The Russian's Furious Fiancee Page 0,36
at this moment? I have no idea.”
She sat back, shaking her head. “You probably know but think it’s crass of me to ask. And you’re right. Even I’m uncomfortable with the subject. But it doesn’t matter. The point is, you’re so wealthy you could stop working today and not have to make any other business deals and you’d still be disgustingly wealthy for the rest of your life.”
“And your point is?”
“My point is that you don’t need a wife. You don’t need me to further your business interests. So what’s truly behind all this?”
“You might not think I need someone, but I do. I want children to pass on my wealth.”
She was already shaking her head at the idea of passing billions on to the next generation. They wouldn’t push themselves to succeed on their own if they had no reason to contribute something to society. “Children shouldn’t expect that much money. They won’t pursue their own interests or they become those obnoxious people the tabloids write about, who are always in trouble with drugs or the law since they have no real responsibilities other than finding their next social event.”
“But I can provide for them. My children will have their comforts, although I will encourage them to strive for their own success.”
She latched onto that as evidence of their incompatibility. “See? We already disagree about the most fundamental issues about child rearing. I don’t think children should inherit their parents’ wealth and that’s your second most powerful reason for marrying me, so you can have children and pass on your wealth.”
He was becoming impatient with this discussion and wanted to see where she was going with it. “Our children will be provided for, Eva.”
“I agree that your children should have security and privilege.”
“Are you saying you don’t have an inheritance that you live off of? What about the trust fund your grandmother left for you?”
She was uncomfortable with his knowledge of her finances. How did he know so much? “I have that for emergencies. But I don’t live off of that.”
That infuriated him. “So what are you living off of?” She damn well better not tell him that she had a boyfriend on the side who gave her an allowance and paid for her apartment.
She laughed softly, glad she’d broken through his emotionless façade. For some reason, she wasn’t afraid of his anger, just his passion. “Not the way you’re thinking. Why do you think it’s so amazing to think that a woman can survive without a man’s wealth?”
He read between the lines and knew that she wasn’t telling him something. Something probably significant. “Are you saying you work? What’s your job?”
She shrugged and felt that old tug of battle kick into play. This man just did that to her. “None of your business.”
“It’s obviously my business since we’re engaged.”
“In your mind,” she countered, refusing to give an inch to ease his mind. He was thinking the worst, let him do his own research and find out where she earned her income. His initial investigation obviously hadn’t turned up the information about her teaching and royalties from her book sales, let it fester in his mind.
He sat back in his chair and looked at her, noting the smug look of victory that had suddenly come over her. She thought she’d won this round. He’d just have to bring her back to reality, he thought to himself. “I think in your mind as well.”
Eva didn’t know she could hate a man so much. “You can believe that all you want,” she snapped, hating the way she couldn’t look him in the eye. “But you don’t know me, I don’t know you which means there’s absolutely no way a marriage can work between us. So no, in my mind, we are not engaged.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Now I know our marriage is going to be strong.”
“You know nothing of the sort.”
“Of course I do. I can tell when you’re lying, Eva.”
She was sputtering with her anger and she glared across the table at him. “First of all, I’m not lying. And secondly, how in the world would you know if I was or wasn’t lying?’
“You’re neck becomes all red when you’re not telling me the truth. So, now that we’ve established that you’re a walking lie detector, perhaps we can find out some more interesting information. Like perhaps why you’re so afraid of me.”
She reared back, refusing to even look at him after such an outrageous question. “I’m not