El Mono, page 32
The medical appointment, of course, was Karin’s first checkup on her pregnancy. There was no way was she giving in on this, but she was nonetheless bowled over by the passion in his advance so offered a compromise.
‘Morten, please, I’ve told you I can’t go this weekend. But, since you insist, I’ll go back with you to your apartment and stay with you tonight.’ She kissed him. He was the father of her child. Her feelings towards him were beginning to change. She would not tell him yet, but it would not be long now before she did and in the meantime her heart was telling her to draw him in closer. She put her arms around him and kissed him again.
Fields was ecstatic. He had been horny all weekend and, indeed, on a couple of occasions he had sought the services of one of the professional women that he had found in the Lima hotel bar, but, besotted as he was with the woman in front of him now, those liaisons had not satisfied him. What was promised this evening, however, was going to keep him warm for several days to come.
‘Karin, you have made me very, very happy. Let’s go straight away!’ Fields picked up his bags again and followed Karin to the Triple F limousine that was waiting for them.
The Saturday morning following, Claudia accompanied Karin to her first check-up and ultrasound examination. The doctor was pleased to see how calm and prepared his patient had now become. Her blood pressure was fine; the baby’s heart beat was strong and it was, he estimated, two months old now. Did that conform to the mother’s experience?
Yes, Karin thought. That corresponds with the week in Geneva: she must have fallen pregnant almost straight away. With that information, she decided then and there that she would tell the father as soon as she saw him next. She wondered what his reaction would be.
On Monday morning Karin went to her office feeling more than a little nervous. Her boss’s door was closed, however, indicating that he was already locked in a meeting and probably did not want to be disturbed. She nonetheless buzzed through on the intercom. He would not like that.
‘Sorry to bother you, Mr Fields, but I’ll need to see you as soon as you finish. Something important has come up.’
She heard an annoyed reaction. ‘Yes! In a moment!’
Karin now felt even more nervous. She wondered who was in there with him – there was no meeting scheduled in the agenda for such an hour, so early in the week. There was nothing for it, however, but to wait, and wait, and wait … and become more and more agitated.
At last the door opened, then closed, and one big man came out alone. It was Leopold Smith, whom she had last seen at Fields’s finca. Smith walked straight across to the elevator shaft and waited while Karin pressed for the lift. Expressionless as always, he looked round at Karin and then what he said took her totally by surprise:
‘You look pregnant.’
Karin gasped. Where on earth had that comment come from? He didn’t know her. But he’d got it completely right with just one glance. Karin was still speechless and amazed as this enormous enigma of a man got into the lift and, impassively, pressed the button to descend.
Karin went back to her desk and, still somewhat in shock, buzzed her boss again.
‘Are you alone now? Can I come in?’
She got the go-ahead and went in. Fields was seated behind his desk lost in thought. Whatever Fields and Smith had been talking about in their meeting was clearly keeping her boss, the father of her child, in a world of his own for the moment. Karin walked forward and stood to attention directly in front of his desk. She couldn’t sit down. Her stomach now was absolutely churning and at the same time she could feel the baby’s centre of gravity dominating her body a little lower down. She couldn’t help it but tears were welling up in her eyes.
‘Morten … please.’
She waited.
Fields slowly came round. He was still with his head in another place. He groaned: ‘What is it that is so important that it can’t wait?’
Karin exploded. ‘Me! I’m important! I can’t wait! I’ve got something that I urgently need to tell you!’ Her tears began to fall.
Fields sat up. ‘I’m sorry. Forgive me. What’s the matter?’ He showed some concern at last.
‘Morten … you know that first night together in Geneva when you told me that you couldn’t get any woman pregnant … Well, you’re wrong!’
Fields stood up. His first glance was to ensure that his office door was closed. His second was at the tear-stained face of his personal assistant.
‘I don’t believe it. You’re not … not …?’
