I’m in a secret relationship at work — and what started as something exciting has slowly turned into a web of stress, lies, and fear of being found out.

It began seven months ago.
I had just transferred departments and was getting used to the new pace when I met Jamie, our department’s operations coordinator. They were smart, calm under pressure, and had this quiet charisma that made everyone gravitate toward them.

We started grabbing coffee after meetings, lingering at our desks a bit longer when the office thinned out. Eventually, one night after a happy hour, we kissed in Jamie’s car — and that was it. From then on, we were… something.

But we both agreed: No one could know.

Jamie’s ex also works at the company — in HR, no less. I didn’t want the gossip, and Jamie didn’t want drama. So we kept it quiet. Stolen moments in stairwells. Secret messages under the table during team lunches. Weekends away where we pretended we were just “catching up on sleep.”

At first, it felt thrilling. We were careful — never leaving or arriving together, no flirting at work, no social media overlap. But the secrecy started to wear on me.

A few weeks ago, one of our coworkers — Emma — asked if Jamie and I were seeing each other. I laughed it off, maybe too hard. But ever since then, I’ve felt eyes on us.

And last Friday, things escalated.
Jamie was supposed to meet me at a hotel after work. But they never showed up. I texted. Called. Nothing.

They messaged at midnight: “Can’t talk. Will explain tomorrow.”

Turns out their ex — the one in HR — saw a message on Jamie’s screen when they passed by their desk. It wasn’t explicit, but it was enough. Jamie thinks they’re suspicious and might start digging.

Now I’m scared.
Not just of getting caught — but of what happens if we do. Will they assume favoritism? Will we both get in trouble? Will we be forced to transfer? Fired?

I still like Jamie. I think this could be something real. But keeping this secret relationship at work is draining me. I’ve lost sleep. I’m jumpy. And part of me wonders… if it has to stay hidden, is it really worth it?

I haven’t told anyone. Not even my closest friend.
But I had to say it somewhere. So — here it is.