Please help me understand the situation at work. I started working 3 months ago, a few days after me, an employee who initially disliked me started working. I don't know what this is connected with - maybe because she auditioned for my position (accountant), and she was hired as an assistant manager and assistant accountant, perhaps she is annoyed by my accent (and it is very strong) or my nationality (I am Russian), or maybe something else. But from the very beginning, she did not want to and did not answer my questions (she either ignored them or said that she had no time now and was engaged in very important things that the owners entrusted to her). I have told the owners about this several times, but they do not want any problems and do not want to deal with it, They just keep saying that they like both her and my work and we need to agree somehow.

I suggested that we communicate only through e-mail, but that doesn't work either. She writes how busy she is, and that she will be able to answer in a few days, but does not answer. She never knocks on my office (but always knocks on other people's offices), she just bursts into my room and throws letters on my desk. Since I have never been in such a situation before, I do not know how to react to all this. And since I have been working here recently, without knowing me, employers may think that I am quarrelsome. Yesterday I knocked on her door and went into her office. She turned to me and I began to ask her something, she made round eyes and pointed to the phone (she has long hair and I did not notice this phone). I nodded, turned around, and left. A few hours later, the owner of the company called me and began to talk to the two of us.

Starting by saying that she was very happy that we were working for her, she began to talk about how I had behaved strangely when this woman was talking on the phone with a very important client. I asked what I had done, and I was told - I looked at the employee the wrong way. (???) I understand that this looks comical, but I am no longer laughing. I am afraid that this employee may set me up, invent something, or harm me in some other way. Again, the owner of the business only said that we had to find a way to work together, but after yesterday, I realized that this was impossible. Now I do not understand the reaction of the employer, because it becomes wrong to bury their head in the sand in this situation. I have a question for you - I want to writ e an email to employers with a request to protect me from this employee and I do not know whether it is necessary to do t h is and, if so, how to write to them that I need protection from the employee.

I understand that I will have to look for another job because I don't feel safe in this one, but looking for a job can take time, and I can't just leave this job and be left without everything.

We don't have an HR department; so, I can't ask someone else.

Thank you.