I kept contact this week via email. The emails were a little long since they were very technical, but they also referred to previous conversations and how to navigate files. The email was meant to act as a reference and encourage conversation in writing whenever possible.
Coworker likes to have the last word, so answered in detail back, making sarcastic comments about how I mentioned, “per a previous conversation.” He was apparently troubled by how I organize my files and wanted an “in-depth” conversation to show me how to do my job. To clarify, my files are organized a certain way. Someone in my field would be able to navigate fine, we are in separate fields, and we will not be indefinitely working within the same files. He is literally just plugging in assets one time and saving as a copy.
I am in charge of the project we're butting heads over, but he is insisting I try things his way. I gracefully thanked him for his hard work and suggestions, but I will do further research on my own before following them.
He didn't like my follow up, so he asked for my permission to forward our emails to my supervisor so he wasn't “going behind my back.” He also insisted we have a meeting with him about the files tomorrow.
I have come to the conclusion this guy is a gaslighting emotional vampire that will turn the truth around and fight everything I say tomorrow with word salad in order to control the narrative and put me in my place. My gut says to keep my responses an simple as possible to give him less fuel. What else should I do to come out of this on top and professional? This is probably not the last time he will overstep on something he has no authority over. How do I deal with him moving forward? He's essentially trying to discredit my paper trail.