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.

at me before scanning his list for a painstakingly long moment. “You’re not on the list,” he said. His voice was gruff and indifferent, and before I could say anything else, he waved me away to let the next person

clutching my purse

not even bothering to look at me, simply scoffed. “I highly doubt the artist personally invited a human. Quit wasting

voice said from behind the bouncer,

out 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

that,” Ethan said, guiding me in through the foyer with his hand on

I replied meekly as I looked around at all of the

“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

the champagne and nodded, watching

for courage, I made my way into the gallery so I could get a

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

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

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

flush. “Yes. I think

too,” Ethan replied. “I haven’t

the painting. There was a bit of a silence before

reached into my purse and pulled out a single, folded

with anticipation, 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 me about the WereCorp wages: a drawing

a few moments, “this is

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

some real talent. You should try to tap into it a

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