Our friendship is hot topic among the office gossips

Dear Coleen I'M a married man aged 39 and recently I got into an argument with a work colleague after she accused me of having an affair with another woman who works with us.

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To be clear, I haven't slept with this woman or even kissed her, but we are close friends.

We message and call outside of work (we usually speak when I'm taking the dog out at night), and I admit we confide in each other about our partners and life at home.

She's younger - 26 - and has been married for a year, and it's not going great. I feel a bit lonely sometimes, as my wife is so involved with our two kids. I admit I haven't told my wife how friendly I am with this other woman and she doesn't know we message each other.

The colleague who confronted me says it's obvious to the whole office that we fancy each other because we flirt all the time.