These women talk sneaky hang-outs after work and on weekends with their bosses

• Office romances have always been shunned because of the challenges it brings.
• However, these people only have success stories about their office romances.
• From dating the boss to being with a senior manager, they prove love can be found anywhere.

Looking for a meaningful connection can often lead us to look in unexpected places, such as the office. An office romance can ignite sparks of unexpected attraction like no other. And while some might raise their eyebrows at the very idea of dating someone at work, these stories show that dating your colleague, or even your boss, can go very well.

'We made a million cups of tea as an excuse to spend some time together'

"Alan* and I met at a drinks party held for the new joiners," says 43-year-old Emma*. "That night, we joked and flirted quite a bit, but we both had partners, so it ended there. Over the next couple of years, we noticed each other in the office, but it was only when I realised Alan had told me I looked nice every day, no matter what I wore or did with my hair and makeup, that he might like me. A few flirty emails later and the rest is history," Emma says with a smile.

She was a senior manager, but their work dynamic wasn't affected. "I was horrified when I found out he was 10 years younger than me, as I thought that was a deal breaker for me. But it turned out not to be an issue," she says.

"We made a million cups of tea as an excuse to spend some time together in the kitchen! I have never had as much tea in my life," she says about the early days of their office romance.  "We hid our relationship at first, but when we came clean with my colleagues, everyone was very supportive (although they mocked us quite mercilessly - in a good way)."

Emma is happy that her work romance turned out the way it did: "I wouldn't do anything differently - it was a wonderfully romantic and exciting time and led to a beautiful marriage, darling baby and another one on the way."

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'I don't believe in love at first sight, but…'

Miranda* is dating her manager and says things work well for them at work and at home.

"I knew I'd be screwed if I got the job because I was super attracted to him from the interview," says Miranda, 27. "I don't believe in love at first sight, but the attraction was definitely strong. He had a very infectious positive energy about him."

"[Paul*, my manager] is also nine years older than me, which feels significant, but I think his soul is a bit younger than his actual age, and I think I'm a bit more mature," she says. "So, those factors help avoid a power dynamic that's too uneven."

Miranda had a conversation with her mom and told her she had a crush on her boss. But she assured her mother that she wouldn't do anything about it. However, Paul asked her to hang out the next day.

Miranda asked a colleague if she should read anything into it and was told not to worry because everyone suspected he was interested in someone else. "…so, I thought the hang-out request may have been to enlist me as a wing-woman," says Miranda.

"We chatted the most during this group hang-out and ended up continuing the hang-out alone afterwards. There were a few more sneaky 'hang-outs' after work and on weekends," she continues.

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"I finally asked: 'What are we doing here?' and told him that I broke things off with my boyfriend. He was so happy. We kissed and now we're going on 10 months together and it's going very well," she says.

"We keep it very professional. We don't interact much in the office, so I don't think it bothers any colleagues. He's my boss but he doesn't have any say over a promotion/ being fired. Sure, he can motivate for it, but he'd have to be able to build a case with evidence."

'We live in the light now. It's good'

Vicky*, now 42, had a lovely husband and son, a beautiful home, a good job and wonderful friends by the time she turned 30. But she felt bored and unfulfilled.

She recalls a day in December 2011, at a meet and greet during a company merger: "One of my new colleagues was a sporty tomboy with short black hair and a flirty smile. We didn't say anything to each other on the day, but I noticed her."

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A month later, they were seated next to each other at work and formed a bond immediately.

"We were inseparable," says Vicky. "We chatted throughout the day, made lunch together, went for coffee during our lunch breaks, and WhatsApped each other after hours. We were good friends for a few months until the chemistry became too overwhelming. Everyone could see it. But we denied the relationship because I was married, and she was in a long-term relationship. It caused a lot of office gossip.”

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Vicky says she and Melanie* were under a lot of stress and management even called them in and said their friendship was "distracting for us and others".

In January 2013, Melanie gave Vicky an ultimatum. She had six months to decide what she wanted, or Melanie would change jobs and leave.

Five months later, Vicky finally told her husband. "My entire world imploded," says Vicky. "I started divorce proceedings in September, and we were divorced before Christmas. It was a horrible time."

Melanie and Vicky moved in together in May 2014. Vicky found a new job and came out to her family, who were very accepting, in 2015. She and Melanie have been together for nearly 10 years now.  

"She's shown me everything that I was missing - adventure, hope, fulfilment, freedom. She's opened my eyes to the possibilities that life has to offer. I believe that office romances/affairs are the exception and not the rule. They don't always work out. But sometimes, they do. Beautifully and magnificently so," says Vicky.

Vicky, Melanie and Vicky's ex-husband are co-parenting her now 17-year-old son. Vicky and Melanie work at the same company again but in different departments.

"We live in the light now. It's good," says Vicky.