It's a fairy-tale? Interesting, I have been told that numerous times and have read it in numerous sources...
I know one of his wives, Khadija, was much older than he and it was a marriage of convenience in many regards. I know she was quite wealthy and helped him spread the word of Islam (I'm guessing you are paralleling their relationship with that of the man running for President for the dim party ;-) ). Did she not control a vast trading system in the ancient ME? I thought he was a merchant within her trading system and spent much time speaking with Christians and Jews.
Read the biography, make up your own mind. The same site also provides several other publications of interest on the subject. The biography was written by Edward, Canon Sell, a Fellow of the Unviversity of Madras. His works are the result of dedicated, lengthy research by a historian of impeccable repute. You will be delighted I am sure, to find numerous ancient arabic sources in the footnotes.