“How could anyone possibly ignore me?” fumed Charlotte, inspecting herself in the mirror as she touched up her full lips. “No matter—the office party’s coming up, and that’s where I’ll catch his eye!” This is the story of how my friend Charlotte tried to win over a colleague and what came of it.
**Charlotte and Her Confidence**
Charlotte and I have been friends since uni. At 32, she’s striking, polished, and always the centre of attention. Men glance her way, and she knows exactly how to use her charm. At work, in our small IT firm, Charlotte is the undisputed star. She’s in marketing, always impeccably dressed, and her jokes at meetings crack up even the sternest boss.
Then came James, the new hire, who became Charlotte’s mystery. Tall, handsome, with impeccable manners—in short, perfect for her radar. But there was one problem: James seemed entirely oblivious to her flirting. Charlotte told me how she’d asked him for coffee, only for him to politely decline, claiming he was busy. Another time, she “accidentally” shared the lift with him, attempting small talk, but he just smiled and stepped out.
**“Am I Too Perfect for Him?”**
After another failed attempt, Charlotte stormed into my office. “Is he even into women? How can anyone not notice me?” She fiddled with her hair in the mirror, reapplying lipstick like she was gearing up for another “assault.” I laughed. “Maybe he’s just shy? Or has a girlfriend?” But Charlotte wouldn’t hear it. “No, Emma, something’s off. I’ve seen how he talks to others, but with me—nothing!”
She decided the upcoming office party would be her moment. Charlotte splurged on a new dress, booked a stylist, and even plotted how to “accidentally” sit next to James. “He won’t resist me there,” she declared.
**The Party and the Unexpected Twist**
The night arrived. Charlotte was stunning—a crimson dress, flawless makeup, glowing smile. She turned heads, yet James, annoyingly, kept his distance. He danced with other girls, joked with the lads, but never approached her. I watched her mask frustration with smiles.
At one point, I noticed James slip onto the balcony with our colleague Oliver. They talked, laughed, and then James rested a hand on Oliver’s shoulder. Charlotte saw it too and paled. “Emma, did you see that?” she whispered. “Is this really happening?” I shrugged. “Maybe they’re just mates?” But Charlotte had already made up her mind.
**The Aftermath**
Post-party, Charlotte cooled down but remained disheartened. “It’s not just rejection,” she admitted. “It’s embarrassment—I tried so hard, and he’s clearly not into women.” Later, colleagues confirmed James was indeed in a relationship—with a man. At first, Charlotte berated herself for not “figuring it out,” then laughed. “Well, at least now I know why I wasn’t his type! I was starting to think something was wrong with me.”
Now, Charlotte jokes that the ordeal taught her not to be so self-assured. She still flirts at work, but less aggressively. Surprisingly, she and James became friends—turns out, he’s a great bloke, just with different preferences.
Ever been in a similar spot? How do you handle rejection without taking it personally? Or got tips for moving on quicker? Share your stories—we’d love to hear them!
