Page 94 of Bad Influence
‘We have more space and staff in the States,’ he explained, ‘plus, it’s closer to Mexico for Natalia to be supported by her extended family.’
Blair, Coco, and I exchanged looks, wondering what this meant for us. ‘Blair, if you’re up for the move to LA with us,your contract will continue as normal,’ Jose continued, at which Blair jumped on the spot and punched the air.
‘Move to LA? Y.E.S.!’ they shrieked. ‘If you’ll sponsor my visa?’
Jose nodded. Then he turned to the two of us. ‘Coco, Amber, we’re happy to finish your contracts a month early. You’ll get your bonus, without needing to complete the term. You’ve been a huge support to Mandy, and we are so grateful. We would love to continue working with you whenever we’re back in the UK, and you can rely on us for glowing references.’
‘Wow, that’s kind.’ I grinned, feeling a warmth for my bosses. Coco seemed pleased with the outcome too.
As Philippa entered the room holding a tray of champagne, she seemed to have a sense of joy about her too – as much as Philippa could ever exude gaiety. She handed us each a glass, which Jose duly charged.
‘Here’s to Frida!’ he said, raising his glass into the air, as did Mandy, and all of us followed.
‘To Frida!’ we echoed, as I whispered to Blair, ‘Who is Frida?’
‘Their nickname for the baby,’ they whispered back. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a girl and they keep it. Think Kahlo, Mexico, art, identity. What a name.’
Jose was then joined by Julie-Ann who confirmed we were still pressing ahead with the final photoshoot this week for the cover ofWonderlandmagazine, featuring Mandy and Natalia together. It was to be entitled ‘The Tapestry of Motherhood’.
The clothes call-in for this shoot was my easiest yet – I made just one phone call. There were no fine jewels with bodyguards required, no favours to ask for one-of-a-kind straight-off-the-catwalk samples, or rows of extra shoes. The colour palette was neutral; the brief: less is more. In this assignment, it wasn’t the clothes that were going to do all the talking.
After planning the items for the shoot, I began packing up my bedroom. Rob was intending to collect me from the house and drive us home together, straight after we had finished on set, and I wanted to be ready to go. I hadn’t made this room feel particularly homely during my time here, but I would miss the peace of the Surrey countryside, the birdsong in the mornings and blossoming trees in the garden outside my window. I looked out of the window across to the walled garden, where I could just about see the pond area, the gnome, and the toadstool seats where I had been sitting the first night I felt something for Jimi; how his dark eyes looked at me in a way that was so different to Rob. I thought about how different the two men were, but it didn’t make me feel confused. I wouldn’t miss the feeling that Rob was a long way from me, not only on the other side of the M25, but a world away in my mind for that period of time. It had only been a matter of weeks, but it felt as though so much had happened. I thought about how maybe Jimi was brought here to help bring me closer to Rob.
The next morning, the call sheet for people on set – which was to be in Mandy and Jose’s bedroom – was keptto a minimum. There was a top female photographer with one assistant, two reps from the magazine, and just me in wardrobe, with Lola doing hair and make-up. No men were permitted in the room during filming, and that included Jose and Jimi, who was shooting behind-the-scenes and social media footage. Preparations were in full swing for Mandy and Natalia to get ready. I laid out the items they would be wearing on a marble dressing table in the large en-suite bathroom, which doubled as our changing room for the shoot. The same one I had seen Jimi creep out of on the night he confessed to the mushroom mix-up.
Everyone had stepped outside for a moment, to make a call, vape, or get an extension lead, and I went over to an ornate wooden sidetable in a corner of the bedroom, on which Coco had delivered some of Mandy’s favourite protein balls. I shoved one into my mouth and poured myself a glass of water. I looked over towards the bed and grinned as I remembered the night Jimi and I had practically bumped noses in the dark while Mandy slept; and how my assumption they were having an affair was wide of the mark. It had nearly been the other way around.
Mandy came in. ‘Caught you!’ she exclaimed. ‘Those balls are my weakness, and it turns out Natalia loves them too. Don’t eat them all.’ Her eyes lowered. ‘What do you think of this slip?’
A thin, silk spaghetti-strap on the plain black dress she was wearing dropped below her shoulder. ‘It’s ancient Chanel, I wondered whether I can still carry it off?’
I studied her, seeing a fleeting glimpse of the Mandyof twenty years ago, a little more chiselled perhaps, but a naive version of the beautiful, strong woman she was now. Mandy was one of those lucky people who seemed to grow into their looks, looking more attractive with each life experience etched on her skin.
‘It’s pretty,’ I said. ‘I love silk, but I think it could be more fitted.’
She grinned then. ‘I agree. No one is this honest with me. Thank you for always telling me the truth, Amber.’
I felt my body tingle. More than the bonus, this had made my time with Mandy worthwhile. If nothing else happened to me in my styling career, this would be enough. It could be written on my gravestone –Amber Green, The Stylist: Always told the truth.
With photography underway, I caught Mandy’s eye as she turned her head momentarily away from the camera to find a new angle, one she knew would give the photographer everything she needed.She knows how to make their work easy.
Mandy beamed at me, ear to ear, her eyes sparkling. It was a kind smile. She looked happy, but more than that, she seemed at peace. She was commanding the room in a way I’d witnessed many times before, but today there was a new layer to it; something more authentic, something incredibly strong and real. She moved again, this time her eyes stopped on Natalia’s huge bump. She paused there for a while longer. A contentment written across her whole being. It was more than a look. It was an energy, palpable in the air between them.
‘Hold it right there. This is beautiful,’ purred the photographer, going in closer to the two women as the lens opened and closed with a quick succession of soft clicks.
Natalia was a natural in front of the camera too, her soft smile and features complementing, but in no way overshadowing Mandy’s incredible beauty.
‘Is it still raining out there, Amber?’ Mandy called over to me, catching my gaze again.
‘Of course, boss. It wouldn’t be England if it wasn’t drizzling, would it?’ I replied. ‘It’s meant to be sunny this afternoon.’
The corners of her mouth turned upwards. ‘Four seasons in one day again. Well at least it’s cosy in here.’
The two women were practically naked, bar large ‘nude’ knickers which blended in with their skin tone. Each had an arm strategically placed over their bosom in homage to the iconic Demi MooreVanity Faircover which became one of the most culturally influential media moments ever. The 2025 version was more edgy and thought-provoking. It was not a highly polished, full-on glamour shoot, like most of Mandy’s magazine covers to date, but it was sensual and provocative, intended to convey the natural beauty of pregnancy and the poignant relationship between the egg mother and her surrogate; a motherhood journey that had not been shown in the fashion press before, certainly not in such daring detail. Celebrity surrogates are normally hidden away. Spoken about rarely, if ever, let alone shown practically nude in photos alongside an A-list star, that will be posted all over the internet. It wasguaranteed to make front-page news around the world. In giving Natalia a voice, Mandy was also giving a platform to all surrogates; to show how appreciated they were, and to be a friend to other people on this motherhood journey, so they knew what to expect and that they were not alone.
The editor-in-chief ofWonderlandwas on the photoshoot – a tall, lithe woman called Simone, wearing an asymmetrical black dress, chunky jewellery, her eyes lined with kohl and poker-straight red hair. She was speaking excitedly on the phone to a colleague, as I overheard her tell them, ‘It is more major than I imagined. This shoot is going to get people talking. Just wait!’
We all knew we were in the presence of something very special.
