Nanny and the Alpha Daddy

Nanny and the Alpha Daddy
#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.

The bouncer narrowed his eyes 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 in.

“But I have an invitation from Ethan,” I replied, clutching my purse nervously as I stood to the side.

The bouncer, 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 the public.”

“Actually,” a familiar voice said from behind the bouncer, “I did invite her. Come on in, Moana.”

the line of people waiting. The bouncer’s

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

all of the wealthy-looking people that were milling

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,

the champagne and nodded, watching as Ethan disappeared

courage, I made my way into

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. Groups of patrons milled about, many of them using sophisticated ‘art speak’

either — with my glass of champagne in my hand as I closely studied each and every piece of artwork. Each piece seemed

was small, tucked away in a 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

one, huh?” Ethan’s voice suddenly said 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 of

flush. “Yes. I think this one might be

replied. “I haven’t given it

nodded, turning back to look at the painting. There was a bit of a silence before Ethan

my hands shaking a bit nervously as I reached into my purse and pulled out a single, folded piece of

anticipation, feeling my heart rate quicken as he carefully studied my drawing. It was the same drawing that I had been

he finally said after a few moments, “this is stunning. You didn’t mention that