(https://hips.hearstapps.com/esq.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/15/06/54d574a95154d_-_esq-hugh-jackman-hair-073.jpg)<br/>Christian McCants, a relatively successful 38 year old  real estate investor for more than half his life, lost most of his wealth when the market crashed just over a year ago, forcing him to sell off his investment properties and, at times, work for other realtors to make ends meet.  This was disheartening to say the least, having always been his own boss, the idea of working for anyone but himself wasn't pleasant, but when the market turned around (and it always did) he was more than sure of himself that he could build his nested back to the 7 figures he once had.<br/><br/>But in the mean time, he had just accepted a new job as a realtor for Long & Foster, outside of Washington D.C., where he grew up as a child, but hadn't lived anywhere near D.C. since going to school in Florida.  Relocating his wife from the sunny beaches of Florida to the political world of D.C. was a hard task, and a bitter pill for his wife to swallow. Serena wasn't happy to be uprooted, but Christian promised it was only temporary.  Unfortunately neither one of them was fond of the freezing temps that often hovered over the mid Atlantic region during the winter.  Snow might be a pleasant sight to see for a couple from Florida, but it couldn't compete with 60 degree weather this time of year in Florida.<br/><br/>The Holidays were in full effect, the malls were swamped with shoppers and Christmas lights began popping up all around the neighborhood.  It was Friday afternoon, the eve of Christian's firms Holiday Bash, which had a reputation to be pretty spectacular.  After all, open bar, sushi, live band and a DJ at one of the upscale hotels in the heart of the city was hard to compete with.  Christian knew that it was important to make a good impression on some of the big wigs in the company, since he was fairly knew to the company, and didn't get to schmooze with the big bosses very often.  He left the office at 3 PM, headed home to shower and throw on a nicer suit and bowtie, and hopped his wife would be in the final stages of getting ready. Lord knows women can take forever getting ready for big events.<br/><br/>"Honey, I'm Home", he called out from the foyer as he closed the large wooden front door to the modest single family home and set the car keys on the counter.  He could hear running water upstairs in the bathroom, and knew she must still be getting ready for the Holiday bash.  Shuffling upstairs and walking to their bedroom, he called out again. "Babe, I'm home.  We gotta leave in 30 minutes."  He could hear her in the bathroom, door slightly ajar, so he picked out his clothes and talked to her though the door.  He began to disrobe and pick out a clean pressed white dress shirt and black suit pants and jacket.  "I know you're not a big fan of these types of things babe, but this is important, Lots of opportunities tonight to schmooze with the bigwigs, maybe even put my bid in for a senior position next year if I play my cards right".<br/><br/>