chat

Comrade, I'm not a good person to ask for that sort of thing. But my intuition tells me that you should invite them to get a sit down meal outside of business hours.

1. if they're not going to do that then you wouldn't get much further if feelings were involved. Paying for someone's lunch is a good way to exchange information, ask for advice, and clarify situations in general.

2. you can express your feelings

3. you can ask whether they're interested in learning more about one another - especially in consideration of risking awkward work situations. Risk tolerance varies from person to person.

For your own sake and theirs I would frame this as curiosity about connection no matter how sure your infatuation feels. I think, blasphemously, that the yearning in your chest is primarily a signal (to be more curious about them). There's a whooooole lot more to learn about a person you're infatuated with that you'd only ever know when you're close to them. There's every chance that they're afraid to be vulnerable because they'll drop their walls, let you in, you don't like what you see, and you reject them in a way that feels super personal. Which is why it's so important to be disarming, curious, and sympathetic. Talk slowly and confidently knowing that even if they reject you it's fine because you were only looking to learn more.

(Disarmingly throughout) invite to lunch -> ask about their love life -> express your feelings -> see if there's interest to pursue something