Cal looked up as Gillian walked into his office and shut the door. He could tell something was on her mind. He put down his pen and stood up. Gillian looked up as Cal moved to stand beside her.
"Gillian?" Cal asked softly "Are you ok?"
"I'm going to ask you a question and you are going to answer" Gillian said softly "And then we are going to respect the line"
"Understood"
"Do you love me?"
"Of course, you are my best friend. I love you as such"
"Do you have feelings for me that extend beyond friendship?"
"No. Your married and a colleague"
"You know I can tell when your lying right?"
"I know"
Gillian sighed as she walked out of the office. Cal sat down behind his desk and looked at the photo of him and Gillian. She was looking up him as he leaned over his shoulder. Cal loved Gillian. He loved her, he cared for her, and he wanted her to be safe. Cal sighed and looked the picture one more time before putting it away and turning back to the file in front of him. He lied, because if he didn't lie he would have lost his best friend and that would have been worse than this hell he had chosen.