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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:
PurassicJark · 12/06/2022 22:38

ReneBumsWombats · 12/06/2022 13:42

Too bad, you live in that world I'm afraid.

As long as people keep perpetuating it, that is sadly true.

I've seen many women/idiots like her only stop doing it because they are the talk of the office and it embarrasses them. It's really sad and pathetic.

I guess a strong woman would carry on doing it then. Because she's not so sad and pathetic as to fall for this particular line of punishment that you're perpetuating.

Not sure I'd call them a strong woman to be honest. Having affairs with married men, and knowing you are the talk of the office, which basically means they are probably point scoring on who can get you and how easy you are? I wouldn't call ignoring that and continuing to do that as strong, I'd call that stupid.

ReneBumsWombats · 13/06/2022 15:27

PurassicJark · 12/06/2022 22:38

Not sure I'd call them a strong woman to be honest. Having affairs with married men, and knowing you are the talk of the office, which basically means they are probably point scoring on who can get you and how easy you are? I wouldn't call ignoring that and continuing to do that as strong, I'd call that stupid.

I don't think it's particularly smart or worthy behaviour myself. But if the argument is that it's sad and pathetic because men don't think it's cool...

AryaStarkWolf · 13/06/2022 15:36

His poor wife married to a cheating piece of shit like that

PurassicJark · 13/06/2022 15:37

ReneBumsWombats · 13/06/2022 15:27

I don't think it's particularly smart or worthy behaviour myself. But if the argument is that it's sad and pathetic because men don't think it's cool...

That was never my argument or point though. I was pointing out to op that she is likely a topic of conversation in the office, so if she thinks her married man is so lovely and sweet, he most likely isn't. It's also not exactly a great way to further your career by being gossiped about as the office tart.

ReneBumsWombats · 13/06/2022 15:45

PurassicJark · 13/06/2022 15:37

That was never my argument or point though. I was pointing out to op that she is likely a topic of conversation in the office, so if she thinks her married man is so lovely and sweet, he most likely isn't. It's also not exactly a great way to further your career by being gossiped about as the office tart.

Well actually, you said "If he is like some of them, you'll be the topic of conversation amongst the men". It shifted to gender neutral conversation only after I suggested that we shouldn't be weaponising male misogyny to keep women in line.

However, even if we accept that, you're still not above using terms like "office tart". So I don't think I can talk to you about this, because your sexualised, internalised misogyny is too ingrained. You're hardly alone in this, of course.

You're right, it is the world we live in, but I don't have to admire it when I see it.

Eightiesfan · 13/06/2022 16:24

Another deluded woman who thinks her ‘connection’ with a married man will mean a happy ever after.

OP, he has used you for sex, there are probably a string of gullible women who he has given the same ‘I care for you’ speech to. He stood at an alter and made promises in front of his family and friends and agreed to forsake all others. Epic fail.

Move on, he’s not worth it. As PP have said aim higher, he is not going to leave his wife and children for you.

CanofCant · 13/06/2022 18:15

I know technically it's the married affair partner's responsibility not to break their marriage vows but I couldn't ever imagine wanting to make another woman feel shit and be complicit in taking the ground from under her feet regardless of how golden a dick might be.

I have two friends that have done the same thing. One friend was later really pissed off that she had believed her guy was living a sexless marriage only to discover his wife was pregnant with their second child and my other friend is bewildered that her boyfriend's girlfriend and mother of his kids is feeling betrayed and not laying down and making like easy for them.

I know these men are feckless scumbags and if it wasn't the OP/my friends it would be someone else but it just seems like a really shitty thing to do and willingly take part in.

ReneBumsWombats · 13/06/2022 18:19

I couldn't ever imagine wanting to make another woman feel shit

I don't think that's the motivation of most OW.

And anyway, it's harder to imagine a husband wanting to do it to his own wife than some random.

CanofCant · 13/06/2022 18:33

And anyway, it's harder to imagine a husband wanting to do it to his own wife than some random.

I suppose some people find it hard to imagine their own husband wanting to cheat on them but from reading about and knowing in real life men that aren't great husbands (from my outside perspective), it's not that hard to imagine. Sorry that's probably really incoherent!

And yes of course, the primary motivation of women that sleep with married men is not to make the men's wives feel shit and I do understand the initial attraction and excitement might eclipse common sense but eventually it must dawn on them that they are being used/fed a line/etc. I dunno, just sounds like more trouble than it's worth to me but I'm ready for a very early (solo) night so I'm probably not in the right frame of mind for this discussion!

ReneBumsWombats · 13/06/2022 18:43

I suppose some people find it hard to imagine their own husband wanting to cheat on them but from reading about and knowing in real life men that aren't great husbands (from my outside perspective), it's not that hard to imagine.

What I mean is, I'd ask "how could he do that to his wife whom he's supposed to love and risk his family?" before I'd ask "how could she do this to some random person to whom she has no commitment?".

Obviously if the OW is your best friend or something then that adds a layer to it.

CanofCant · 13/06/2022 18:55

What I mean is, I'd ask "how could he do that to his wife whom he's supposed to love and risk his family?" before I'd ask "how could she do this to some random person to whom she has no commitment?".

Oh yeah I agree, that makes sense. I suppose as a married mans affair partner my (selfish) next thought might be how could he commit to me if he's already cheated on his wife? Those kind of thoughts might come further along once the shine wears off and reality sets in though.

I agree men will groom and lie and give the same old script when wanting an affair but I think the women they sleep with do have their own agency in most of these situations. Maybe it's too tempting at the the start to believe whatever line they are spun about being trapped in loveless marriages for the sake of the kids and to kick the can down the road instead.

ReneBumsWombats · 13/06/2022 18:58

Agree they have their own agency, but I don't think there's any problem of people not blaming OW sufficiently.

CanofCant · 13/06/2022 18:59

True.

CanofCant · 13/06/2022 19:01

It wasn't about people blaming the OW or not, it was more me wondering why someone would walk into what is inevitably going to be a painful and messy situation for everyone involved (or inconvenient at best). Different strokes for different folks though I guess.

ReneBumsWombats · 13/06/2022 19:26

CanofCant · 13/06/2022 19:01

It wasn't about people blaming the OW or not, it was more me wondering why someone would walk into what is inevitably going to be a painful and messy situation for everyone involved (or inconvenient at best). Different strokes for different folks though I guess.

Well, that's the question. But it happens a lot.

I certainly think that as long as our culture focuses the shame on the woman even if she's not the married one - you know, by going on about how SHE'LL be the talk of the office and SHE'LL be the office tart (for sex with one person) and MEN will talk about her - men will have even less incentive to keep it in their pants.

Whooshaagh · 13/06/2022 19:34

You won’t be his first Op or his last.
He’s just after sex.

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