All Chapters of ERE’S SCENT: THE FRAGRANCE OF SIN: Chapter 1 - Chapter 4

The Friday evening breeze sweeps through the open windows, sending a sharp chill across my skin. I jerk up with a hiss, irritated. I hate the cold. And worse, the rain, the dampness, the muddy streets it leaves behind. Annoyed, I toss the duvet off my body, exposing my warm, naked skin to the air, and immediately regret it. The curtains are wide open, courtesy of my mother’s unannounced visit earlier. I can still hear her voice in my head. “Aanoni, don’t you know it’s bad luck always to close your windows like a depressed person? Jo! Jo! (Please, please!) Fresh air must enter abeg.” I smirk as I remember the way she had gone around, yanking the windows open while muttering about bad energy and how I needed to let light into my life. But another gust of cold air makes me shiver, snapping me back to the present. Damn, I need to close those windows. I step onto the cold tiled floor, stretching my 6’4 frame as the city lights cast faint shadows over my broad chest and sculpted torso.

An hour later, Ahmed drives steadily into the hotel’s parking lot before bringing the car to a smooth halt. “We’re here, sir,” he says. I peer out of the tinted window and immediately spot my mum and her PA standing at the hotel’s entrance, waving in my direction. "Shit. This woman likes stress too much."I sigh, rubbing my temples before unlocking the door. “Alright, Ahmed, let’s go,” I say, stepping out before he can rush around to open the door for me. “Mum, I’m coming. Please hold on,” I call out as I stride towards the entrance, Ahmed trailing behind, ready to exchange pleasantries. “Aanoni, Aanoni, remember I’m gradually becoming an elder,” she says dramatically, tilting her head. She wasn’t wrong, though. Even with the layers of expertly blended makeup and what I assume is a fresh round of Botox, her voice and the way she carried herself were dead giveaways of her age. “Please respect the time I give you,” she continues in a hushed yet firm tone. “Your father is upstair