My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

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

Relationships

Emotional affair with his ex girlfriend? (And work colleague)

81 replies

Anxiety100 · 05/12/2017 12:58

There is so much to read, so sorry in advance..

So I have been with my boyfriend for 2 years and we have always had a great relationship, we also live together. I have no reason to believe he would physically cheat on me, however his ex girlfriend has now begun working with him in the same department (they have always worked at the same company but just different departments). Although they work together they dont actually work physically with each other. They are IT guys and work in separate places but communicate online/by phone to help each other with problems etc. So recently they have had to communicate with each other, which is fine! But now its starting to overstep the line (in my opinion).
I have noticed he talks to her in the evenings because I have caught him shutting down whatsapp when i look over his shoulder and I've also seen that he talks to her on weekends (because I looked at his phone yesterday..but I'll get to that in a minute).
He has always said to me that they only talk about work which would be fine! But he has been lying about that part for sure. I know this because he told me that she was thinking about breaking up with her own bf (which she has now done) and that kind of stuff is not work based, is it?
Its also worrying because she quite clearly wants him back. I know this, for one, the bf has told me she has voiced how she regrets she ruined their relationship. Secondly, she doesn't even want me to exist! She doesn't even know me but she has blocked me on every single social media site possible! Haha!
I have quite clearly voiced my concerns to him before.. that he continues to message her loads and is giving her the attention she wants (leading her on as well as upsetting me), and he got really angry that I brought it up! Although he did seem to be understanding in the end.
Now the reason I'm worrying more-so now is because a month back or so, I was using his phone for some reason and his step dad messaged and he asked me to message him back cause he was driving. Now usually I can see her name pop up on whatsapp because they talk every day, but this time...the messages had gone! He had archived the chat! I spoke to him about this and he said he deleted messages because they were talking about things "i wouldnt have liked"....what!? So since then I have been unusually paranoid and have even gone to the extent of checking his phone last night. I am not proud of this, this isn't something I would usually do. But I did it.
Anyway, I noticed that messages had been flowing through evenings and weekends! They aren't romantic messages but very friendly. I spent all day with him Saturday, even took him on a date night, and I find they were messaging the whole day!!?? If it was pure friendship he would surely mention what a lovely day he was having with me...but nothing, just all about them two. It also must have been very secretive because I didnt even see him use his phone during the day, so must have been quickly messaging when my back was turned! I even noticed he had sent a selfie of him a few days ago, showing off his newly grown beard (which she was very complimentary of). So yeah, definitely just a working relationship then.
Now I know I need to confront him about this, but I am hugely in the wrong for looking at his phone in the first place!? What do I do!?
I know I cant be angry about a friendship.. but since I know they started as friends before they got together last time, how do I know he wont go back there! I'm starting to lose trust because of all the secretiveness. I 100% know he is not having physical affair but surely he is the crossing the line of an emotional affair? He hardly talks to me about his day anymore because he is putting all of his energy into talking to her all the time! Help me! I need advice and opinions.

OP posts:
Report
Anxiety100 · 05/12/2017 15:15

You're so right, it hurts :'(

OP posts:
Report
DarkNightDelight · 05/12/2017 15:17

So sorry that they're being so selfish and that you're going through this.

My advise is that he is interested in her, he's hiding the messages, he's messaging in secret and lying.

That is more than enough to show you where his head is and it's not with you.

Seriously think about if this is what you want, would you be able to walk away?

It's really shitty and I'm sorry Sad

Report
EverythingEverywhere1234 · 05/12/2017 15:18

I know. People can be so unbearably shit and it hurts so much when someone turns out to entirely different from who you thought they were.

Report
DarkNightDelight · 05/12/2017 15:18

If you wanna tell him you snooped then also tell him why.
It's his actions that have left you with no choice but to snoop.

Always trust your gut feeling

Report
LondonLassInTheCountry · 05/12/2017 15:19

The only reason I know he wont physically cheat on me, is because the other girl looks so gross


Thats just mean

Report
AnyFucker · 05/12/2017 15:23

She's not so "gross" he is happy to deceive you and wreck your relationship for though, is she ?

Check your own attitude, it stinks. Or you are so dim you have been swallowing lies since you first met this Prince Charming.

Just sometimes, we get the treatment we deserve.

Report
FizzyGreenWater · 05/12/2017 15:24

This is not the one for you.

That's what it boils down to and it's all you need to know.

Report
Anxiety100 · 05/12/2017 15:25

This is the first person I've truly loved and its breaking me to realise all this. I was attracted to him because I thought he was gentleman, because he was caring and kind and made me laugh, but maybe thats not him at all.
I'm tempted to tell him i've snooped but I imagine there would be no going back after that. I'd be the one whos dumped haha! and hell no thats not happening.
Sorry LondonLass, I didn't put it in a very nice way. I guess I'm just full of hate right now..sorry if I offended you.

OP posts:
Report
ElephantsandTigers · 05/12/2017 15:25

It doesn't matter if he loses all trust in you because you looked at his phone , as you should be breaking up with him anyway..

