The concept exploded into the mainstream in 1930 through novel, The Office Wife , and its subsequent film adaptation starring Dorothy Mackaill.
It often centered on a love triangle, suggesting that the professional bond of shared goals and long hours inevitably led to romantic tension. Modern Evolution: The "Work Spouse" The Office Wife
The story explores the "human equation" of modern business, where a secretary spends more time with an executive than his actual wife does. The concept exploded into the mainstream in 1930
Today, the "office wife" has largely been replaced by the gender-neutral . The Office Wife (1930) - IMDb The Office Wife