Why didn't you just go grab a cup of coffee or just tell him that you're busy and can't talk instead of blatantly lying?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

He wanted to talk to you...just don't take things to heart unless its not possible to do so...and even if you could carry on long enough I don't think he would have left or he would have come back later...which he might..,

At least he got the point

Wouldn't it be easier to grow a set and just say no?

I understand the feeling of not wanting to talk to a coworker but ydi that move there kind of makes you an ass

Grow some balls and te the coworker to leave.

You're not wrong, you're just an asshole OP

How about you try something really radical and do your job so you are too busy to talk to your coworker? I know it's a really far out idea to perform the duties of job while at work. Give it a try and you'll be amazed at the boring conversations you'll be too busy to have to avoid.

You expect sympathy because...? Not only did you completely deserve that but what you did to your coworker was incredibly rude. If you really wanted to avoid talking to him, why not just tell him that you were not feeling up to having a discussion with him or at least tell him you're busy and can't talk right now. That is better than pretending to be on the phone. You not only made yourself look like a fool but you treated your coworker disrespectfully in terms of hoping he was a moron to fall for that trick.