I am a 47yo male. Recently, an associate with the same job description as me informed me that management had told her that they were of the belief that I had a romantic interest in her. They also told her that she would be fired if she told me she had spoken to them about it. I'm not sure why management believes that I feel that way for her (beyond them seeing us going to lunch or coffee together) or what motivated them to call her in to discuss it. I have had a good working relationship with her up to this point, but now she refuses to talk to me and will not work with me. I value my working relationships with my colleagues as possible references for future employment and I count them as assets, but now our working relationship is destroyed because of management's actions. Was thier action ethical? Can they fire her for telling me? Has my character been defamed?