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Since he’s completely unoriginal, he’s decided that our mentor meeting sessions will be held twice a week in his living room. And like a true unprofessional, he emailed us the exact timetoday.
When I reach his place, I see that the other mentees—all girls—are already sitting around his Harkness table.They’re sipping from pretty white teacups and enjoying freshly baked brownies.
“You’re late, Miss Edwards,” Mr. Donovan startles me as he takes a seat.
“By like one minute.”
“Then you need to leave,” he says, not even looking up at me. “It’s not fair to everyone else who came here on time.”
“He’s right.” Mandy Seagram smiles. “I’m distracted by your lateness.”
Defiant, I pull out a chair and claim a spot at the table, taking out my notebooks and pens.
“Miss Edwards,” Mr. Donovan speaks a little louder, “you need to leave. Feel free to join us for the next group session.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m staying for this one.”
An uneasy silence takes over the room, and the other girls look between us, anticipating his next move.
He finally lifts his head, and I swear his lips mouth the words, “Fuck. Why am I looking at her?”
“Okay, Miss Edwards,” he says. “I’ll allow you this one tardiness. To be fair, everyone at this table will be allowed one tardy date as well. Today is a simple meet-and-greet session anyway.”
He stands up and pulls a box from his bookshelf. Then he hands out books that are so worn and tattered that I can barely read the cover.
“This is a copy of an oldLife Lessonsbook,” he says. “The first two essays are a great way to view life, so read those between tonight and the next time we meet. Oh, and don’t highlight or dog-ear the pages. I absolutely hate that, and I’ll never forgive you.”
The other girls laugh, but I’m not ready to entertain any humor from this man.
“Are there any questions?” he asks.
“I have one.” I raise my hand, but he ignores me.
“I’ll see you ladies at the next session.”
I don’t bother fighting him this time, but I do slam the door on my way out.
4
GENEVIEVE
I’m thirty minutes and fifty-eight seconds early for the next mentee group session. I’ve read the entireLife Lessonsbook, and I can’t wait until we get to the parts about “treat others how you wish to be treated” and “karma.”
Since I’m not quite ready to go inside yet, I pace Mr. Donovan’s deck.
I can see him eyeing my every step through the open window. Looking breathtakingly sexy as usual, he’s watching me while taking slow sips of coffee.
After pacing for a few more minutes, I finally knock.
“Yes, Miss Edwards?” He has the audacity to answer the door with a smile, like he wasn’t just staring at me. “How may I help you?”
“I’m here for the mentorship group,” I say. “I came early.”
“So did everyone else.” He ushers me inside, and the entire group is sipping tea around the table.
Wow.I swallow a sigh and reclaim my seat.
“I guess we can start.” He slides a red folder toward me. “Today we’re going to critique ‘Such, Such Were the Joys’ by George Orwell. Has anyone read this piece before?”
