I need some advice.
I am a 35M in a MNC. I have been in a mentoring relationship with a 26F since she joined the company beginning this year. We cliqued instantly and of course she was very pretty and i was honestly flattered when she chose me as a career mentor.
Over time we grew closer and we started sharing personal stuff with each other. I admired her strong work ethic and maturity in thinking – i felt she was an intellectual equal despite age or experience difference. There were some tough times at work for her where i was there as a pillar of support , and during those times she was vulnerable, seeing her suffer and affected me and emotionally broke my heart.
This is how i know i actually truly care and have developed feelings for her. I am married but its a loveless marriage. my wife and i are on the path to formal separation. I recognise that this might have caused some emptiness in me and made more susceptible to “catching feelings”. But now it has already happen and i cannot help myself. I am trying to be strong.
I am trying to limit my “extra” interactions with her – ie texting on whatsapp/telegram/work communication tooling – but unfortunately i still have to meet up with her for mentoring catchups and we always have a great time chatting and enjoying the time we have (at least on my part). I say its on my part because she is super attractive and i believe she has many guys in office and outside always trying to meet/date her. She is single now btw.
I am realistic and while i have feelings for her, i dont think it is reciprocated given her many options. but having those feelings stuck in me makes it a torture to continue being her mentor and also being friends. Even if the feeling is not mutual i still enjoy being her friend and helping her grow in her career (she is very talented).
So my plan is to tell her my feelings in the hope that it will “get it out of my system” and somehow i can continue to enjoy our time together in a platonic way. Will it work?