The Russian Billionaire’s Secret(103)

Eddie laughed. “Oh, yes. Well, with a name like mine, you get used to people mistaking you for a man. My full name is Edwinna, but you can call me Eddie.”

Lars held out his hand to shake hers. She shook it and sat down. He joined her.

“May I get you a drink?”

“Just a water is fine, thank you Mr. Fiske.”

Lars smirked. “If I am going to call you Eddie, than you can at least call me Lars.”

He signaled for the waitress and ordered her a water.

“Okay, Lars. Well, thank you for meeting with me. I understand you are a cowboy.”

“Oh yeah, it’s in my blood. You?”

“Well, horses are not in my blood. I’m actually from Chicago, but I discovered my love for them in Canada when I studied at the University of Saskatchewan.”

Lars tilted his head. She was different than most women he met. She was educated, reserved, and classy. He nodded and listened while she pitched her proposal for a stake in her Frontier Forever park. He could barely take his eyes off of her beautiful full lips as she talked. She was just the type of woman Grandpa would like. And he could get on board with her as well.

“So, can I count on you to start us off with a donation, Mr. Fiske, I mean, Lars?”

Lars smiled. “Eddie, tell me a little bit about yourself, aside from the Frontier Park dream.”

“Okay, what would you like to know?”

“Do you like cowboys?” He winked.

Eddie stood up. “I don’t like where this is going. Thank you for your time.”

Lars grabbed her hand as she began to walk off. “Wait, wait, wait. Come on now, hear me out. I heard you, now you can hear me.”

She reluctantly sat back down. “Mr. Fiske, I am well aware of your reputation as a playboy. I have no interest in being a rodeo bunny for you. If my idea does not interest you as a business man with an appreciation for nature and horses, than a simple ‘no’ will suffice.”

“Calm down, please, Eddie. I meant no disrespect.”

Eddie took a deep breathe in and out and looked at Lars in the eyes. “Alright, what did you mean, then?”

“You seem like a nice girl.” Lars looked down and tried not to flirt. He knew that would go nowhere with her. He also knew that she was the perfect solution to his financial situation and his grandfather.

“Thank you. I try.”

“A good girl, even, am I right?” Lars looked at her with a straight face.

“Yes, I have high standards and good morals if that is what you mean.” Eddie sat straight and kept her eyes right on him.

Lars nodded. Yep, she was the one. “I need someone like you in my life,” Lars admitted.

Eddie blinked and squinted. “Okay, I don’t know what you mean exactly.”

“Now, hear me out, okay? Don’t walk away until you’ve heard my whole idea.”

Eddie tilted her head and appeared curious. “Okay.”

“You need a large sum of money, right?”

Eddie slightly nodded. “Yes…”

“I need a good girl in order to keep my large sum of money. You see, my grandfather has decided that my lifestyle is not worthy of my inheritance. But if I can settle down with a woman of whom he would approve and show him that I have grown up and settled down, I can keep my money. So, here is my proposal. If you agree to marry me and stay married for at least two years, I will give you one million dollars to get started on your venture, and you’ll have the Fiske name which will open many more billionaire doors to fund the rest of your dream.”

Eddie stared blankly for a few moments. “Are you serious?”

Lars kept his eyes on her. “Absolutely.”

Eddied blinked and stood up. “No, thank you, Mr. Fiske.”

She walked out the door.

Chapter 4

The Deal

Eddie slammed the diner door behind her.

What did he take her for? An expensive whore? How insulting! Who did he think he was, anyway?

She opened her car door and sat in the driver’s seat. She put her head down. It was crazy to think she could just ask a billionaire for some money for her wild-life park. She would just drive back to the Bible camp, let go of the dream, and live a normal life.

She jumped when she heard a knock on the window. She turned and saw Lars motioning for her to roll the window down. She rolled her eyes. What could he want now? She flipped the key to run the battery and lowered the window.

“What?” she said impatiently.

“I just wanted to apologize. I guess I’m a little nutty since finding out I may be disinherited. I really did not mean to disrespect for you. And I thought your Frontier Park had some great potential.”

“Are you saying you want to donate now without propositioning me?”

Lars slightly laughed. “I’ll think about it. But let me be clear, I wasn’t trying to pay you for sex. I don’t need to do that.”

Eddie’s eyes got big and she looked around. Boy, this guy had a bigger mouth than he did an ego. “Sh! Just come around and get in the car!”

Lars ran around the car and sat in the passenger seat. “I just mean, sex wouldn’t be part of the marriage deal. You know, should you think about it and reconsider. The offer is still on the table. It would just be an agreement between the two of us. No sex required.”