First of all, the state of your office mate's desk is none of your business. Her chattiness and aroma are another issue. If she's keeping you from getting your work done, that's worth mentioning. Did you mention that? Did you tell her that you needed more quiet and give her a chance to rectify? When you complained to your boss what reason did you give for your desire to move?

While it sounds like the LW acted unfairly, the boss handled it even worse. Whatever he said, he managed to piss off this woman and put the LW in a very difficult position with a co-worker. Not smooth, not helpful.

LW, you're only hope in salvaging this situation is to go to your ex-office mate and apologize for how it was handled. Explain that you never meant to get her kicked out of her office and you're sorry you started the oafish boss on this path. She may still hate you, but it's never bad to have an apology on the table. And it could help her to get past it.

Probably, you were lucky to be in that room with that woman. This time your inexcusable snottiness worked. Keep pushing, though. Next time, or the time after that, especially if you are working for me by that time, you will get fired.

And then you will be able to stay home all day every day, straightening your pile of magazines and spraying air freshener. And nobody will break the silence. After a couple weeks, your phone won't even ring. You will be able to concentrate, but you won't have any work to do, so you will have plenty of time to dye your hair any color other than white.

I'm betting your boss was just itching for an excuse to kick out the slob, and what you did was give him an exuse. Don't worry about it. From the sound of things it was going to happen sooner or later anyway.

Assuming the story you told us is complete, it sounds like the boss erred on this one. S/he should have moved you, giving you the choice of between the smaller office, or tolerating your current roommate.

Which makes me think that this woman has had complaints against her before, and boss was being preemptive.

Either way, you should try to patch things up. An apology might help, but flattery is probably your best option. Praise her skillset, ask for her advice on projects (you don't have to follow it), and generally make her seem welcome. Eventually, she might forgive you and in the meantime she will be easier to work with.

I just had someone kicked out of an office I share with several others at work. The office was already too small and overcrowded; they tried to stick a late hire in with us. I complained; he was moved. Now I've heard through the grapevine that this person is pissed off at me, even though he was moved to a bigger space with more room.

Should I feel guilty? I don't. I feel glad that this person is gone and those of us remaining have more room. I also feel that this person ought to feel happy that he's landed in a better place. But that's his business. Sharing office space is a difficult negotiation in the best of circumstances. It's also a crapshoot. It's like neighbors -- the annoying asshole who stomps around over your head and has loud fights with his girlfriend is the greatest guy in the world to people who don't have to live underneath him. Honestly, there's no good solution. Probably the best thing the boss could've done was allow the OP to move someplace else, not jerk this other woman around. But that doesn't make it her fault.

Timbuktom: get over yourself. Fired for making a remark about wanting a different office space? Please.

Well, this is a crappy situation. We've all had office mates that are annoying in some way - country radio, choking waves of after shave, BO, audible gum chewing, stories about every cute thing her dog did the night before - and sometimes, in the name of peace you just have to put up with it. Also, the state of her desk doesn't reflect on you. Only the state of your desk does that. And everyone has different working styles desk-wise.

The odour thing is tricky. Some people have metabolic or medical reasons for smelling not the best. And older people often have a decreased sense of smell, so they may not even be aware of the problem. Or worse they are aware and can't do anything about it. Its not something you could just throw out there without embarrassing people. An unobtrusive scented candle on your desk might have helped, or a peeled orange, or a jar of coffee beans - something you could have explained as aromatherapy, or helping you concentrate.

The only thing that probably should have been gently addressed at some point with your office mate: the fact that her constant talking affects your work. If all else fails buy an iPod and wear it (the solution I'm using right now).

Still, you've now mentioned it to your boss, who has apparently handled it in the worst possible way - ensuring that she is hurt and angry, and that you're the bad guy. I suggest you talk to the boss - find out if you can exactly what he told this woman - and then apologize to her personally and privately. Mention the fact that interruptions, in the form of talking, interfere with your ability to work efficiently. Explain that you had asked to be moved to an office of your own if the opportunity arose, and that the boss appears to have misunderstood your request. Apologize again for any hurt feelings and inconvenience. A little bit of groveling wouldn't be completely out of line. Don't talk about the odour or her desk.

That's all you can do. Perhaps as time goes on she'll forgive a little. Maybe she won't.