Page 29 of Last Chance Love

“True,” she said. “But those scores are also important for showing not only the importance of the mentor system, which requires additional funding, but also for the program overall, which requires both private and government funding.”

“Right,” I said, letting that spin through my head before realizing where she was going with this. “Wait, you’re worried about Leon’s score?”

“With Reno assigned to him and Elliot possibly getting dragged down in the process? Yes, absolutely.”

I arched a brow. “Just how important is Leon’s score?”

“I’m sure you’ve already managed to figure out from this conversation, but I’m going to say this outright. This conversation is between the two of us. It’s not to be told to anyone, and that includes Leon.”

“You’re right. I did manage to figure it out. And yes, I also know there will be serious consequences if I should happen to tell someone. Understood.”

“Good, then you should know that as far as this system is concerned, Leon is hands down the most effective mentor we’ve ever had. So good he’s managed to affect the damn bell curve. He’s literally made our good ones look average, and our average ones look bad.”

“Uh, okay,” I said, surprised by the information and yet not. On the one hand, Leon had always been a good judge of people, but it was strange to think that he wasthatgood. Maybe all he’d ever needed was a chance to apply his skills. “So if he’s throwing off the bell curve, then shouldn’t you want him taken down a notch? If only to make?—”

“I don’t give a shit if others look bad in comparison if what he does can be taught. Using him as a premier example of what a mentor could be could send the quality of our mentorship program into the stratosphere.”

“I’m still not seeing where I come into this.”

“Put simply, I need him on board. So far, he’s been resistant to any attempt on my part to push him to do bigger and better things. There’s a lot of potential locked away inside him, and I need it to come forward. Standing up for Reno like he did was a good start, and if the results are positive, that’s even better.”

“You want me to convince him?”

“In a manner of speaking,” she said slowly. “I need you to get beyond whatever strangeness is between you two. So far, I’ve realized he comes into his own when he’s comfortable and pushed outside his comfort zone.”

For someone who wanted me to evaluate Leon for her, she was eerily good at doing it independently. Those were precisely the two things that, when pushed together onto Leon, were the best way to make him flourish. “Especially if it’s something he believes in.”

“Like, say…his mentees’ success?”

“That would certainly do it.”

“Consistent comfort is not something I can offer him in the direct sense,” she said, looking me over. “But perhaps the presence of an old friend around more often might do it.”

“You’re asking me to spend time with him?” I blinked.

“If the two of you can get past whatever is sitting between you, making things awkward, then we’re already halfway to victory. I’m sure I can provide the challenge he needs, and his position already offers him the incentive.”

It was one hell of a plan, and I didn’t know how to tell her it was absolutely absurd and, well, the kind of plan Leon would cook up on a whim. It didn’t really require much work out of me, but it left me to wonder what she would be doing in the background to provide the push.

“So, just spend time with him?”

“Look, he’s friendly with all the other mentors but doesn’t get close. And because of his moral code orsomething, he doesn’t even get close to his mentees beyond what helps them. As far as I can tell, the closest he’s got to a friend is Max, which is an interesting idea, but Max has his hands full.”

“I love how you make it sound like Riley is a handful,” I said with a laugh and then thought about it. “Well, maybe for Max, he is.”

“Exactly,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Leon needs a peer, which means Tier One. But that’s clearly not enough. You, however, might be enough.”

Admittedly, the opportunity to get closer to Leon again wasn’t uncomfortable. We’d spent the past couple of years bouncing off one another, going through near misses and evasions at every turn. And now I was being given a chance to work past that barrier.

I winced. “You realize you’re essentially asking me to lie to him, right?”

“Do you not want to connect with him?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “But…the reasons aren’t exactly genuine.”

“You have a genuine desire to reconnect with him, that should be enough. The only thing is you’re being pushed to work toward that goal from an outside source. One he shouldn’t be told about.”

“And that there is the deception part.”

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