Husbands by agreement

My life is in your hands! It is the only sentence I am able to whisper due to the agony caused by seeing Freddy's expressionless face at the news I just gave him. "I'm pregnant, we're going to have a baby!" I exclaim excitedly, in my head it sounds too important for him to react that way. "This... It can't be... Julieta," Freddy says after an eternity, my chest pounding, and the way he looks at me.... I can't deny that it hurts me so much. Freddy Nasser, my best friend in this country. The man I've grown to love and, by the twists of fate, the man I love. "Don't tear me apart, Freddy, because .... I love you." I nod pleadingly, taking his chin in my hands and looking at him without turning away. His hands squeeze my torso, for a moment I feel safe, when did all this happen? "Julieta, you are beautiful and I am so happy to have met you, but a son? I'm not able to give you what you deserve." Freddy whispers, grabs my shoulders and lets me go. My Latin temperament can't go unnoticed, I can't accept defeat without having fought to the end. "f**k you, Freddy Nasser, you are the son of one of the most important men in Istanbul, how the hell can you tell me that you can't support me and our son? You know very well that I am alone in this country. I said in an angry voice, anger becoming my only companion. I never imagined that this situation would turn out this way.... Yesterday I found out I was expecting a baby, but I didn't think Freddy would react like this. He told me he loved me. He... That first night, he whispered to me in different ways that I was the woman in his life. He... He swore that I was his safe place. Why am I standing in the middle of his office now, begging for love? "Juli, the truth is there are a lot of things you won't understand, I can support you financially, but I can't promise you marriage or any kind of commitment, the truth is, yes, I'm very sorry." Freddy nods and starts to rummage through the pile of papers on his desk. "You're killing me, Freddy." It's the only thing that comes out of my mouth, my voice cracking as I say it. "Julieta, if you want to interrupt him, we can go on with our lives, you are succeeding in the company, the TV station is taking more and more of your ideas into account, you are beautiful and wonderful." Freddy interrogates me without taking his eyes off my thighs. "Why put an obstacle in the way of your great career?" "Are you really asking me to kill my baby? I can't believe you're doing this to me. I can still be successful while I am pregnant. How many women don't long for the blessing of children? My sister Judith had to adopt her twins. "Julieta Hernandez, you know the company policy, I cannot allow you to be promoted or continue in your current position if you are pregnant. It's not a decision I can make alone," Freddy says with absolute normalcy. His words become daggers that pierce me. How can he, after being the sweetest, most caring man in the world, threaten to fire me? "I couldn't fire myself, I'm pregnant with your child," I tell him in a jaded tone. "No one would believe you, Julieta, because I've tried to create a good image for myself, I'm not an idiot." Freddy challenges me and sits down beside me. His blue eyes, which once seemed like the only sea I'd like to swim in, now seem icy and harmful. "Are you threatening me, perhaps?" "Take it as you will, my family has power and I order you to terminate the pregnancy, after that nothing will happen." Freddy emphasizes again and shrugs his shoulders, expecting another reaction from me. "I've told you I'm having a baby and you have to explain to me why you've changed. I'm not leaving without hearing you out." I said quietly, never before had I felt so humiliated. "Are you sure you want to know, Juli?" he asks me, his voice calmer. I take a deep breath of air, thick enough that I can take whatever he's going to say to me. "Don't ever call me Juli again!" I yell angrily. Freddy stands up, his eyes lock with mine and I can't hold back for another second. The crying overcomes me. I cry for myself, for feeling empty in this moment. Alone in a country that has nothing to do with me, that does not represent me. I became a journalist, I followed my passion, I was chosen for this company in the center of Istanbul. I thought I could handle it, and now, at the age of twenty-seven, I am expecting a child and they are asking me to finish it. My longed-for Colombia, so far away at this moment. Only its memories live on in me. Memories of the Julieta I was in my beloved Bogota. Who would have thought that I would have an affair with the CEO of one of the most important television stations in Turkey? This difficult situation is overwhelming me, and Freddy's warm arms, while I cry like a little girl, make it even more difficult to cope. "Julieta, I'm engaged to Farid Akhouri's daughter Samia," Freddy whispers to me, his voice soft and gentle. Like what I used to love about him. "And why didn't you tell me before, why didn't you tell me that you love me, Freddy?" I ask him between sobs. "Because you were different from me, I didn't want to lose you.... But my commitment to Samia is part of my professional growth, and for the last four years it has been a complete reality." "To hell with your lies!" I yell, stunned, wiping the tears from my eyes. "Samia is a good woman, she supported me to be here, her father is one of our main investors, she is noble and caring. I know she would understand my mistake. Juliet, the option I can give you is that you give us the baby as soon as it is born," Freddy says loosely, as if he had come up with the most sensible idea in the world. "Are you out of your mind? I'm not having a baby to grow up without its real mother, I'd rather abort it," I say firmly, conscience dawning on me, I can't play with fire. The time has come to prove what I am made of. "We are beginning to understand each other, you and I, Julieta, and we can work out the details of an economic agreement on Saturday at seven o'clock. Also, everything related to the little intervention," Freddy points out, sitting back in his chair. Just as I am about to give him an answer, there is an insistent knock on his office door. "Come in," Freddy answers as calmly as if nothing is wrong. A tall man with an elegant suit and blue eyes as if he were heaven itself.... He is no more than fifty-five years old, his Arabic features are quite pronounced, and as he walks through the office, his strength and confidence are palpable. "Peace be with you, how's it going, son?" the man greets jovially. Fuck, f**k, f**k. How could I not have seen this coming? It's Khaled Nasser, Freddy's father. "Everything is fine, Dad, I want to introduce you to a great employee of the company. This is Julieta Hernandez, our Latina journalist." Freddy introduces me and for some reason I feel a chill run through my body. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Nasser," I greet him formally, giving him a fake smile. "What are you doing in management, Miss Hernandez?" the man asks, raising an eyebrow in his son's direction. "You've come to tell me some great news," Freddy interjects, looking warmly at his father. Hearing this, I freeze and don't know what to do. Is Freddy going to tell his father that I'm expecting a baby? Is this man capable of driving me into a corner like this? Do I have to let him do the talking, or do I get a chance to do the talking?