Read The Mentor for Free Online

have to borrow my sister-in-law’s beater, and then I have to drive halfway across London. What a drag.” It wasn’t clear whether she was talking to Eric or to herself. She seemed intent on listening to the sound of her own voice.
    Eric pushed the button for the ground floor, and the doors closed. Neither one said anything during the short trip down. Adele buttoned up her jacket, adjusted the purse over her shoulder, and got ready to open her umbrella.
    When they reached the ground floor, she left the elevator without saying a word, walking quickly toward the exit. Eric did the same, but with less conviction, watching her walk ahead of him and feeling more depressed than ever. He’d just been given an opportunity to talk to the only woman who lit a spark in his heart, and he’d wasted it. He’d been unable to say anything more engaging than “Yeah” and “Have a nice weekend.”
    “I’m going to head out to Leicester Square and grab a bite to eat,” she said.
    Eric looked up and met her eyes. He was stunned. He thought she’d hurried off without a good-bye, but she was standing by the door, waiting for him.
    “Will you keep me company?” added Adele once he was near. For the first time she looked him in the face when talking to him. She wasn’t smiling. In fact, she didn’t seem all that convinced of the offer she’d just made him. It was as if she’d asked only out of common courtesy—another favor that might prove useful to her in the future, just like with Jane.
    Even though he was aware of how things stood between them, Eric felt a jolt of adrenaline course through his veins. For a moment he was short of breath.
    Adele continued to look at him. In just a few seconds her expression turned from cordial to impatient. Maybe she was already regretting the question, now tired of waiting for an answer that still hadn’t come. “So?” she asked.
    Part of Eric was opposed to the way she addressed him, but at the same time he couldn’t let such a terrific opportunity slip through his fingers. “Sure, why not?” He tried to say it as naturally as he could, but his voice came out practically choked with tension.
    A slight smile appeared on Adele’s lips. “Good.” Then she headed out the door. Once outside, she paused and opened her umbrella. “Come on. I’ve got you covered,” she added, looking up at it high overhead.
    By the time they came out at Leicester Square station, the rain had stopped. During the ride and their transfer at Embankment station, Adele hadn’t said a word. She checked her cell phone half a dozen times, apparently entertained by the messages she was answering, and smiled vaguely in his direction every once in a while.
    The more time that went by, the more crestfallen Eric felt. How could he possibly aspire to a woman like this? She was undoubtedly chatting with her boyfriend, telling him she’d be late because she’d taken pity on her poor, ancient boss and now had to nanny him through dinner. He wished he could come up with a decent excuse and escape back home, but he had nothing.
    They walked across the square and soon wound up in a little side street bustling with people. It was just like any other Saturday night. There were people of all ages and from all over the world, all ignoring the foul weather, wandering around as couples or in groups. The females were dressed to the nines, wearing thin, clingy clothing even though it was barely fifty degrees Fahrenheit out. They didn’t care. Eric looked around and smiled. This unexpected landscape of laughter and happiness lifted his spirits almost immediately. He remembered when he too enjoyed blending in with the crowds. It wasn’t so long ago, walking along with his wife and enjoying life in general.
    Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Adele was scrutinizing him.
    They reached a pub, and as soon as they stepped inside, a young man ran over to Adele and gave her a big hug. Eric realized she was a regular here,