His Nanny Mate By Eve Above Story

Chapter 34: The Exhibit
Moana

I couldn’t bring myself to avoid Ethan’s exhibit after he had asked me to go so many times. So, after putting Ella to bed, I went to Selina with my hand on my stomach and a frown on my face.

“I’m afraid I might have contracted food poisoning,” I said, feigning illness. “Can you keep an eye on things if Ella wakes up? I’m going to go to urgent care.”

Selina frowned, looking at her watch. “Do you need a driver?” she asked.

I vehemently shook my head. “No. It’s okay. I’ll call a cab.”

“Well… Alright,” she said, pursing her lips. “Be careful.”

After that, I put on a simple dress that could pass for urgent care attire if anyone were to question me, and flagged down a cab outside of the penthouse.

Just as I suspected, the art gallery was packed to the brim when I arrived. As I got out of the cab, I felt a lump rise in my throat; all of the other patrons seemed to be dressed lavishly, which made me feel incredibly out of place.

There was a line with a bouncer to get in. I stood in line, patiently waiting my turn.

“Name?” the bouncer said, eyeing me up and down suspiciously as I walked up to him.

“Moana Fowler,” I replied.

moment. “You’re not on the list,” he said. His voice was gruff and indifferent, and before I

have an invitation from Ethan,” I replied, clutching my purse nervously as I stood

not even bothering to look at me, simply scoffed. “I highly doubt the artist personally invited a human. Quit wasting my time and get out of here. You can come back to view the art tomorrow, when it’s open to

from behind the bouncer,

through the line of people waiting. The bouncer’s eyes widened, and without another word, he stepped out of the way and let me

Ethan said, guiding me in through the foyer with his hand on my back. “He’s just doing his

understand,” I replied meekly as I looked around at all

“Unfortunately I have to participate in some involuntary networking with a few of the patrons here, but feel free to take

champagne and nodded, watching as Ethan

made my way into the

more amazing now beneath the gallery lighting. A jazz quartet played lively music from a small stage at the back of the gallery, creating an atmosphere that almost made the artwork come alive. Groups of patrons milled about, many of them using sophisticated ‘art speak’ to describe the works when, in actuality, they were only trying to impress

glass of champagne in my hand as I closely studied each and every piece of artwork. Each piece seemed to fit into a similar theme,

corner of the gallery, and no one else seemed to notice it; but I did. I felt entranced by the depiction of a young boy, staring out at the viewer from a black void. His face was sad, but there was also a hint of something else behind it

bit at the sound of his voice, not realizing that I had been standing in front of

face flush. “Yes. I think

my favorite, too,” Ethan replied. “I haven’t

painting. There was a bit of a silence before Ethan spoke. “Did you remember to bring some of your work

nervously as I reached into my purse and pulled out a single, folded piece of paper and held it out to Ethan.

heart rate quicken as he carefully studied my drawing. It was the same drawing that I had been working on in my bedroom the night that Edrick told me

after a few moments, “this is stunning.

red at the famous artist’s words. “R-Really?”

to me. “You’ve got some real talent. You should try to tap into it a bit more; I could see