“How could he not notice me?” fumed Clarissa, examining her reflection in the mirror while reapplying her bold red lipstick. “No matter—the office party’s coming up. That’s when I’ll finally catch his eye!” This is the story of how my friend Clarissa tried to win over a colleague and what came of it.
Clarissa and Her Confidence
Clarissa and I have been friends since university. At 32, she’s striking, polished, and always the centre of attention. Men turn their heads when she walks by, and she knows exactly how to use her charm. At work, in our small IT firm, Clarissa is the undisputed star. She’s in marketing, always dressed to the nines, and her jokes at meetings crack up even the sternest boss.
Then came the new hire—Ethan. Tall, handsome, well-mannered—the perfect target for her affections. But there was one problem: Ethan seemed utterly indifferent to her attempts at flirting. Clarissa told me how she’d invited him for coffee, only for him to politely decline, citing work. Later, she “accidentally” shared the lift with him, but he just smiled and stepped out without engaging.
“Am I too perfect for him?”
After yet another failed advance, Clarissa stormed into my office. “What, is he not into women or something? How can he ignore me like this?” She stood by the mirror, fussing with her hair and touching up her lipstick, as if preparing for another battle. I chuckled. “Maybe he’s shy. Or taken?” But Clarissa wouldn’t hear it. “No, Sophie, something’s off. I’ve seen how he talks to everyone else—just not me!”
She decided the upcoming office party would be her moment. She bought a new dress, booked a stylist, and plotted how to “coincidentally” sit by Ethan. “That’s when he’ll crumble,” she declared.
The Party and the Unexpected Twist
The night arrived. Clarissa looked stunning—her crimson dress, flawless makeup, dazzling smile. Every eye turned to her—except Ethan’s. He danced with other girls, joked with the lads, but never approached her. I watched her smile tighten as her confidence wavered.
Then I noticed Ethan stepping onto the balcony with our colleague, Daniel. They talked, laughed, and at one point, Ethan rested a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. Clarissa saw it too—her face went pale. “Sophie, did you see that?” she whispered. “Is this for real?” I shrugged. “Maybe they’re just mates?” But Clarissa had already made up her mind.
The Aftermath
After the party, Clarissa cooled off, though she was still miffed. “It’s not even about rejection,” she admitted. “It’s just embarrassing. I put in all that effort, and turns out he’s not even interested in women.” Later, we heard from colleagues—Ethan was indeed in a relationship… with a man. At first, Clarissa was furious at herself for not noticing. Then she laughed. “Well, at least now I know why I wasn’t his type! I was starting to think there was something wrong with me.”
Now, Clarissa jokes that the whole ordeal taught her not to assume too much. She still flirts—just not with the same intensity. And as for Ethan? They’ve actually become friends—he’s a great bloke, just with different tastes.
Ever been in a similar spot? How do you brush off rejection? Or better yet—any tips for moving on to the next target? We’d love to hear!
