How to speak to, and then ask out a lady a like at work?

[David4827]

Hi all,
I hope you are all OK.
I’m David. I’m 22 and from England.

I have been reading these forums for a little while, but I decided to join as I have a specific problem that I hope to get some advice for.

OK, so I really fancy this gorgeous girl at my work and I want her to be my girlfriend very much.

I am working in a temporary office job. I have been doing the job for 4 weeks now and have 8 weeks remaining. The girl I fancy works right down at the other end of the office and I haven't had a chance to speak to her yet, I don't even know her name.
Her first impression of me wasn’t great either, one day when she was following me into work I dropped all of my lunch on the floor next to her.

The first problem I have is getting to speak to her. She works in customer service and is surrounded at her desk by a load of weird middle aged men (the girl is in her early 20's). They are quite cliquey. The atmosphere in that area of the office is quite unfriendly and unapproachable.
She also goes off site to eat her lunch so I don't even have a chance to speak to her in the canteen.
What would be the best way to start getting to know her?
Speak to her on the way into, or going home from the office?
'Time it' so that I print something off at the same time as her and introduce myself to her while we are both at the printer?
Ask one of the colleagues at my desk to introduce me to her? (kinda hard because I don't want them to know I fancy her at this stage - she might not be single)
It is my birthday on Friday and I have noticed that it seems to be an office ritual for people to take food in on their birthday. Perhaps I could take some light snacks in to offer around the whole office, in the process getting to know everyone including the girl. Does this sound like a good idea?
(I will need to buy enough to feed a lot of people, there are 60-70 people in the office!)

There are only really 3 opportunities I get to speak to her during the working day, either on the way into work, around the office when she is using a printer/photocopier or at the end of the day.

If you are wondering how I can be so besotted with her even though I haven't yet spoken to her, it is because of the way she looks, her pretty face (I don't want to seem shallow and superficial, but she is stunningly beautiful in my eyes), the way she speaks, her confidence.
She always has a glowing smile on her face that lights up the room.
I have also heard her having conversations with other people and she seems like a really friendly, bubbly person.

Hopefully, once the initial hurdle of introducing myself to her is out of the way, it won't be a problem to just have conversations with her around the office, get to know her better, hopefully find out if she is single, and then ask her out.
What questions can I ask her to gauge whether she is single without just coming straight out and saying "do you have a boyfriend?"
I was thinking it would be best to ask her out in the carpark after work has finished, as if I asked her out during work that would be awkward for both me and her if I did it up in the office.
Do you think this is a sensible idea?
Any other suggestions?

There are 2 people at work that I have struck up a friendship with so far. They are called Steven and Paul, and they are 24 and 30 years old. We have had a bit of talk about relationships/love life, but I am not sure I trust them well enough yet to tell them how I feel about my co-worker. They are very genuine people and serious most of the time, but sometimes they have an immature side which they don't seem to be aware of, so I am not sure whether I would be comfortable opening up my feelings to them.

I am quite a shy person initially, but once I get to know people I open up and am a lot more sociable and approachable.

Any constructive, sensible suggestions to how I could get this girl to go out with me would be hugely appreciated.

P.s. Apologies for the long post.

[kitkitkitty]

i'd say try to catch her before work and say you're new and you feel a bit intimidated. say you notice her going off-site for lunch and ask to join her. on the way to work will be a good way to introduce yourself and find out the basics about each other too.

[David4827]

i'd say try to catch her before work and say you're new and you feel a bit intimidated. say you notice her going off-site for lunch and ask to join her. on the way to work will be a good way to introduce yourself and find out the basics about each other too.

Hi kitkitkitty, your reply is much appreciated.
What sort of things should I talk about with her?
How can I get over my nerves about introducing myself to her?

I look forward to reply's from anyone else as well.

[David4827]

Any other replies?

I know this is a long post....

[xxazurexx]

Look, firstly, knock her off the pedestal on which you have placed her...she goes to the loo to take a dump daily, so she is nothing special and is human just like you.

People can't run your life for you and have to piece together your every move, everything that comes from your mouth, etc...you have to do it yourself!!

Just act as natural as you can and say 'hi' to her and when you pass.

You don't have to even think about engaging in 'long' conversation at this point.....get her attention with 'hi' first and see how she reacts.

She may start conversing with you.