Report
Thymeout · 05/12/2017 15:43

Well, you either carry on as you are and ignore it.

Or leave, without any explanation.

Or come clean about the snooping and say that the continual messaging and lying about it are a deal-breaker. He has to tell her that they will only have a professional relationship now because he is with someone else, it's serious and it's unfair to you to continue the personal relationship with her. He should also make clear that he agrees with you and feels uneasy that the non-stop communication is making it difficult for her to find someone else. Whether he really is uneasy or not.

I think any normal person would find it unreasonable for their dp to be behaving like this - just the sheer volume of texts - and that he wouldn't like it if the situation were reversed. So, if he argues or backslides, then that's it. You're gone.

As to trust, who knows? But, if otherwise, he's just what you've been looking for, I think I'd give him one last chance.

Report
Anxiety100 · 05/12/2017 15:47

Thankyou Thymeout, that was really helpful :)

OP posts:
Report
magicstar1 · 05/12/2017 15:57

You've said a few times that sex doesn't matter to him...in that case her looks won't matter to him. It sounds like he's got more in common with her, and he might be thinking of getting back with her.
You need to talk it through with him...if he wants her then walk away with your dignity intact.

Report
oneggshellsallthetime · 05/12/2017 15:59

Well you could have the conversation again voicing your concerns and ask him to let you look at his phone (assuming he hasn't been busy deleting in the meantime). Then if you see something you don't like the fact you looked before won't need to come up.

Report
Anxiety100 · 05/12/2017 16:08

Yeah magicstar! You are so right! Makes a lot of sense actually...
Oneggshells, that a great idea, yeah hopefully he hasn't deleted too much, cause then i'll look stupid...but to be honest at that stage, I'll just say that I've snooped.

OP posts:
Report
DancingOnParsnips · 05/12/2017 16:10

Why do you even want this man? He sounds awful.

Report
Raisedbyguineapigs · 05/12/2017 16:12

If you think he is attracted to her as a person but you for your looks, he is treating you like a trophy. He doesn't want a 'gross' girlfriend so just wants to show off his more attractive girlfriend while getting his emotional needs met by the ex? He sounds like a shallow git who doesn't deserve either of you. On the other hand, what do you mean by gross? Is she hideously deformed in some way, or do you just not see her as as attractive as you?

Report
Ellisandra · 05/12/2017 16:19

What a horrible thing to say about her.
You're not a very nice person - so my sympathy for him cheating on you is pretty low.

Why not imagine her telling people "yeah, she didn't really have much personality - he told me he kept it quiet about dating her because she was a bit dull".

He's lying to you about the nature of his contact with her.
And he dates women but keeps it a secret if they're not pretty enough Hmm

You have a similar opinion of her worthiness to date, so maybe you're in the same arsehole league as him and quite well suited after all?

Report
Anxiety100 · 05/12/2017 16:20

Raisedbyguineapigs (btw thats the best name ever haha) that makes a lot of sense really. Because he's just super embarrassed when anyone talks about them. I think she told people at work that they once went out and he was quite annoyed about it. Shes not deformed. Like she isnt gross, thats the wrong word, I was actually quite mean for saying that. But my bf has said himself that she was kinda "gross" and that I am a lot more attractive.

OP posts:
Report
Ellisandra · 05/12/2017 16:23

Is that 'attractive' spelt s h a l l o w, OP? Hmm

Report
misscheery · 05/12/2017 16:41

He's a freaking coward and life is SO SHORT to be spent in shitty relationshipsConfused Give him and ultimatum.

Report
misscheery · 05/12/2017 16:41

An*

Report
Cricrichan · 05/12/2017 16:49

Or they could be really good friends but he knows he shouldn't be messaging this much. If you've read his messages then it should give you a feeling of what type of relationship they're having.

This would really annoy me as well though

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Raisedbyguineapigs · 05/12/2017 16:52

He's leading her on then by the sounds of it and talking behind her back about how gross she is. I wonder how long these conversations would last if she knew what he was saying about her? His ego is more important to him than your feelings. TBH, he doesn't sound like a 'gentleman' at all! He sounds like he just likes having the attention of two women running after him, all the while he is being incredibly nasty to both of you. Get your own flat where you are if you want to and leave him to it. Hopefully she'll find out what a shit he is too and stop talking to him.

Report
TangledSlinky · 05/12/2017 16:54

Wow you sound delightful Hmm

No matter how "gross" you deem her to be, she can't be that bad if she's his ex. The fact she seems to be able to meet his emotional needs where you can't would be a big red flag to me.

Whether you admit to snooping or not, I suspect he'll become a whole lot more secretive anyway, so you're probably best off just having it out with him and getting all your concerns out in the open now.

In all honesty he sounds absolutely awful what with cheating and dumping his ex for you and all the comments about appearance, so it'll probably be a blessing in disguise if he does dump you.

Report
AnyFucker · 05/12/2017 16:59

You're being played but too thick to see it.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.