Page 24 of Bad Influence


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‘Ahem –shecould be non-binary,’ Blair astutely pointed out, flicking me a look.

‘You’re right. I’m sorry,’ I replied.

Mandy fixed her eyes on the dress. ‘I love this! How did you find it so quickly?’ She turned to me.

‘I was able to call in a favour,’ I stammered, thinking it was only a half-truth. ‘It’s perfect for a daytime event and will look great with your cream sandals. I thought the shell clutch would make a fun addition. I love how the bigsequins overlap one another to create the scale-like effect – and it reflects the light, see?’ I gently moved the delicate fabric under a spotlight to illustrate. ‘That’s why it’s named the mermaid dress.’

‘Sold!’ She beamed, making my heart swell.

When Mandy tried it on, the dress fitted perfectly. Even Jose joined the appreciation, telling her: ‘¡Qué guapa! ¡Te ves espectacular!’

Which, I assume, is a compliment.

The only person I hadn’t managed to engage with for any length of time during the morning was Jimi. He spent most of his time with Jose, setting up a bespoke Pilates reformer machine in the bedroom, and adjusting various sized straps around two shiny black inflated balls – a contraption I heard him tell Lola was ‘the biggest fitness trend to hit Hollywood’. To me they looked more like sadistic instruments found in fetish clubs.

When my work was done, I collected my kit and it was air kisses all round for the goodbye.

‘Thank you for this opportunity, Mandy,’ I said to her as I prepared to leave. ‘I’m really excited about working with you and understanding more about how you like to be styled.’

She looked at me for a moment and I wasn’t sure how she was going to react, but then her expression revealed a kindness I hadn’t seen before.

‘Me too, Amber. I can see I made a good choice in you. Don’t let me down.’ I admired the way she skilfully cloaked a threat in a compliment.

‘I won’t,’ I vowed earnestly.

‘I was thinking, we could discuss fashion strategy in the cryotherapy chamber at Harrods next week,’ Mandy said, like this was perfectly normal. ‘I find it helpful to have a distraction when I’m trying to stop my brain from freezing.’

‘Sure,’ I replied.I have absolutely no idea what I’ve just signed up for.

Chapter Six

By the time I got back home, I had, at last, received an email from Julie-Ann detailing my official offer from Mandy, along with confirmation that ideally she would like me to start the day after tomorrow, on Monday, 10 March. I didn’t foresee an issue with this, given my current status as unemployed, although I was a little rocked about packing up and leaving Rob so soon. I grounded myself by deciding to focus on the bonus. Seeing the figure in writing gave me reason to stop by the Co-op and pick up a bottle of prosecco for Rob and me this evening, because it made me feel certain I was making the right decision in rolling the dice on this new chapter.

Rob was busy making a full English when I came through the door; the smell of salty bacon hit my nostrils and made them tingle. This house was definitely not signed up to Coco’s ‘vegetables first’ principle. I felt relieved that whatever the nutritionist had in mind for us in Surrey, was going to stay firmly in Surrey.

‘Baby!’ Rob beamed, pleased to see me. ‘Come and join my hangover lunch – there’s plenty.’

He flung both arms around me lovingly.

‘Mmm, you smell much better,’ I said, wrapping my hands around his neck and pushing my hips inwards to meet his, instantly comforted by his familiarity.

‘I had three extra hours of sleep after you left.’ He smiled. ‘I feel reborn.’

I looked over his shoulder approvingly. ‘And you tidied up. Is there black pudding?’

‘For someone who claims to be mostly vegetarian, you had better keep your black pudding habit to yourself, Miss Green.’

‘You know all my dirty secrets,’ I replied, teasing his lips apart with the end of my tongue. ‘Hmm you taste of bacon. Cook’s perk?’

I let myself go, pulling him in for a proper slow, sensual French kiss.

He smiled into my lips when we moved slightly apart. We looked at each other for a moment longer than necessary. I liked to do that sometimes, to take him in. As I saw the sexy, slouchy Saturday Rob, I wondered which version of me he was seeing today.

‘So how did it go?’ he asked, when we moved apart.

‘Really good. Mandy’s wearing Lucy’s wedding dress to her event today.’

‘Wait – what?’ His forehead crinkled.