Short summary: I started working for this company in 2018, together with a group of 3 people. I bonded quickly with one lady as we both come from Italy and it was so easy to be with her. We were close friends until March 2024 and it has turned my world upside down.
I always noticed she was extremely competitive and jealous but she always assured me she didn't see me as a threat. In fact, we had a manager that seemed to hate me and my friend was a great support all these years. Now this manager moved to another team and surprisingly, she wanted to talk to me. Apparently my "friend" was always giving her negative feedback about me, many untrue things since everything is documented in the system (we work with data!). She started to suspect she was being malicious and requested a change of team. Also, when she left, her job position was open so we could all apply for the promotion. I didn't, as I moved to a different department (thank God) but my friend and other 2 people applied for it and the dirty play began. She got the position badmouthing and gossiping and telling lies about others. I decided in that moment that she had never been my friend or anyone's friend. After March, we didn't speak again.
The problem is that we had a common friend, this person is very close to me but he was also close to her. He chose my side in this conflict and she didn't take it well. She said she is much younger and prettier and that men always choose the pretty ones and can't understand why he chose an "old lady". Needless to say, this comment of hers (she's 34 years old) showed her true colors, I mean, I couldn't care less about her anymore. I simply ignore her. This guy said she tries to keep in touch with him and meet out of working hours to talk, he said she seems nice and looks so sad so I'm pretty sure she will charm him at some point. Not that I care, but I am worried that she will use her tactics to make me look bad in the office.
Last week 2 different people came to talk to me and both cried, talking about the things this lady did to them so I am not the only one. I'm just sad because it looks like I will lose a good friend. I know, he chooses the one that cries, that is younger, etc... so that tells a lot about him too :( I don't need people like that in my life.
My question is, what would you do to protect yourself from her lies and manipulation? I'm very worried.