Learning to Trust: Paradigm Shift Read Online Free Page A

single wave with my hand that reached a hundred hungry eyes at once. I bit my tongue nervously, feeling a little bit exploited, like every man was undressing me with his eyes. And then , Roland saved me from the silence.
    "Let's continue the party then! Cheers! " He hoisted his scotch into the air, a drink that I didn't even see him grab. Magic scotch delivery . The wealthy had things I still didn't understand at all. My wonder ment continued when a glass of champagne suddenly made its way into my hand.
    "Thanks," I called out aimlessly to a waiter that I hadn't even seen.
    Roland introduced me to a number of people, people that had titles that were exactly what I was expecting. CEOs, investors, colleagues, former business partners. You name it. Everyone was here. I couldn't believe how many times my hand had been kissed by the time we made the first round. I was just shocked at how familiar Roland seemed to be with every single person here.
    Being drunk certainly helped to alleviate so me of the monotony of the event. Stand up straight. Look pretty. Smile. Say a few words. Move on. Rinse and repeat. Some of the sleazier fellows made me really uncomfortable, but Roland did a fairly good job at keeping them away from me.
    And then, just as I would have predicted, one of Roland's aides came over and pulled him aside, clamoring quietly about something that demanded his immediate attention. "Can it wait?" I heard him say.
    He turned to face me. "I'll be right back, okay? You can take a seat at that table over there."
    I frowned at him and then went to sit down. My legs were wobbly and unstable by this point , so aside from the fact that Roland was ignoring me again, sitting sounded pretty damn good . I took a seat at the empty table and continued to sip my I don't even remember what number drink.
    "Do you want to know what he's really like?" I turned my head toward the gravelly, low voice. There was a guy in an ill-fitted tux, his face covered in dark stubble. His eyes carried a weight, and they were pressing against me in a way that made me tense up.
    "I beg your pardon?"
    "Roland," he said. "It's not a fucking joke. I'm serious. Here." He slid a business card toward me on the table. I saw there was writing scribbled on the back but couldn't make it out. I covered the card with my hand and eased it into my fingers.
    "Whoa, whoa," I said. "I didn't say anything about a joke . What are you talking about?" Just like that, I was suddenly feeling sober.
    "Call me when you're ready for the truth. I've heard a lot about you, so I'm glad we finally got to meet. You're his new girl of the week , so I thought you should have the option to know ."
    I felt so defiled by his words, even though they might have been true. "You're a jerk!" I said. I stared back with the same intensity that he directed at me. After a few seconds, my vision suddenly focused on a body that had intervened.
    "Is there a problem here?" It was Frederic, his hand gently massaging my shoulder as he talked. " Ramón , are you troubling Roland's guest of honor?"
    "We were just talking," he said as he stood up.
    "Get lost," Frederic said. "Before I call the police."
    Ramón disappeared like an apparition, the crowd swallowing him until he was no more. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
    "God, that guy was a dick," I remarked. I felt so small, so humbled and tiny. And yet, my fingers still clenched that card. What to do with it ?
    "That's one of Roland's ex-partners. He usually comes to these events to beg. Money or opportunity or both." I could smell alcohol on his breath—we both had that in common.
    "I need to use the bathroom," I said.
    "I'll take you to the private one upstairs then," Frederic said. "Follow me."
    He took me through the crowd and up the winding staircase, my eyes constantly darting around and looking for Roland. It was his fault that his had happened. I didn't like being pushed aside and it had happened far too many times lately for me to be okay