‘Yes I am. I am going to have your baby!’ Karin looked at him, tears now freely flowing, beseeching him to do something.
Fields came around from behind his desk to take hold of her. Karin almost fell into his embrace but he seemed just a little distant. In shock maybe.
‘Tell me about it. How long have you known?’ His voice was very calm.
‘I’ve suspected it for a while but couldn’t tell you. The appointment this weekend confirmed it, however. The baby is two months old. You made me pregnant that first week we were together in Geneva. Almost straight away. But Morten, you said you were infertile; that you had a very low sperm count; that you couldn’t make any woman pregnant. Look at me: Was that the truth?’ Karin’s eyes were pleading with him.
‘Of course it was, darling. Of course it’s true! But somehow my sperm count must have soared – I guess it was you that did that to me – how about that? You’ve made me a father! Fantastic! Karin, that has been your effect on me!’ Fields let her go and began to walk around his office. ‘You’re pregnant! Would you believe it! Amazing. I’m going to be a father!’
He stopped. ‘You are going to have this baby, aren’t you?’ He looked pointedly at Karin.
‘Of course I am!’
‘Fantastic! Don’t worry – I insist on you having the very best treatment. You will be well cared for. Come and sit down. Please! How are you feeling? Are you OK?’ Fields suddenly switched into over-protective mode.
Karin wiped away her tears and began to smile. ‘Don’t be silly, Morten. I’m perfectly OK. I don’t need to sit down. I’ll just go back to work. Now I know you are fine with this then that makes everything better. But you will look after me, won’t you?’ She was still feeling very vulnerable after a highly emotional exchange between them.
‘My darling, my beautiful one, of course I will. I’ve already said you will have the very best treatment and care from this moment on. Have no fear of that … Have you told anyone else yet?’
‘My mother in England. And Claudia who was with me in the clinic. No one else knows.’ Except for Leopold Smith, Karin suddenly thought. That was still a shock.
‘Well, of course in time everyone will know. All in good time. Do you happen to know the sex of your child yet?’ Fields was suddenly very interested.
‘No, it is much too soon to tell. But do you want to know early, before the birth, or would you rather wait?’
‘I want to know as soon as possible. Absolutely! This is so exciting! Yes, tell me as soon as you can – please. You are absolutely radiant! I haven’t said this before but I’ve known it for some time: I love you with a passion and this only confirms it!’
Karin stepped forward and put her arms up to him. She really needed that. She kissed him tenderly. ‘Thank you, Morten. I love you, too.’
The next milestone in the developing pregnancy came at just over three months. Karin had been attending her clinic every two weeks and had told Morten that she did not want any more fuss taken over her for the time being. Deciding on where she was going to have her baby and with which particular medical support would be something for later. Just for now she needed routine monitoring to ensure that all was proceeding smoothly. It was. With the result that, at just over three months, the news she took to the father next was that she was going to have a baby boy.
Fields was overjoyed. ‘I have always wanted a son! Karin, Karin – you are wonderful. How do you feel about it all?’
‘I’m fine now, Morten. Absolutely fine. Now that I have your support, I can look forward to the birth with equanimity. I am going to enjoy every day that passes.’
‘I’m so glad you said that because there is one more thing that I have to say to you.’ Fields paused for dramatic effect. Karin looked at him quizzically: What now?
‘Karin, will you marry me?’
That was a surprise. Karin supposed she should have guessed but she did not. Instead, she was dumbstruck.
‘Well?’
‘I … I … don’t know. Morten … I guess I will …’
‘You will?’
‘Give me a moment. Morten … let me think about it. Please.’ She didn’t know what to say – he was sitting beside her, looking for an answer, obviously, but she really did not want to be rushed into this. ‘Morten, let me give you my answer tomorrow. Please. I have to phone my mother. This is such a surprise …’
Fields laughed. ‘I’m surprised you say it is a surprise. In the condition you are in I would have thought my question was going to be obvious. But I’ll wait, beautiful one. Just don’t keep me waiting for long.’
