Esmeralda's Point of View
"Oh Lucretius, I sold him a lot. Look, he even tipped me a hundred dollars. "
He didn't seem to like my response because his expression just got darker even though someone was already buying from him. 
"Hi madam, how can I help you?" I asked instead since he was not even paying attention to her. 
"Well, nice lady, I mind if I ask something?" 
Without hesitation, I nodded at the old lady who seemed troubled about something. I secretly held Lucretius's hand, indicating him to be cooperative and let the woman show her emotions.
"So, my grandson, my one and only family member left, left me because I scolded him almost every day. You know, I didn't mean to do that but it's the only way I know to keep him educated and strong. So that when I am gone, he will not be living desperately and poorly. But alas, he seemed to deeply misunderstand all of them. "
"We are sorry to hear that madam. So, where might your grandson be?"
"That's my problem, I don't know where he is and I've been looking for him since last week. He never came back and that's making me worry a lot. What if he got into an accident? What if he was killed? Kidnapped? What if, what if he-" 
Before she could have her blood boiling high with stress and worry, I immediately stopped and walked to her. "We-" I looked back at Lucretius and it seemed he wasn't bothered about anything that I wanted to do so I continued. "Don't worry madame, we'll try to help you. But first of all, please calm down. I assure you that he is only out there calming his mind as well." 
I assisted her to sit on our mini seat and thank goodness she isn't that opposing. "I hope so. By the way, I am Maria Von De Los Reyes, and you are?" 
I was a little astounded with her name. I looked at Lucretius and it seemed he also felt the same because he was now looking at the woman with sheer curiosity. 'Why does her name sound familiar? Something like an Italian and Russian fusion? Or perhaps French?'
"Oh, a pleasure to meet you madame Maria, I am Esmeralda. And he," I gestured towards Lucretius' side. "is Lucretius, my boss."
Madam Maria returned the greetings. "It's also a pleasure to meet you, Miss Esmeralda and Mr. Lucretius, I've heard a lot about your thriving business sir. One of the surviving old powers.  Although I didn't expect the two of you to be business associates, I thought that you two were a couple. You looked more like one." 
"Oh, that's" I looked at Lucretius to ask for help if he could respond to the, either a compliment or not words of madam Maria but the apathetic old man was only smiling like he didn't hear anything. "Well, by the way, how old is your grandson, madam?"
"Oh, he is about to turn nineteen this next month. His name, Von Dmitri, was given by his grandfather. He hates it when we call him Dmitri but always loves it when we call him Von. Because he said the latter is more modern than the last one. Hahaha. What a contemporary mind."
"Indeed. Do you perhaps have any idea of where are the places that he loves to go? Or if he has a girlfriend?" 
Madam Maria seemed to know about him well because she nodded quickly. "He might be a contemporary boy but his inner preferences are not.  He loves to go to different gardens, especially the Boboli Gardens, Villa Borghese Gardens, Parco Giardino Sigurtà, and Villa Lante. He said those calm places make him feel nothing but peace and silent love."  
'Okay, those garden names sounded exquisite but I know nothing of them so I just smiled at madam Maria. It seems her grandson is a typical and traditional Italian boy. If he is. '
"So, have you gone to those places, madam?"
"Oh please dear Esmeralda, let's skip the formalities. Just call me Maria. And yes, I did go to those places, and some of them, the staff said they saw him strolling there yesterday, last night, or just recently. But no one knows where he had gone after. In the last place, Villa Lante, the gardener said he saw him with a woman of his age. He said they are like, having their time of the year. Sweet and in love." 
"I see. Then do you perhaps know this woman?"
"Unfortunately, no. The last time I knew he had a girlfriend, was when he had his first girlfriend who left him because he didn't take her seriously. But about that, I don't think he didn't take her seriously. He just didn't know how to treat her as her boyfriend because it was his first time. Because after their break up, he cried like a left child for almost two days straight and didn't eat that much for a week. It was relatable actually, because the woman was a nice, simple, and quick-witted one. Studying psychology at the University of Florence. But what can I say, I heard from Von himself that he indeed treated her like she is for granted to him. Always forgetting their dates and not even picking her up just once. When he realized that, it was already too late."
"That's...quite a late realization a good one, for development. But indeed, what a loss for him and what a pity for that nice woman. Let's just hope they both are going to be on good terms someday."
The woman smiled while looking for something in her shoulder bag. When she found it, she showed me.  It was a picture of the woman, Von, and Maria in something like a garden. It was like a typical and perfect family photo. "How nice. They both look good together. But the woman seems to be...not Italian?"
"Yes, she's Asian...from Singapore." 
"Well, what a coincidence. I am a Singaporean too. " 
"Really? Well, there are a lot of Singaporean women who are thriving lately, isn't it? Look at you, working for a well-known businessman."
I did a lot to not scoff at her description of Lucretius, who seemed well pleased at her words. His name and perfect reputation are indeed well-known, but what about his personality? He is literally a beast hiding in a wolf's formal demeanor. But because the woman seemed to really admire him, I merely smiled and agreed to her words. 
"By the way, it's already noon. Why don't we go grab some lunch sir, Lucretius?" I said, trying to divert the conversation from me. 
Fortunately, he also looked like he was exhausted from his buyers slash admirers so he immediately agreed. As we all went to look for a restaurant, Maria suggested some five stars for her. It seems she is just in need of company since she isn't that anxious about her grandson when we are talking with her. 
"Dear one, have you ever had a boyfriend?" 
I was almost choked when Maria asked me that out of the blue. I finished my drink before responding no. 
"Oh my goodness, mamma mia! Are you joking?" Her exaggerated astonishment bewildered almost everyone around us, even the waiters seemed to be invested because of that. 
"Nope, it's because I am very busy with work and I don't think I will be able to give enough time to my boyfriend if I ever have one. I am you know, the standing breadwinner of our family. So, I really don't have time for that."
"That's so....tiring. Do you not have any older sister or brother? Are you the only one who has a job? You know I can help you, my dear. "
"Hahaha, that's so nice of you Maria. But no, I have a brother but...." I realized I stopped until Lucretius continued my sentence. 
"He isn't born with proper mind and heart. He is nothing but a useless human being."