So yeah, the conflict at my office, which has been lingering for weeks, exploded today. I escaped with less bruises than I thought I would but damn, I felt physically ill when I was asked this morning to come to the office of my boss' boss. Let's name her Z.

Last night, as I have told you, my boss (B) told me that no projects of mine are going to leave my part of the organization (towards X) unless Z approves. So, that's what I told X: that my boss has stopped our direct communication. That's when he promised me to bring it up with Z and the department boss in their regular meeting next Monday. However, as it turned out, he didn't wait this long. Last night, he sent an e-mail to the department boss and Z to complain about the fact that he can no longer communicate with me. It was quite a long e-mail that I got to read this morning when I was asked, together with B, to come to Z's office. That's when I knew things were going to explode and solved, it just wasn't clear if I was still going to have a future with them when it was over.

Fortunately, my boss admitted to the fact that she had told me last night that I can no longer work with X directly. If she hadn't admitted to that I would have looked real stupid. So we sit there with a very upset Z and I have to explain everything I have been saying to X, what I have been doing for him etc. And she says she has suffered under the very straining relationship with X and that what happened today had set back their relationship by two years. She told me that, when B told me not to communicate with X anymore, she would have expected me to check back with B and her if that was really what she meant. I said, I could have only understood it this way. And I saw no other way than to tell X. I was accused of not being sensible enough, but I wasn't accused of consipiration, which is something I guess. So, that's when Z grabbed the phone to call X and put him on speakerphone so that B and I could listen in. X said that he was very angry last night that his work relationship with me (which he called pleasant and very successful) was supposed to have ended. He said he needed me to actually do his job. Eventually, Z promised him that he would get everything he needed from me and that he can keep working with me; she just asked both of us for better communication with her and B. That's something he and I agreed to do. So that's when this very intense call ended.

Z eventually said that she hoped that the conflict was settled now and that she was going to speak to the department boss to assure him there is no longer any tension between her and X. X and I basically got what we wanted: we can keep communicating and work together directly. I know that's a huge relief for both of us. He sent me an email saying he is happy everything has been working out for us and he is looking forward to working together etc. Just now, I was at his office for about half an hour (I was actually asked by Z to talk to him...) and we both came to an understanding how to work together in the future and he assured me that I had done nothing wrong and he again said how much he appreciates me and the work I am doing. He also asked if I was okay because he knows I was hurt in this but it could have ended much worse. I am okay. I am happy this has been solved for now.

I know this is, at the end of the day, an eternal conflict between X and Z and I may get bruised in it again. I am just in a very difficult position. Conflicts are bound to arise in and around my position but I can handle it. Z actually offered me a couple of things today (to ensure my future loyalty?). I will get more of her precious time to talk to her about my projects (a weekly meeting!) and she said I can and should call her anytime I feel the need to. I know B also got hurt today because she said something last night that caused the bomb to explode. I wasn't making this up and she wasn't right to tell me I cannot communicate with X. She simply wasn't in a position to make any such decision. And whatever she said last night, was reversed by Z today. I guess I won but it does come at a heavy price because my reputation has suffered with some today. And, to be honest, I probably deserve some of the backlash.