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.

said. His voice was gruff and indifferent, and before I could say anything

Ethan,” I replied, clutching my purse nervously as I stood to

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

bouncer, “I did invite

from behind the bouncer, resulting in a chorus of murmurs making their way through the line of people waiting. The bouncer’s eyes widened, and without another word, he stepped out of the way and

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

at all of the

for coming,” Ethan said with a warm smile. “Unfortunately I have to participate in some involuntary networking with a few of the patrons here, but feel free to take a look around. And have a glass of champagne, too.” He reached out, taking a glass of champagne off

champagne and nodded, watching as Ethan disappeared into

champagne for courage, I made my way into

his studio, it was even 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.

not that anyone would have spoken to me, either — with my glass of champagne in my hand as I closely studied each and every piece of artwork. Each piece seemed to fit into a

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 that I couldn’t quite read. It

out of my trance. I jumped a bit at the sound of his voice, not realizing that I had been standing in front of the painting for quite some

flush. “Yes.

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

of a silence before Ethan spoke. “Did you remember to bring some of

my hands shaking a bit nervously as I reached into my purse and pulled out a single, folded piece of paper and held it out to Ethan. “It’s not much.

It was the same drawing that I had been working on

“this is stunning. You didn’t mention that you could draw

go red at

“You’ve got some real talent. You should try to tap into

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