Karin reached up a hand to him. ‘Thank you, Morten. You are so considerate, as always. I’ll tell you tomorrow …’
She told Claudia first. As soon as they were alone that evening she told Claudia what had happened: the test result; the boy he had always wanted; the marriage proposal.
Claudia went goggle-eyed. ‘Would you believe it! The most important businessman in Colombia wants to marry my flatmate! Well? Are you going to have him?’
‘What do you think?’
‘You are going to have his baby. I guess this is the safest, most secure option. The thing is … do you really love him?’
‘I don’t know. I really don’t know. He is absolutely wonderful to me so I ought to. I guess I do …’
Claudia harrumphed. ‘I’ve never been too convinced by your guesswork. You guessed he was infertile, remember? You also said once that Carolina should have him. I’m not even sure that she would have him now and she was always more keen on him than you were … but then … but then you are going to have his baby.’
‘Yes. Exactly. I’ll ask my mother. If there is one person who will warn me off getting married it will be her – so talking to her will convince me one way or the other. It will be a good test of what I should do. It’s in the night there now but I have to talk to her – get me the phone, can you?’
Karin’s mother was half asleep when she came to the phone but the sound of her daughter’s voice caught her attention immediately.
‘Karin, what is it? What’s the matter? Where are you?’
‘Don’t worry, Mother, I’m absolutely fine. I’m at home but I do need to talk to you. I’m so sorry it is in the middle of your night.’
‘Never mind that. What is it?’ she was still worried.
‘Mother, Morten has proposed to me. He wants to marry me. I’m going to have his son.’
‘A baby boy? Congratulations, my love. And he wants to do the honourable thing by you? So he should; so he should. I don’t care who he is; he is lucky to have you. What have you said? Do you want him?’
‘I’ve told him to wait. I wanted to talk to you first.’
‘Good girl. Well, you’ve got that right, at least! The question is, of course, what do you want? Do you want to marry him?’
‘I’m not sure … that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.’
‘Hmmm. Does he love you? Is he going to love and look after you – now and in the future?’
‘Now, yes. Undoubtedly. In the future? Who knows? Mother – you know better than I all about promises for the future.’
‘My love, my only one, I struggled for years and years bringing you up alone and I would never want that for you, ever. If he is going to look after you for now – undoubtedly you say – then maybe you should go for it. As for the future, ask him yourself. Tell him that marriage is for keeps and does he want you for all time? Don’t necessarily believe what he says, mind, but put him on the spot and see his reaction. Go with your instincts at that moment. Hah! Who can you trust? Which man in particular? But ask him and see what he says. When all is said and done, if he can give you financial security that is a big plus in his favour, believe me. But, my love, let your instincts tell you what to do. Trust yourself; no one else. I love you.’
‘Mother, thank you so much. Really thank you! I love you and miss you terribly. But I’ll phone back as soon as I can tell you what I decide. Thank you again!’ She put down the phone.
Claudia wanted to know: ‘What’s the verdict?’
‘Basically, there’s a lot in his favour – financial security and all – but she told me to ask him how he really feels about me and then, according to what he says, to go with my instincts.’
‘Yeah. Good advice. I like it. Well – let’s get some sleep now and wait for what the morning brings.’
The next day, across town, saw Morten Fields rise from his bed with a distinct spring in his step. So far as his personal life was concerned he was a very happy man. He was going to get a beautiful trophy wife and something he had always wanted and dreamed about – an undoubtedly beautiful baby son. Daughters he knew about but the only approximation he had had for a son up until this moment was that weirdo Leopold Smith. Smith was certainly loyal and useful but he was a severely limited individual who Fields could hardly warm to. But now he was going to get the real thing: a chip off the old block, his own flesh and blood, a male heir. Given his parentage, his son was sure to be intelligent and good-looking and Fields was going to give him the very best start in life possible. He already had plans for his boy – the top, most exclusive schools and universities, then postgraduate studies, maybe an MBA, and after that a position following in his father’s footsteps as the successful head of a global business. Yes, he was going to be the proudest of proud fathers.
