Chapter 1: The Billionaire's Ultimatum

Victoria's POV

I've been sitting alone in this opulent hotel suite for over twenty minutes. The silence of the room, adorned with velvet and gold, feels suffocating. I am waiting for Alexander Sterling—billionaire, business tycoon, and the man to whom I am supposed to tie my life. Till now, he has been nothing more than a sharply dressed stranger I’ve seen on magazine covers and spoken to exactly twice, always under the watchful eyes of our parents.

The first was a passing introduction; the second, a brief nod at his father's birthday gala. Today was supposed to be our first real conversation. He had demanded I be early, yet here I am, watching the minutes tick by.

When the heavy oak double doors finally swing open, Alexander strides in. He does not apologize. He doesn't even look at me. His eyes are glued to his phone screen, his thumbs typing rapidly. Clad in a meticulously tailored black suit that clearly costs more than my family's remaining assets, he moves with an infuriating sense of entitlement, taking up all the air in the room.

Despite his blatant arrogance, a small, traitorous part of me registers just how striking he is. His sharp jawline and perfectly styled hair make him look like a modern-day prince, though his demeanor screams otherwise.

He casually pulls out a chair opposite me and sinks into it, sliding his phone into his pocket. He leans back, crossing his arms.

"Mr. Sterling, I presume?" I offer, forcing a polite, measured smile.

"I’ve been in this room for exactly twelve seconds, and you haven’t spoken a word," he sneers, his gaze finally meeting mine. His eyes are cold, calculating.

I blink, thrown off by the sheer audacity. "I was under the impression we were meeting for a conversation, not a royal audience."

"Let's skip the pleasantries," he cuts me off, his voice slicing through the air like a whip. "My time is measured in millions, and you are currently wasting it. We're getting married in a few weeks. You already know this. Let me be entirely clear—once you wear my ring, your life is no longer your own. You will smile for the cameras, attend every miserable gala I require, and play the part flawlessly. Your personal preferences are officially irrelevant."

The condescension in his tone is unmistakable, heavily laced with authority. I square my shoulders, refusing to let him see the resentment bubbling inside me. My father’s failing company rests entirely on this union.

"I understand the terms of this acquisition," I state calmly, holding his icy stare without flinching.

"I expect you to maintain a pristine image," he continues, unaffected by my composure. "As my wife, you are a reflection of my empire. One misstep that damages my reputation, and you will regret it."

"Rest assured. I’ll be the perfect porcelain doll," I reply, keeping my voice deadpan.

He nods approvingly, though his face remains stoic. "There is one non-negotiable clause. You know of the Little Warriors Hospital and the orphanage I established?"

"I've done my research."

"Those children are the only breathing souls I give a damn about," he says, a strange, dark intensity flickering in his eyes. "If I catch you looking bored or insincere around them when the cameras roll, I will ruin you."

I almost scoff. How can a man so utterly vile care about children? But I swallow the remark. "I don't need to be threatened to show basic human decency."

He leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. "Don't flatter yourself, Victoria. You weren't even on my radar. My father has held my inheritance hostage over a wedding ring, and you just happen to be the pawn he selected."

His words hit me harder than I'd like to admit. I knew this was a business transaction, but hearing him strip it down to such cold, merciless terms feels like a punch to the gut. This isn't the marriage I dreamed of as a little girl. There will be no romance, no warmth—just a sterile, calculated contract.

But I am doing this for my father. I will endure this tyrant to secure my family's future.

"Consider me a very cooperative pawn, then," I declare, lifting my chin.

"Good. Any questions?"

"Only how soon we can conclude this meeting." I just want to escape this suffocating suite.

"I have one," he smirks slightly, an unsettling curl of his lips. "Are you a virgin?"

My eyes widen. The bluntness of the question catches me completely off guard, but his gaze remains predatory and fixed. "Excuse me?"

He raises a perfectly arched eyebrow. "It's a simple yes or no."

"Yes."

"Perfect. Keep it that way. Because I have absolutely zero intention of taking you to my bed."

"That might be the only good news I've heard tonight," I snap back faster than intended, the venom finally slipping into my voice.

He studies me for a moment, stroking his chin. "Look at you," he murmurs, his tone mocking. "Trying to salvage your pride." Then, the sound of the suite door opening behind him catches his attention. His expression instantly softens into something entirely unfamiliar. "Ah. Timing is everything. Meet Isabella."

"And who might that be?" I ask, my brow furrowing in confusion.

"The woman I actually want." He gestures toward the entrance.

I turn my head as a stunningly beautiful woman with long, cascading blonde hair struts into the room. Her body-hugging dress leaves little to the imagination, her sky-high stilettos clicking sharply against the marble floor.

Before I can even process who she is, Alexander rounds the table, grabs her by her tiny waist, and dips her backward. Right there, in front of me, he crushes his lips against hers in a passionate, ravenous kiss, leaving me frozen in my seat.