Thanks for your posts. They are all insightful and the objectivity is indeed, helpful. It's been a while now but the relationship between the Boss and COO is just getting worse. Whatever the COO does is seen in an unimaginably negative light by the Boss and I find myself getting caught in the middle every-time especially since I handle a very sensitive department where it is not always possible to have facts and figures. I must add too that the COO is a very ambitious man and his main strategy is to make others look bad to make himself look good. Sometimes my Boss sees strategies and conspiracies where I see none and then he turns on me for not understanding work and company values despite being associated with the firm and his working methods for so long ( five years) I find the work environment progressively vitiated and the stress is really getting to me. The example I gave in the previous post is just the tip of the iceberg. I am thinking of putting in my papers. The Boss is all powerful and since the success story has been so remarkable in the firm, he sort of handles everything. Somehow the COO was appointed without his approval. HR is also an extension of the Boss's office. In the scheme of things I come at a no 4 position....I just think it's so unfair that I should be blamed for not standing up for something which at times I do not even see as wrong. It were as though the Boss wants me to lead a crusade against the COO. He wants him out but does not want to get his hands dirty. I mean, why does he not come out and say it? At least I would appreciate his honesty. Like I said...walking on egg shells at work...I love my job (at least I did till the COO came in) and I think the Boss has really delivered results and given me many opportunities in the past and I don't want to quit.