his contact list) and spent the day with her on Sunday, it was supposed to be a work outing, but they went together and met up with the others for lunch, the rest of the time, about 8 hours they were alone together. When I ask him about this, he again accused me of being insecure and jealous...rolling of the eyes and 'here we go again...' type of thing and 'why are you trying to make me feel bad about spending time with a friend?'.

This morning I accessed his fb account, it is open on my laptop, I have resisted looking until today, knew it wouldn't be anything good and wanted to trust him. Lots of messages with her saying Sunday was one of the best days of her life, spending it with him. They talk about what everyone at work is saying about them spending time together, they think they are not doing anything wrong. She asks him if I gave him a hard time for spending the day with her, he says no more than usual. She then says she dreamt about kissing him and it was lovely, he says he has dreamt about hugging her and it's amazing. They give each other lots of complements 'you are so kind and lovely', 'you are so mysterious'...it's at the edge of what I would consider an emotional affair. Tonight I am going to speak with him, knowing that he will probably continue to deny anything wrong and accuse me of being paranoid. Is there any possibility that I am wrong here?...He has always been a great boyfriend, attentive, kind and caring, we seemed to be really happy, but focussing his attention on another woman is not on. Tips on how to stay strong when I talk to him? I can't see any way forward for us and want to tackle the issue in an assertive and confident manner, not fall to pieces crying & becoming an emotional wreck. He's texted me and messaged me a couple of times today and I have just ignored him. Sorry for long waffle...thank you.

OP posts:
DeMaz · 24/02/2014 09:18

Onemore, silence is golden! The more silent you are, the more desperate they'll become!

You should be proud of yourself! Just hold your head high and think 'fuck you two'!!

cjel · 24/02/2014 09:24

Just because one person has said this it doesn't mean they have all fallen for the BS, Remember there was already office gossip about their 'freindship'.
Sounds like she is used to covering her tracks - let her have no more of your thoughts, You know the truth as do they and you need to live your life now not theirs.

Hope you don't spend too much time dwelling Onemore, The best revenge is a life lived well!!!!

Snoozybird · 24/02/2014 11:34

onemorestep123 Mon 24-Feb-14 08:54:01
She then said if I wanted to salvage things I probably could as my ex still loves me and OW doesn't hold anything against me!! I said there was no salvaging to be done and only me, ex and OW know what really happened.

Excellent response OP and one that puts the work colleague firmly back in her place. Sorry this situation must all be so crappy for you but I echo everyone else's comments as to how admirably you are handling this.

SouthernComforts · 24/02/2014 11:49

OW has to backtrack now dosent she? Ignore ignore ignore.

Thanks
honey86 · 24/02/2014 12:57

This ow... Give me an S, give me an L, give me a U, give me a T....

INeedSomeHelp · 24/02/2014 13:19

She obviously thinks she's been really clever but actually she's only highlighted her inappropriate relationship with your ex.

From what you've said, you hadn't told any of the work colleagues why you'd split up. There could have been any number of reasons. But by getting involved and acting like the victim she's just proved that they were doing something they shouldn't have been.

Her lapdogs may believe her tales of woe but I'm sure any of your ex-colleagues with an ounce of sense will have her well sussed.

ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 24/02/2014 13:32

The OW doesn't hold anything against you?! Shock

You really should have also said WHAT exactly is there to hold against you and watch the OW friend squirm.

waltermittymissus · 24/02/2014 14:14

I agree one person is not indicative of everyone!

What you've said will have put the cat among the pigeons for sure.

This woman is someone who feels ok with dishing out relationship advice in the middle of the street. My guess is she's doing it for the salacious gossip "you'll never guess who I saw, what onemore said" etc etc

Your response now will have her thinking something terribly dramatic must have happened between OP and twat features.

They'll trip themselves up without any help from you!

Inertia · 24/02/2014 17:38

Onemore, you are the very model of cool and dignified and your responses are perfect

There's no way OW and Ex come out smelling of roses- remember that the office gossip about them was already well established. This pal of OW is either part of the attempted-arse-covering team, or she's fishing for gossip.

Glad you had a fun weekend with friends :)

WhateverTrevor83 · 24/02/2014 17:49

The nerve of OW... painting you as a jealous cling-on. Cheeky witch!

She needs to be careful. When you're less upset you might have less reserve when it comes to spelling out what went on.

WeAreDetective · 24/02/2014 17:52

Wow!

However upsetting it is, just remember that OW is nothing to you in the long run. Who cares what a hand full of strangers think in the end. Just focus on yourself xx

schooldoublestandards · 24/02/2014 20:49

You don't need to discuss anything with anybody onemore, just act mysterious Wink

sneakyday · 24/02/2014 21:15

If it were me I would email them both this

Dear Both,

It is, and always has been, my intention to keep a dignified silence through this. I want to move on and allow you both to to the same.

However, I must inform you that I photographed the sceen of your facebook messages which talked of last Sunday and your dreams of kissing and hugging one another.

Should I keep hearing that either of you have been continuing perpetuating the myth, created by you, that I am an over jealous (ex) girlfriend and the one in the wrong here I WILL defend myself and I will use the above evidence to do so.

Please do not contact me again.

Sincerely

Onemorestep

But I would be completely unable to maintain the dignity you have managed. You are stronger than I!

Fairenuff · 24/02/2014 22:39

Actually OP I think the more you stay schtum, the worse they will look. She is already desperately trying to persuade everyone 'nothing happened'. Why?

You haven't said that she is anything to do with your separation, so why does she assume she is? Because she's guilty that's why.

Silence is the best way to hold the upper hand and let them squirm all they like, this is one hook they cannot get off of that easily. The fact that you don't want him back speaks volumes in itself.

Tawnydee · 24/02/2014 23:23

Tell the husband. She deserves it.

eddielizzard · 25/02/2014 10:42

thing is shit sticks. so she's got to be squeaky clean from now on otherwise people will begin to build up a very unpleasant picture of her. things like this aren't easily forgotten

people don't like being manipulated and i bet this will come back to bite her.

either way she is no longer a friend of yours!!

perfectstorm · 25/02/2014 12:43

You're so much a better woman than I am. I would have asked the work coleague to pass on a message: that I've screencapped their entire archive of FB messages, and if they want I can send them to her husband so he can decide if their mutual fantasies are worthy of notice or not.

But your dignity is definitely more impressive. Plus will bite them harder on the arse if, as seems possible, this escalates into a full affair.

onemorestep123 · 25/02/2014 15:43

Thanks again all! I feel better today and realise that keeping quiet is the best thing for now.

I am going to draw line under it all now and move on. They are very welcome to each other and whatever happens in the future, I hope karma comes back and bites them both in the bum.....

OP posts:
WhateverTrevor83 · 25/02/2014 16:26

onemorestep123 you are AMAZING!

Well done - we're all rooting for you. Bye bye to that sorry pair of fools. Onwards and upwards for you missus!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page