I agree - I've got one potential lateral move, and one potential promotion being discussed (without her knowledge). She would likely help me get into a lateral position, but I want to do it quickly and give her less time to influence things. Your point about me being a problem is spot on, I am 100% an issue for her and I need to go smoothly and quickly. I'm doing my job, my team likes me, the peripheral team likes me, and she is burning bridges at a rapid rate but she has operational oversight in the area and upper management (like everywhere) loathes admitting they made a mistake in appointing someone. So not only does she have a good deal of power, the group above her don't want to weigh in too heavily because of the questions that will be asked.