At All Cost

INTO THE LION'S DEN

Victoria woke up early. Today was the day her contract marriage would officially begin. ‘It's 9am in the morning’.

She carefully chose the best outfit she owned. ‘Victoria’, not pleased with her outfit because it could only be the least she could wear when she is still in a luxurious state. Peeping through the window, she saw a black Toyota Yaris packed outside. Her phone rang ‘I am outside’, Peter Saint said. Peter Saint fulfilled what he had in mind when he said to his personal assistant then, “I will be picking up my wife myself”.

Victoria's parents, saying farewell to their daughter… who will be in a contract marriage with a ruthless billionaire for the next five years. Victoria's dad said to his wife, how are we to cope without our daughter by our side. The five years journey to restore the family's company and reputation all lies within our daughter's hand and that isn't going to be easy.

“Victoria's mum expects Peter Saint to come down from his car and say hello or some words to them.”

Victoria enters the car, Cool air rushed over her as she stepped into the car, and it brings back some old memories. Victoria isn't used to the luxurious life she had then ever since her family's company has been mysteriously brought down.

“ I was at least expecting some words from him”, Victoria's mum said to her husband. He said, That's exactly how I expected him to behave. Always proud, arrogant and ruthless. Coming down to say some words is never happening.

“Vrmmm”, as their daughter leaves, Victoria's parents go back inside.

“Mrs Saint, he said” how do you feel bearing that surname? Victoria looked at him in confusion…. Mrs Saint you say…?

There's no business interfering in my family's surname as that is not what a five year contract marriage is all about.

What are your real motives towards offering me a contract marriage? Victoria said to Peter Saint…. The car stopped as Peter Saint stepped on the car's brake.

‘Victoria in shock’, thinking the question has brought another arrogant behavior in him. But It happens that he had to stop because of the road sign indicating red.

‘I believe your family is very important to you’, Peter Saint said.

“On getting to Peter Saint's mansion, she was surprised… it's far more huge than what she had known or had been hearing”. Show her around the building, Peter Saint said to his personal assistant.

The mansion sprawled across fifty acres behind wrought-iron gates, accessible only by a winding driveway lined with ancient oaks. The main residence rose in cream-colored limestone, its twin towers punctuating the skyline like exclamation marks.

Floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the afternoon light, and the entrance portico featured Corinthian columns that whispered old money and older taste.

Inside, a grand foyer soared sixty feet overhead, where a Murano glass chandelier cast dancing light across marble floors inlaid with semi-precious stones.

Dual staircases curved upward like parentheses, their wrought-iron railings catching the glow.

The east wing housed twelve bedroom suites, though the master suite occupied an entire floor– ebony bed, marble soaking tub overlooking gardens, walk-in closets the size of apartments. The library spanned 2,000 square feet with first editions lining every wall.

The ballroom could accommodate three hundred guests across its 400 square feet of polished marble. A private cinema seated forty in heated leather recliners. The wine cellar held 8,000 bottles in climate-controlled vaults, each worth documenting.

The kitchen rivaled Michelin-starred restaurants, all stainless steel and marble counters. The swimming pool complex included Olympic and lap pools, heated year-round.

Beyond that lay tennis courts, a helipad, a private runway, and gardens that changed with the seasons—all maintained by a staff of fifty, invisible yet ever-present.

Every system was automated, monitored, controlled. The mansion didn't just house a billionaire; it served him.

Victoria, still in shock at how huge his mansion could be… she steps towards the front of a glass and notices it's of higher security than the rest.

That is an unauthorized place, Peter Saint's personal assistant said. No one dares to reach there except me and my boss.

“Why is that place unauthorized?That's the first question that comes to her mind”.

‘I am his wife,’ it spilled out of her mouth.

Peter Saint's personal assistant looked back at her and smiled majestically.. saying “watch your mouth and know your place”.

Peter Saint came out, don't be too harsh on my wife, today's her first day. He snapped his fingers and said prepare her meal. Victoria sat down at the dining table as she was being served like a true queen who just got married to the most popular king.

‘Dragging the turkey into her mouth,’ she remembered the nude picture of her been sent by an unidentified person and was very much worried, finding answers to who it could have been.

Peter Saint, dining with her, noticed that her facial look had changed… What could have been the problem? He said to Victoria.. You are with me, nothing is too small to ask, anything bordering your mind, you could tell me.

Peter Saint's personal assistant in shock, ‘how could he be caring for her?, this is not the intention of what we had to do with her and her family’.

‘How could he be this caring, he was supposed to be very arrogant, cold, distant and ruthless in the first place.’ Victoria said within her inner mind. Trying to keep her confidentially, she nodded in disregard and continued eating. Thinking he was just trying to play her off.

When you are done, there are rules and regulations you must follow during your five years stay in this contract marriage with me. Peter Saint said to Victoria.

Laid down rules and regulations, Victoria said to Peter Saint… There isn't such a thing in the papers when signing the agreement.

Peter Saint's personal assistant gave a weird smile and said to

himself, this is the real Peter Saint that I know of….!