Opposites Attract~Wenclair

The nature of idiosyncrasies (Chapter 1)

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, she can almost hear her mother say.

Enid hates to say it, but she might need to give in to nepotism just this once. Her dignity and principles will have to take a backseat in the grander scheme of things. In Enid's defense, she gave it a fair go before calling it in.

One and a half years since the start of her job search, seven months since her graduation, 228 rejections and a grand total of zero other prospects (not including her mother's very generous offer of "Enid honey, you will always have a place in the family business - I'm your mother, after all - but you do see that you will have to work your way up from the warehouse to the top, and I can't just hand you a job?"), no one could say Enid didn't try.

It's the usual bullshit of the endless loop of not having enough experience to bag a role in a larger organization but to get more experience, you need to be in a larger organization to have their name as backing. Enid tried her hand at freelancing to expand her portfolio, but her lack of clout and name in the industry could only get her so far (mainly one dreary room here and there) in her small suburb.

The last three jobs she carried out, she didn't even charge for, just wanting something for her portfolio. The only perk of still living at home and in the shadows of her four older, successful brothers (and their wives), with the exception of her mother's passive aggressive remarks ("We've indulged in your childish dreams for far too long, when is enough enough?"), was that her family pretty much left her alone. At least for now, but Enid didn't know how much time she had left. Esther Sinclair's patience levels were always volatile.

Scrolling past the vast Thank you for your application and Unfortunately... emails, she locates the chain from Eugene, the photos and details already well recalled in her mind. After weeks of consideration, her fingers don't hesitate as they finally type out the words, "I'm in."

The photos Eugene had sent over did the residence no justice.

As she was pulling up on the gravel driveway, her eyes weren't sure where to look, which resulted in her nearly rear ending the (expensive, she's sure) black hearse already parked outside the lavish entrance.

From what she's heard from Eugene, his best friend, Pugsley, had significantly miscalculated (she recalls Eugene's words, "He multiplied by ten instead of one! Can you believe it?") during one of his engineering sessions, taking the entire left side of his home out.

There was the obvious sheet billowing in the wind covering the two storeys of the left side, a swamp (who even has a swamp unless you're a green ogre?) to the further left, a botanical garden encased within a conservatory (again, what?) to the far right, and this was just what Enid could see from her limited peripheral. She knew from Eugene's email that there was also a cemetery and a deadass, separate cottage towards the back.

It would have been less frustrating if this project wasn't actually as interesting or, for lack of a better word, just cool. The least he could have done was give her a billionaire's mindless project, revamping a fourth holiday home, or something equally dumb. That way, Enid could have hidden behind the excuse of being desperate and on her last legs before cashing in on her friendship with Eugene, working in autopilot for the easy, modern arrangements rich people like. But of course, Eugene, being the kind-hearted soul he was, just had to give this uber, amazing break to Enid for his best friend's house that was eccentric in its own way that has Enid wild with the thought of creative liberties she could take.

This wasn't just a client of Eugene's that he will say bye to after and at worst, have to deal with a bad review for - it was one of his closest friends who actually lives there. And from what Enid can infer, is also a frequent hang out spot for Eugene.