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My Colleague Told People My Personal Info and is Flirting with My Boss

· 4 min read

You ever meet that one coworker who thinks “office gossip” is an Olympic sport? Meet Shelly. She just moved to the NYC office, and while the rest of us are busy pretending to be productive, she’s on a mission to turn every hallway into a confessional.

The Great “Friend” Parade
Right after Shelly’s arrival, she starts the “I’m your bestie” tour. Everyone at the water cooler is now a fan of her. The office gossip radar spikes, and the coffee machine is the new gossip hub. She tells us we’re “the best friends ever,” but she has a secret agenda: make sure everyone knows your business—especially your manager.

The “Flirt” Fiasco
Last week, you’re in the bathroom, doing your best “I didn’t see this” routine, when you catch Shelly flirting with your manager in the hallway. She later texts you, “He’s totally into me! He even said he doesn’t like his own tattoos.” You’re like, “What the—?” Then, the next day, your manager asks her for coffee before all his one‑on‑ones. “He better give me a great review today,” she says.
Spoiler: the review is not going to be a good one.

The “Information” Train
You and a coworker, Molly, attend a mandatory AI training. She’s excited, you’re skeptical. Shelly sits next to you, chatting up the person beside her. Whenever Molly and you glance at each other, Shelly drops a rumor about someone quitting the Miami office. “We literally didn’t care!” you think, but the rumor mill keeps churning. Molly’s annoyed, and you’re left with the feeling that your own office life is a public podcast.

The “Personal Secrets” Switcheroo
During lunch with Tony, who’s ranting about his family’s Thanksgiving drama, you vent about your BF’s mom. Shelly overhears and, as if on cue, drops a bomb: “That’s like OP. She has issues with her in‑laws too.” Shock? Absolutely. Shelly has taken your personal drama and turned it into her own gossip gold. You’re left wondering why she didn’t just talk about her own ex‑mom.

The “Leave Early” Scheme
Yesterday, Shelly texts, “I’m leaving at 4:30, come join me!” You reply you’re staying till 5. She says, “I’ll make sure (manager) won’t mind.” Classic. So you switch to WFH for Friday, hoping to dodge her early‑leaving tactics.

The Grand Finale
Today, she’s texting again, inviting you to brunch on Sunday. You’re like, “Sure, if you’re bringing the whole office gossip crew.”

In short: Shelly is like that extra season of a reality show that you never signed up for, but now you’re forced to watch.

Comments​

  1. If you didn’t say to keep it private, there’s nothing you can do. Just don’t tell her anything else.

    • TL;DR: The best way to stop Shelly from spilling secrets is to stop spilling them in the first place.

  2. You see, she isn’t discreet. Time to pull back! Don’t announce it to her, just share less.

    • TL;DR: Keep your personal life on your phone, not on Shelly’s phone.

  3. Shelly sounds super manipulative, tbh. Cross personal/professional lines is a big no‑no.

    • TL;DR: Shelly’s gossip is like a toxic spill; you’re better off wearing a mask.

  4. She’s a boundary‑stomping gossip. Politely decline invites, give boring replies.

    • TL;DR: The best response to Shelly is a polite “I’m busy” and a short, non‑committal answer.

  5. Shelly is not your friend. She is on one of two paths—she’ll either be shown the door or she will be your boss one day.

    • TL;DR: If you want to stay, stay in the office and keep your secrets to yourself.

TL;DR:
You thought you were just moving to a new office. Turns out you signed up for a season of Real Life: Gossip Edition starring Shelly. The moral of the story? Keep your secrets in your diary, not in your coworker’s inbox.