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.”

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 let me

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

meekly as I looked around at all of the

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

champagne and nodded, watching as Ethan disappeared

deep breath and a sip of the champagne for courage, I made my way into the gallery so I could

I thought that Ethan’s work was amazing before in 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. Groups of patrons milled about, many of them using sophisticated

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 every piece of artwork. Each piece seemed to fit into a similar theme, which felt reminiscent of the childhood

particular painting that caught my eye, however. It 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

said from behind me, breaking me out of my trance. I jumped a bit

said, feeling my face flush. “Yes.

Ethan replied. “I haven’t given

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

bit nervously as I reached into my purse and pulled out a

was the same drawing that I had been working on in my bedroom the night that Edrick told me about the

a few moments, “this is stunning. You didn’t