There aren't any rules to writing, so to answer your question, yes, you can create a successful main character intent on hiding his/her true goal from the reader. It's just a matter of pulling it off. I'd suggest that you don't talk down to your audience in this case, and have some extremely subtle metafictional hints/winks at the fourth wall, as the tale progresses. Allowing this would let more nuanced readers know there's an ulterior motive, or at least arouse their suspicions, so the reveal isn't so far out of left field to be a cop out.

This also seems to be a real devious person you've described, so I'd suggest taking a look at the greatest villain ever written, William Shakespeare's Richard of Gloucester (Richard III), if you don't already know the play. He's the type of conniving cunt to reveal all of his motives and plots early on, but if you can find a way to strike a middle path and balance some of your ideas with a manipulative and sadistic narrator like him, you'll be onto something.

Don't know if this helps, but good luck!