Working hard and fast just for you to read! (I do not own this novela!)

Chapter 21

Franco, Oscar, and Juan were extremely overjoyed with the news of Norma's invitation to the baby's baptism. Juan was so happy, and Franco couldn't remember the last time he felt so much happiness from his eldest brother. His son was going to be baptized and he will be named after him. Juan David.

Franco dedicated his time and money to throw his nephew a party he won't ever forget. He and Oscar splurged on anything they can get their hands on in order to give their nephew, Juan David, the very best.

The day of the baptism came, the brothers couldn't contain their glee. The Elizondos were there of course, Gabriela and her three daughters. Franco couldn't keep his eyes off Sarita, who held the baby in her arms as the two of them stood before the priest as the godparents. He and Sarita, the godparents. What are the odds?

Sarita looked so beautiful to him that day, despite his hatred and annoyance towards her. She wore a tight leather dress suit, it was still concealing, but it suited her dainty petite figure quite well. And her hair was clipped up in a ponytail, giving Franco a nice tender view of her fragile neck. It was beckoning his lips to ravage her.

She noticed him staring at her, and her cheeks reddened as she clutched the baby closer to her chest. He could tell he was making her nervous, by how she would bite her plump bottom lip and avert her dark brown eyes from him to the baby.

He caught her smiling and sweet talking to the baby whenever he fidgeted in her arms. This innocent scene touched him for he had never guessed Sarita could have a maternal bone in her because of her hard demeanor.

Juan David was baptized under God and everyone was pleased with the beautiful ceremony...except Gabriela, who wanted to whisk the boy away from Juan and his brothers.

Norma and even her sisters tried to reason with her to allow Juan David to spend some time with his father and uncles.

Franco glanced back at a nervous Sarita who stood behind her mother and her sister Jimena. She glanced at him and quickly averted her eyes when Gabriela motioned the two young women to their car.

The party was joyful. The baby was finally spending time with his father and uncles, while his mother seemed closed off. Eva tried to calm her nerves by confronting her which seemed to have worked because Norma finally took a seat next to Juan and thanked Franco and Oscar for the baby's party.

Everything seemed up to par until they all heard a car up pull up at the side of the house. Norma tensed and warned them that it was Sarita and their grandfather waiting for them.

Franco seized this moment to confront her temperamental sister and told Norma to just sit back and enjoy the festivities before walking over to Sarita's black jeep.

"Hey!" Franco called out, once he saw Sara scowl at him behind her steering wheel. "What are you both doing?"

He finally approached her jeep and lingered by her open window by the passenger seat. Much to Franco's pleasure, he placed a hand on the window ledge and leaned into it, annoying the young woman.

"Are you both not coming out?" he asked, his eyes mostly on Sarita, who gripped her steering wheel nervously. "It would be a great pleasure to have you in the house."

"You're very brave to think that we're going to give you that satisfaction, sir." she said, scowling at him. "We just came to pick up my sister and nephew. So would you be so kind as to call them, please."

Franco ignored her and looked over to Mr. Martin. It's been a while since he saw that nice old man.

"I'm very happy to see you, Mr. Martin." he greeted. "My respects."

"Respects…" scoffed Mr. Martin. "You don't even know the meaning of that word."

Franco smiled. It seems that frigidity runs in the family. If Sarita gets it from her mother, then Gabriela gets it from Mr. Martin. If Sara reproduces, that child will more than likely inherit those frigid genes. But with who? France dared not picture who the father will be.

"I'm happy to see that you're in great health." Franco told him politely.

Mr. Martin only laughed at his comment.

"Since when have I been sick?" retorted the old man. "I'm unstoppable!"

Mr. Martin's eyes slanted when he saw Franco's employees dancing and drinking in the distance.

"It looks like they're having fun over there." he commented.

Franco nodded and responded to Mr. Martin.

"We have music, food, and drinks." He glanced over to Sarita, a devilish glint appeared in his eyes which made her grip her wheel even tighter. "The only thing I can't offer you are women. Although one or another comes here occasionally."

He saw Sarita's cheeks tinge to a pinkish hue. He knew that she knew he was referring to her when she "visited" twice on his bed.

"So are you getting out? It's Juan David's party."

"Well, I wouldn't mind a few minutes of relaxation." admitted Mr. Martin, his sour mood changing lightly.

"Grandpa, no." scolded Sara, averting her gaze from Franco's intense ones. "Don't start with your nonsense!"

"Sarita..Sarita.." Mr. Martin pleaded. "I need some drinks! You can use some too!"

Franco laughed and called over his newest employees, Manolo and Miguel, who knew him and his brothers when their sister was still alive.

The two men arrive and began to help Mr. Martin out of the jeep. Sarita kept fretting but was shut down by her grandfather when he called her a party-pooper who desperately needed a drink.

Sarita's cheeks reddened in humiliation and Franco wasted no time chuckling at her uneasiness and her grandfather's colorful commentaries.

As soon as Mr. Martin was helped out of the car and into his wheelchair, Sarita cursed under her breath and finally got out of her car. She slammed her door behind her and waited by her car with her arms crossed.

