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.

me before scanning his list for a painstakingly long moment. “You’re not on the list,” he said. His voice

I replied, clutching my purse nervously

a human. Quit wasting my time and get out of here. You can come back

voice said from behind the bouncer, “I did invite her. Come

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

his hand on my back. “He’s just doing his job. These art openings

all of the wealthy-looking

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 of a waiter’s tray,

and nodded, watching as

I made my way into the gallery so I could get a better

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.

to anyone — not that anyone would have spoken to me, either — with my glass of champagne in my hand as I closely studied each and

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 was as if he was secretly mocking his own

from behind me, breaking me out of my trance. I jumped a bit at the sound of his voice, not realizing that I had been standing in front

startled me,” I said, feeling my face flush. “Yes. I

Ethan replied. “I haven’t given it a

back to look at the painting. There was a bit of a silence before Ethan spoke. “Did you remember to bring some of your

as I reached into my purse and pulled out a

feeling my 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

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

felt my face go red at

and handed the drawing back to me. “You’ve got some real talent. You should try to tap into it a bit more; I could see you doing really well with