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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

Slept with my married colleague

166 replies

AoifeB1992 · 10/06/2022 08:01

A few months ago I had engaged in foreplay with a married colleague. We hadn’t spoken about it since but would message a lot, flirt and always gravitate towards each other at work socials. Since I started the job there has always been chemistry there. We tease each other to the point other people joke there is sexual tension, however I also feel like he looks out for me a lot.

on a work trip this week I drank too much wine and felt sick - I have a bad phobia of being sick so he was messaging to check I was okay. I ended up going to his hotel room where he was being really caring, hugging me, stroking my hair and rubbing my back. We chatted for a bit and then he said he would rub my back so I could go to sleep. However, this then led to more foreplay.

we then ended up talking about the situation and what had happened previously. He said he had thought about it every day and was torn because there’s something there with me that’s more than physical, he sees a friendship too, feels very protective of me and cares about me so doesn’t want that to go away. But he said he just has too much to lose and can’t look his kids in the face knowing he would break their heart, he also does love his wife. I said I was upset he hadn’t communicated any of this to me until something happened again and was confused as to why he would always message me still and that I didn’t know how we could carry on as normal just without the physical because I felt a lot of our relationship was based on that. He denied it and said it’s more than that, he even enjoys just cuddling and chatting with me. He said he wants to be there for me and for nothing to change aside from the physical.

we then ended up having sex, spoke about everything again and just went round in circles. The next day I asked if we could talk about how we would engage with each other going forward. He said he wants things to be exactly the same and promised it wouldn’t be weird. He still wants to message etc and that he was glad I suggested the chat because he wouldn’t and he takes a long time to process.

I get the impression he is very confused and doesn’t know how to process his feelings very well. I haven’t heard from him since we left the trip and am just worried he didn’t mean he wanted to keep things as normal as possible. I’m confused as to if he does really care about me or if he will change his mind. I also don’t know if he has just gone home and is processing first. I know it sounds naive but I do feel like we have a genuine connection and there are feelings there so I don’t know if that’s worrying him because it would be a lot easier if it was just physical.

does anyone have any experience or advice?

OP posts:
theonlygirl · 10/06/2022 08:55

AoifeB1992 · 10/06/2022 08:46

He’s 10 years older and much more senior

suprise, suprise.
In which case you're definitely not the first, or the last.

Bollindger · 10/06/2022 08:56

AoifeB1992 please please listen very carefully.
You have been groomed by this man, he arranged a setting where you felt so comfortable with him as your friend that you were alone in a room with a bed.
You were ill and he had sex with you, yes we know you were willing.
But did you realise you were being set up as his mistress, after all it is cheaper than paying for it, as you pay your own way .
You are being played, do not waste your life, nights alone and jealous of his married life will kill your soul. Walk away, move jobs if you can and get what you deserve your own family.

TwinklingFairyLights · 10/06/2022 08:57

Pennox · 10/06/2022 08:54

And richer? I'm guessing.

Don't be that woman OP.

Such a cliche 😂

RockinHorseShit · 10/06/2022 08:57

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DiamondBright · 10/06/2022 08:58

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LizzyELane · 10/06/2022 09:01

Jesus, is the OP actually expecting sympathy, concern and advice? Somewhere else on MN the poor wife has probably written, or is about to write, a thread about how her DH has changed, is secretive with his phone, sending furtive messages, dressing differently, going to the gym, being distant/distracted, etc, etc. She could be so suspicious she's feeling sick, not eating, whilst looking after kids, a house, trying to hold down a job. Words fail me.....

Iamnotamermaid · 10/06/2022 09:02

AoifeB1992 · 10/06/2022 08:46

He’s 10 years older and much more senior

So he is old enough to know better & understands the repercussions of this on his career. Guess what he will choose. Hmm

Call me cynical but its unlikely that you are the first office shag...move on & learn from this.

frozendaisy · 10/06/2022 09:04

He says he protective in that you won't be allowed to get your own independent relationship but he will never leave his wife and family.

He's dangling carrots you will waste 5 years and many other opportunities until you realise it's too late.

He's not available.
He never will be.

Personally I would just go to work as though it never happened, no responding to messages. Tell him you are seeing someone see what he does then? If he thinks he is losing control of you he will get nasty because he will fear you might tell his wife etc.

Run OP.
Forget it happened.

Zuma76 · 10/06/2022 09:05

Unless you are in your teens. I think you have to accept that you played a willing part in this and have not been groomed. Trying to turn this into the senior powerful man takes advantage would really contradict everything you have put in your message. Own your decision. You went to his room and you knew what you wanted. You are not responsible for his wife but if this does come out as OP have already said, you will be blamed at work.
take the upper hand, tell him you both crossed a line and will not be doing that again. Stop flirting in front of colleagues and just get on with work.

Basilbrushgotfat · 10/06/2022 09:08

you will be blamed at work

So true, seen it happen.

And btw, colleagues commenting on your chemistry are not pointing out that you'd make a good couple, they're telling you your behaviour at work is inappropriate and the two of you are making them deeply uncomfortable.

