Page 76 of Wild

"Why don't you just take it off if it's bothering you?" Erin asks, reaching up to loosen the pressure around his neck.

Noah looks down at himself, then back at her.

"You don't think it'll look too casual? Jude won't like it."

"Jude can go to hell," the doctor says, loosening the knot and pulling the tie free.

Noah laughs and lets Erin fix his shirt collar after she unbuttons the top button so it won't dig in.

"You look just as good as before, and you no longer have that constipated look on your face," she says matter-of-factly, and Mia's assistant's smile widens as he runs a hand through his messy hair — something Jude has never managed to tame.

"You look great too, by the way. Mia's going to lose her mind when she sees you."

Erin glances down at herself and smiles. She'd flatly refused when the singer's stylist suggested a dress, but she'd agreed to wear a fitted suit that looked like it had been made for her. The pants are dark gray, same as the blazer, and the shirt is a shade of blue that reminded her of the singer's eyes and made her wonder whether the woman had picked that color on purpose. She took off the blazer a while ago and has her sleeves rolled up below her elbows because she's flushed — not from the heat, but from nerves, as she watches dozens of people file in and find their assigned seats.

"I hope she doesn't," the doctor murmurs, still watching the crowd, until suddenly a wave of voices rises and the flash of several cameras makes them both turn toward the door opening onto the side hallway where they're standing.

Erin watches two women and a man walk in. The women are holding hands, and the man is walking beside the older one. It's clear all the attention is on the younger of the two — a girl who looks about Mia's age, with a thick mass of curly hair andenormous brown eyes. She looks familiar, but Erin can't quite place her.

The three of them stop at the entrance and the man steps aside while the women pose for cameras. The younger one smiles effortlessly, but the older — a blonde woman with an imposing presence and just as striking as the other — can't seem to manage it. She looks stiff in front of the cameras, yet she doesn't let go of her girlfriend's hand.

"Who are they?" Erin asks, curious.

"The brunette is Taylor Davey. She's nominated for breakthrough artist. She hasn't been around long, but she's blowing up fast — her first tour started two months ago. The woman beside her is Abigail Stone. She's her girlfriend and co-owner of the agency that represents her; I'm guessing that's how they met. The man who came in with them is Liam Cottet, the other partner at the agency and Taylor's official manager."

Erin's pulse quickens as she remembers her conversation with Violette about this woman.

"Is she good?" she asks Noah.

"Who, Abigail?"

"Yeah."

"God, absolutely," he says, eyebrows raised. "This woman opens doors that are closed to everyone else. Their agency is one of the most powerful in the country."

"That part doesn't interest me much. What I want to know is how they treat the artists they represent. Are they like Jude — all about the numbers — or do they actually care about the people?"

"Through this job I've met several artists who work with them, and I've never heard a complaint. But I couldn't tell you much beyond that."

"Have they ever gone after Mia?" the doctor presses.

Noah blinks, amused.

"Everyone tends to go after everyone when the career has potential. Mia has offers from several agents, including one from Stone & Cottet that came in a few months ago."

"And you've never seriously considered any of them?"

The assistant scratches his head.

"Honestly, not much. Jude was the one who discovered her and gave her her first real shot—"

Noah stops talking when the photographers and journalists part for Taylor Davey and, coming in behind her, Mia appears — greeting Taylor with her stunning smile before turning to pose for the cameras.

Erin can't take her eyes off her. Mia answers questions with her blue eyes locked on the doctor's, until at last they let her go and she makes her way over to them.

"How are you doing?" Erin asks, reaching for her wrist.

Mia rises onto her toes to whisper in her ear.