So far as his business life was concerned Fields was delighted with his promotion to head up Latin America and his appointment as a permanent member of the Board of Triple F – but just as everything in his world seemed to be smiling at him an old enemy came back to bite. González had recently called him to tell him that a large delivery of fuel oil to their new acquisition had driven off the road and had polluted a whole swathe of the mountainside. This was the last thing they wanted – they had an environmental image to promote, after all. And guess what, the ‘careless’ driver had only recently been taken on. Oddly, the man had managed to leap from the driver’s cabin in the nick of time. There was no evidence, of course but González was certain who was to blame. TMG had set it up.
Fields discussed with Smith the possibility of a reprisal of some sort, but who should he send Smith out to get and where? It was all unclear at present. At the same time just sitting, waiting and doing nothing was not in his character and would inevitably encourage TMG to come at them again. Something had to be done. He told Smith to get himself ready for a sudden deployment and would confirm what, where and when as soon as he could. Meanwhile, he contacted Cortés and asked him to put together a report on all the TMG facilities and activities in his area and, particularly, which might be vulnerable targets. The dirty war looked like it was going to start up once more.
But let that be for the time being. How was his intended wife getting on? Fields went to work that morning waiting to see what she had to tell him. Given what he had promised and the life he was offering her, he was confident she would accept, and so it proved. She made some play at being hard to get and wanting to know if he really wished to marry her and have her as his wife for all time, which of course she was bound to ask and he was bound to affirm. Then she accepted him. Fields was delighted. The next question was when? Fields wanted them to seal the knot as soon as possible but there were a few things to settle first. He would have to move out of his apartment and acquire a family house in the one of the most exclusive areas in Bogotá. A place suitable for the raising of his boy and for the comfort and convenience of his parents. He did not want a huge marriage ceremony – something elegant and prestigious, with close friends and relations only … and brief. Karin’s mother would have to be flown out from England but there was no one from his side that he wanted to come from the USA.
Fields had the finance department of Triple F find a suitable house and arrange the purchase for him – a big sprawling property surrounded by trees and an extensive garden, with a secure perimeter and other similar houses around in a closed, security patrolled neighbourhood at the back of Usaquén, some seven or so miles north of the Bogotá city centre. It was the sort of place that only the elite of Colombia could afford. He took Karin to inspect the house and area. She was duly impressed and happy with all his arrangements. Things were working out fine.
The marriage came next. Fields was not religious and Karin did not want a Catholic service, so the ceremony took place in their new home. Karin, he was surprised to see, was as nervous and highly strung as a kitten during the proceedings – she shook like a leaf as she said her vows – but then it was all over and everything went off to his satisfaction in the end, particularly the first night in their marriage bed. Fields did not want to be away from the office for very long so he suggested a brief honeymoon in the Caribbean before they returned to Bogotá.
At work, when they eventually got back, they received all sorts of gifts and congratulations and Karin’s desk was festooned with banners, balloons and messages of good luck and best wishes. There were only four months left to her pregnancy and Fields insisted that she should not work right up until the end. He wanted no risks to the health of the mother and his as yet unborn son. For Karin, her main focus in life now was the rapidly advancing pregnancy.
Karin and Claudia were closer than ever. Their parting, the removal of all Karin’s things from their apartment and their transfer to the marital home had been the occasion for a tearful celebration. They went out for a final meal together before the marriage ceremony and promises were made to always stay in touch and to keep each other informed of what each was doing. For Karin she wanted to talk about Claudia’s role of maid of honour at her wedding the next day; for Claudia she wanted to talk about the new man in her life – Nelson Ferrer, someone thankfully unrelated to Triple F – a journalist who worked for one of Colombia’s television channels.
