take the co workers out for a beer and clear it up ......buy one round for them all

if u leave it up to them to come to u to get answers that will not happen gossip is more fun on a boring day

if u do not want the gossip and all that u need to set the record strait or u can have fun with it and tell them something crazy to see if they believe it (going in for a sex change op............fell in love with a 90 year old sugar daddy and no longer need the work .....u know something crazy and fun )