**Journal Entry – 12th May**
*”How could he not notice me?”* fumed Emily, studying her reflection as she touched up her lipstick. *”No matter—the office party’s coming up, and that’s when I’ll catch his eye for sure!”* This is the story of how my friend Emily tried—and spectacularly failed—to win over a certain colleague.
### Emily and Her Confidence
Emily and I have been friends since uni. At 32, she’s striking, polished, and always the centre of attention—men turn their heads, and she knows exactly how to use that charm. At our small IT firm in Manchester, she’s the star of the marketing team, impeccably dressed, her jokes at meetings making even the sternest boss crack a smile.
Then along came Oliver, the new hire, and he became Emily’s enigma. Tall, handsome, well-mannered—perfect target material. But there was one problem: Oliver didn’t seem to register her flirting at all. She invited him for coffee; he politely begged off, claiming work. She “accidentally” shared the lift with him, trying to chat—he only smiled and stepped out when the doors opened.
*”Am I too perfect for him?”*
After another failed attempt, Emily stormed into my office. *”Honestly, is he just not into women? How does anyone ignore me?”* She fussed with her hair, reapplying her lipstick like she was gearing up for battle. I laughed. *”Maybe he’s shy? Or has a girlfriend?”* But Emily wouldn’t budge. *”No, Sophie, 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. A new dress, a stylist appointment, even scheming to “randomly” sit beside Oliver. *”He won’t resist me there,”* she declared.
### The Party and the Twist
The night arrived. Emily looked stunning—red dress, flawless makeup, radiant smile. Every colleague noticed. Except Oliver, who, infuriatingly, kept his distance—dancing with others, joking with the lads, never approaching her. I watched her forced smile waver.
At one point, Oliver slipped onto the balcony with our colleague James. They chatted, laughed—then I saw Oliver rest a hand on James’ shoulder. Emily paled. *”Sophie, did you see that?”* she whispered. *”Is that really…?”* I shrugged. *”Maybe they’re just mates?”* But Emily had already pieced it together.
### The Aftermath
Post-party, Emily calmed but stayed prickly. *”I’m not even hurt—just embarrassed. All that effort, and he’s not even interested in women!”* Later, office gossip confirmed it—Oliver was in a relationship… with a man. At first, Emily groaned about *”not spotting the signs,”* then laughed. *”Well, that explains why I wasn’t his type! I was starting to think it was me.”*
Now, she jokes that the whole thing humbled her. She still flirts, but less relentlessly. Surprisingly, she and Oliver became friends—he’s a decent bloke, just not into women.
Ever been in a situation like this? How do you brush off rejection? Or—any tips for moving on to the next “target” quicker? Share your stories—we’d love to hear!