It will already have been raised to management, who are biding their time because he's senior.

ForeverFleur · 10/06/2022 09:12

He sounds like a right catch!

get your standards off the floor. grim.

Rubyroseyposey · 10/06/2022 09:12

Oh fgs 🙄

Cantstopsweeping · 10/06/2022 09:14

Chesneyhawkes1 · 10/06/2022 08:41

@Dalekjastninerels the OP isn't married. It's not her job to uphold married mens morals.

Yes she could of said no. But she didn't. She's not married. She's not breaking her vows. He is.

Save your name calling for the married MAN in this situation. Do you really think that if OP had said no, he wouldn't just find someone else to cheat on his wife with.

True.

Basilbrushgotfat · 10/06/2022 09:16

Oh and I get it, @AoifeB1992 . You've fallen for this senior colleague with whom you have great chemistry. He's caring and protective of you, you feel safe and loved and think this is the sort of man you want to be with. Maybe you already believe he's "the one". And he seems to be falling for you so much he's already broken his own morals by sleeping with you...His feelings are too powerful to be tempered by his marriage and children, so it must mean its the real thing.

You're fantasising about him leaving his wife and his children eventually coming round when they see you're a good person and the two I'd you just fell in love and couldn't help it, etc. .

I'm not mocking btw!

But you're being deceived. And you're deceiving yourself.

skilpadde · 10/06/2022 09:16

He knows how to say all the right things.

And you fell for it.

He gets what he wants right now, but your realisation that you've been played, and been a fool, will come some time down the line. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

OP, the path to self-respect is in exactly the opposite direction to where he is. Take it.

Basilbrushgotfat · 10/06/2022 09:23

@AoifeB1992 if you really feel you have to pursue this, at least do so from the safety of a new job.

And yes, he might insist he can protect your job, but (and again, have seen it happen) your colleagues will have no respect for you and behind your back you'll be the source of gossip and resentment.

Do yourself a favour and get a new job, if it's meant to be, it'll be.

Genesisark · 10/06/2022 10:15

OP

Break it off and never see him again, ever. Him being attracted to you means nothing, if he had any integrity he would not ask you.

Please show some respect for yourself and have the integrity to say no

Someday you could be the wife in this situation Sad

Imagine having to break up your home because someone said oh well he asked me to have sex and it's not my fault I said yes.

TonyBlairsLover · 10/06/2022 10:33

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ChristmasFluff · 10/06/2022 11:13

Wow OP! How lucky are you! Such a Prince of a man, and this really is True Love, and he's having to fight his feelings, which is making this confusing and complicated!

He definitely isn't an older man taking advantage of a vulnerable woman with poor boundary function, and then talking shite about 'feelings' so he can keep her hanging on and available to shag him whenever he feels like it.

And he certainly won't ever have done this before, because he loves his wife and family so very much that only this very, very special connection with you could possibly tempt him into shagging someone else.

Yes, I AM mocking HIM, because you need to see this manipulative utter sleazebag for what he is.

KettrickenSmiled · 10/06/2022 11:17

Oh. It's you again.
You accidentally went for a lone dinner with your Senior Colleague after a team event or conference, didn't you, & managed to miss your train so had to stay the night, In the same hotel. Which, oddly, had no other rooms so you HAD to share his ... Hmm
Not sure why you're bothering to post, as the answers won't be any different from last time.

he was glad I suggested the chat because he wouldn’t and he takes a long time to process.

Aaaaaw. He seems to be able to process "cop a feel whenever we oh-so-accidentally end up sharing a hotel room" quickly enough.

Siameasy · 10/06/2022 11:18

I have been in a similar situation years ago. I recommend seeking help as to why you’re attracted to unavailable men so that in future you can break the cycle. I saw a counsellor. These set ups can be intoxicating particularly for people with low self-esteem because the lover will say all the right words etc etc

Its unlikely to end well and you’ll be the bad guy so try to extricate yourself.

Spohn · 10/06/2022 11:25

Lol

DatingDinosaur · 10/06/2022 13:56

OP, didn’t your brain kick in and think “why is this married bloke coming on to me and acting like a sleaze”?

He’s charmed you, groomed you, used you and discarded you.

Don’t think for a minute he thought with anything other than his dick and his Power Trip and Conquest Ego.

He got his end game – laid. He has no further use for you now.

greenhebeaww · 10/06/2022 14:02

How sleazy.

greenhebeaww · 10/06/2022 14:07

LizzyELane · 10/06/2022 09:01

Jesus, is the OP actually expecting sympathy, concern and advice? Somewhere else on MN the poor wife has probably written, or is about to write, a thread about how her DH has changed, is secretive with his phone, sending furtive messages, dressing differently, going to the gym, being distant/distracted, etc, etc. She could be so suspicious she's feeling sick, not eating, whilst looking after kids, a house, trying to hold down a job. Words fail me.....

Great post. I wonder why people who enter into affairs don't realise the potentially devastating (sometimes fatal) effects upon the betrayed partner?

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