Tales of a Face Giver
October 6, 2011
Sensational. That’s probably the wrong word to describe the last few days in my life but I’m not sure that one word is capable of describing it. Not even a sensational word like sensational.
Some people have an inflated view of who they are and how important they are but other people usually see through this veneer and know the sobering truth. Some people on the other hand have inflated the views of themselves to others but they themselves know that it’s not true. It’s like living a lie. I’m the latter. I’m a liar of my own grandiose persona that I reflect to the outside world. In truth, I’m not really that special . . . but the people around me this weekend thought differently. They thought I was important. It’s funny but sometimes how others perceive you actually changes you.
The booze and nicotine swirled this weekend in a haze of white teeth, laughter and applause. It all started to sound like money clanging together at the bottom of a casino tray but it was never my money or my tray. It all belonged to somebody else. It belonged to successful people benefiting from successful times.
This weekend I was a guest at the largest international investment fair in the world. What does this entail? Let me explain.
Three free nights in a five-star hotel. A sculpture of ice fashioned into a swan floated effortlessly on the Lazy Susan in front of me with slices of raw salmon resting on her chilled wings. I was wearing Ray Ban sunglasses, a suit and tie. Aged Martell dangled betwixt my fingertips more than once. A new executive-black Benz luxury sedan shuttled us around the city. A fake but more than fair Mongolian girlfriend set by my side. Sitting at the head of and giving a speech at a luxury-chaired-press-conference with leading officials and directors. The signing of a seventy million Yuan contract in front a crowded exhibition hall. Being interviewed on the spot by national and local newspapers. Yacht spotting. A platter of twenty-four crab rested on a different Lazy Susan on different night. Giant shrimp and stories of Vegas casinos all dangled in and out of this extended scene. It was a grand and sensational three day façade.
I was The Face Giver this weekend. A white executive from the West being entertained by heads of businesses, cities and counties. I was charming but in a different way I felt sordid and seedy. I was a liar. I’m not a good liar.
Humans have always clawed for glamour, respect and wealth. I’ve only maybe marginally flirted with those concepts in the past but this weekend I was treated as if I had all of these and more but to be honest it all started to get old and boring after awhile and not to mention but being The Face Giver is exhausting work.
I supposedly left the hotel that morning on my way to the airport but I really went to work.
