If you can’t agree on how to handle the issue, it’s worth trying a mediator. Find a neutral third-party trusted by both mentor and mentee that’s familiar with details salient to the conflict. Allow them to guide the conversation and agree to be forthcoming with your responses. Sometimes getting an outside perspective helps each party see beyond their limited viewpoints and speeds a meeting of the minds.
Conflict isn’t something to fear. It simply represents a disconnect that needs a resolution. Approaching the process honestly, positively, and proactively demonstrates each party’s devotion to the relationship. It shows that both are willing to place the other person’s needs on an equal footing with their own. In the end, a collaborative resolution can strengthen the mentorship. That is your goal.