Bit of a weird one this.
I work in a small organisation and quite closely with two individuals as our roles are very closely linked. Both are married to other people, he has 3 children with his wife and she has 2 step children. I've known something has been going on for a while, but I'm fairly certain only one other close colleague knows - I don't believe it's common knowledge and I haven't told a sole. It's not my business, I'm not a gossip, though I am quite judgey about it secretly and feel very sorry for his wife and kids. Nonetheless ordinarily I'd think just let them get on with it, it's nothing to do with me.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting is because their behaviour is becoming increasingly unprofessional and it's beginning to impact on me, and other colleagues, but I don't know what, if anything, I can do about it.
As I work closely with them both, we naturally have a lot of meetings together. I more often than not feel like a third wheel, or else I'm excluded and they 'meet' without me which has an impact on my ability to do my work. Their emotions are all over the place. They're either following each other around furtively, having whispered conversations, or in foul moods and avoiding each other, generally acting negatively (things like not participating in meetings, sitting there quietly with faces like slapped arses, when they're both quite senior and the business relies on them contributing to its smooth running by participating in meetings.
I no longer trust that I can have a professional conversation with one of them without it getting back to the other - and neither can other colleagues, but they're continuing to discuss performance issues with each of them, not knowing it's getting back to the other one. The man involved seems to be deliberately trying to elevate her position in the organisation at the expense of others (the organisation is going through a period of change where people are jostling for positions). She is in competition with me for resources, so this has a direct impact on me as I keep seeing additional resources going in her direction on the basis of the support he's given her.
Neither of them knows I know. I think they believe they're being discreet, but their behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic and they're becoming less and less trustworthy professionally. For context, I've got on well with both of them - personally and professionally - until now, but I'm increasingly looking over my shoulder. It's all very uncomfortable. She's on a similar level to me but he's in a slightly more senior position.
Wibu to let them know that I know and tell them it's very unprofessional? If they're crossing professional lines, would I be justified to raise it at a higher level? Or should I just let it all unravel and play out?
Unusually, I have never experienced this kind of thing before.