Franco was thoroughly enjoying this. She was fiery when she didn't get her way. He sought an opportunity to torment her.

"Ah, this life, right?" exclaimed Franco, now that he was alone with Sara. "We're back together again this time not like neighbors or in-laws, but as godparents to our nephew. How's that for you, Sarita?"

Sarita rolled her eyes at him in exasperation and Franco laughed that he can annoy her as much as he can now that their families are entwined.

"Why don't you leave me alone, Franco?" she hissed. "Can't you see that I hate you and I don't want to talk to you?"

"I hate you too." he snarled back at her. "I can't stand the sight of you. You're my burden, a stone around my neck."

He allowed his eyes to roam over her. He licked his lips seeing how form fitting her leather suit looked on her petite body.

"Although you look very pretty today." he confessed, earning a blush from her again. He leaned forward as if to sniff her. "At least you don't smell like horse sweat like usual."

He smiled wickedly at her.

Laughing softly, Sarita leaned forward as if to smell him too.

"Right…" she mocked, leaning back to the front of her car. "But you, on the other hand, stink like the sulfur of hell."

Franco's smile wiped off his face. She really went too far there.

"And it makes sense since you have the face of a demon."

"Look!" shouted an agitated Franco. "Look if I'm treating you right, it's not because you deserve it. It's only because you came to Juan David's baptism."

Sarita narrowed her eyes at him and huffed away to fetch her sister and grandfather.

Franco laughed, watching her march away, his eyes glued on her hips which swayed so nicely. He loved watching her react to his rude comments. She was incredibly feisty. As much as he hated her, he had to admit she was striking when she's angry. There's something so challenging in temperamental women like Sarita.

He teasingly bit his lip when she turned back to glare at him and he laughed even harder when she turned red. She's so much fun to tease. Looks like he's found a new hobby.

The day after the party, Franco was in such a great mood. The person responsible for that mood was his favorite little nemesis, Sarita Elizondo. He enjoyed how uncomfortable he could make her. He especially loved it when she blushed like a schoolgirl and the fury she showed him. He normally wouldn't go for a woman like that, but there's something about Sarita he couldn't shake off.

She was an enigma. She plagued him in his sleep. She plagued as he ate, and even as he did his work. She's in every single one of his thoughts. Each time he would think about her mouth and those luscious full lips, he'd feel an indescribable desire firing in the pit of his stomach.

Sara. Sara. Sara. What is this woman doing to him?

Franco was on his way to a meeting, his thoughts solely fixated on that small temperamental woman, when he noticed a black car speed past him nearly causing him to almost break into an accident.

"Hey dumbass!" shouted Franco, jumping out of his car to confront the other driver. "Are you trying to kill me or what?"

Franco expected to see a man step out of the black car that nearly killed him, not Rosario Montes. Franco was taken back and cursed under his breath. She began walking over to him. From the smile on her face, she did what she did on purpose just to get his attention.

"Rosario!" he yelled. "Why are you doing this? How can I make myself even clearer to you? I don't ever want to see you!"

"I'm not going to honor that request." she told him. "It hurts me that you're treating me with such resentment-"

He cut her off.

"I don't feel anything for you anymore. Please leave me alone! Why are you storming in my life like a lunatic? What's wrong with you?"

Rosario smiled stubbornly at him.

"You should be thankful that I'm trying to find ways to speak to you." she said, her voice laced desperate arrogance.

Franco laughed in her face.

"You think you're being funny", he jeered. "Now I have to be thankful that you almost killed me! Now please move, you're in my way!"

Franco was trying to make his way back to his car but Rosario pulled his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

"Franco, please." she begged. "We need to talk. Let's find a quiet spot to talk."

"Look," he sighed. "If you have nothing to do, go find another guy who'll waste his time in talking to you. I have an important meeting to attend."

Rosario smiled and began to smooth the newly formed wrinkles on his jacket.

"Yes, I know." she cooed, her hands now resting on his shoulders. "I know you're a very important man now, but listen to me."

Franco shoved her hands off his shoulders and began to walk back from her.

"Look for your husband to listen to you, okay?" he snarled. "You should be with him not following me."

Rosario started to look desperate.

"Franco, I know I made a stupid mistake by marrying him", she said, trying to reach for his face. "I'm not happy with him."

"Rosario, you're not happy with him. Not with me. Not with anyone. And you'll never be happy until you know what to do with your life."

"Franco, no-"

"Look, I do know what I want with mine. I have a lot of commitments and plans and you ain't one of them."

Rosario remained speechless. Franco wasn't done.

"I want you to know that you're dead to me from the day I saw you at that church getting married to that thug."

Rosario grabbed his face to try to kiss him, telling him that he didn't have to worry about that day. Franco retaliated.

"Rosario, go to your husband." he scolded. "I'm not your little puppet anymore. Go find another idiot you can control. Bye!"

Franco left her standing in the middle of the road with no remorse, no pity, and no feelings for the woman he once allowed to deceive him. He swore under his breath again, the good mood he once had diminishing as he drove to his meeting.

This chapter was kind of short, but it was fun to compare and contrast his next love to his past love. On to chapter 22! And it's going to be good!