Well, I’m having the misfortune of having to work with someone totally inane yet again this year. Damn hard luck I say but I have no choice. How I wish I can treat this person as spam mail and delete her from my space. But that’s realistically not possible so I just have to grit my teeth and get move along.

Considering our last encounter, it could be awkward to come face-to-face again so soon. So last week when I knew that I had to work with her again, and to be at a meeting with her yesterday, I ran through some possible scenarios in my mind:
- Treat her as a piece of transparent glass.
- Talk to her but look at the table.
- Talk to her but look at my notes.
- Talk to her but look at my nails.
- Talk to her but look at others.
- Talk to her but look over her head.
- Talk to her and look at her chest.

In the end, I opt for this: fake it. Just masquerade my smirks as smiles. Pretend to look agreeable by nodding head at times and establishing just the right amount of eye contact. I won’t say I enjoy playing that plastic role. But sometimes in the name of professionalism, being an occasional hypocrite is just what I have to do.