Uh oh. See your first delemna. It's possible they've promoted you to lead engineer with-out telling you. Happened to me once, didn't find out 'til I got a suspension for being late:
"You idiot! You're the Lead Hand!"
"I am?"
"Oops, forgot to tell you. Didn't you notice the pay raise. Take the next three days off with-out pay."
"OK"
This makes your first problem, your problem.
Or your company is deeply, deeply screwed up. Take option B in D1, combined with Greaseytech's advice.