Hannah's Chance
Copyright© 2025 by jackmarlowe
Chapter 16
Hannah stepped into the Atlantic City Convention Center, a huge building of steel and glass that hummed with activity, with the annual boat show being in full swing. As she moved inside, she was suddenly surrounded by a host of bright banners, polished hulls, and men in navy blazers.
She didn’t hesitate for a moment, as she knew exactly where she was headed. She had studied the show map and knew exactly where to find Meyer Marine’s booth. She just hoped that plans hadn’t changed and that Mark Parker was in attendance, as his LinkedIn profile had promised.
She needn’t have been concerned, as when she approached the booth she spotted him immediately. Disappointingly, he was sitting down at the back, with the rest of the Meyer representatives standing at the front. It was impossible at that moment to make a casual approach.
She decided to circle around the exhibition hall and try again. This time she found him at the front, deep in conversation with a visitor to the booth, and she stopped and listened to what was being said, pretending to be interested in the technical points he was explaining. Eventually the visitor moved on and she had her chance.
“Could you explain that again? I missed the beginning.” She smiled at him.
“The torque optimization?”
“Yes,” Hannah said, stepping closer to the gleaming engine display. “Particularly how Meyer handles cavitation at high RPMs. We had persistent issues with that on our sixty-five footer.” She had prepared for this moment, smoothly asking a valid technical question and inventing a yacht to go with it.
Mark brightened immediately, shoulders relaxing as he shifted into expert mode. “Oh, sure - that’s one of the things we’re most proud of,” he said. “At high RPM, most midrange marine engines start to lose efficiency because the pressure differential around the prop blades drops too fast. That’s where the cavitation kicks in.”
Hannah nodded attentively, absorbing the cadence of his speech - the pride of an engineer relieved to discuss real mechanics.
He tapped the cutaway model in front of them, his voice warming. “We redesigned the impeller geometry last year - see the curvature here? - so the back-pressure stays stable even when you really open her up. It means you get the same thrust at thirty-eight knots that you’d normally lose after thirty-three.”
He paused, giving her a moment to take it in. “If you were having cavitation on a sixty-five footer, that must’ve been a nightmare. What setup were you running?”
Hannah leaned over the cutaway display, tracing a finger lightly along the impeller blade, trying to remember her research. “Triple Volvo Penta IPS900s. Bow heavy when we pushed past thirty-five knots - water foaming like champagne.” She met his eyes, letting frustration edge her tone. “The yard blamed the props, but I suspected the mounts weren’t dampening resonance.” She didn’t have any real understanding of what she was talking about, but was hoping it sounded plausible.
Mark’s gaze sharpened with professional interest. “Resonance? That’s critical. Did they run spectral analysis?”
The conversation had gone beyond Hannah’s ability to bluff and she had to find a way out. “We sold the boat before diagnostics. Too many headaches.”
He nodded, but was still keen to pursue the topic and tapped the side of the engine mock-up. “This bit here is what really changed the cavitation profile. We’ve got a teardown video that shows it better, actually.”
“Really? I’d love to see it - and hear more about how you solved the high RPM issues.”
Mark pulled out his phone, scrolling. “Have you got a minute? We can step into our demo area.” He gestured toward a quieter corner of the booth.
“I can’t right now,” she lied smoothly. “I’ve got an appointment to keep. “How about later? Or even this evening, when we could go somewhere quieter. Only if you’ve got the time, of course.”
He hesitated, scanning her face as if assessing her sincerity. “I’m not done here until eight.”
“Eight’s my lucky number.” She smiled brightly. “My name’s Hannah. Meet me at the Continental, boardwalk level. Eight thirty. Drinks on me.”
“I’ve seen the Continental. Eight thirty it is.”
That evening, Hannah was in the bar of the Continental early. Mark appeared on time, now in a polo shirt rather than his Meyer uniform. It didn’t take long for him to use his phone to show her the video he’d referred to earlier. He followed it up by further explaining some of the technical points mentioned in the video, with Hannah pretending to follow everything he was saying.
“This isn’t my own design,” he said. “I’ve only been with the company two months, but I’m working on an even better version, which will be available later this year.”
“Only two months,” she replied. “Where did you work before?”
“I was with a defense contractor, AquaSonix. Working on sonar systems.”
“I’ve heard of them. Based in Baltimore. You see I’m a business consultant and I specialize in the maritime sector.”
“Oh?” Mark sipped his beer as he studied her. “My ex-girlfriend works there. That’s one of the reasons I left. She broke up with me and it’s hard seeing your ex at work every day.”
“What did you do there?” asked Hannah. “Were you working on Poseidon?”
Mark froze mid-sip. His knuckles whitened around the beer glass. “How do you know that name?”
“As a business consultant, dealing with the maritime industry every day, I get to hear most things,” she said casually.
Mark set his beer down, his earlier ease replaced by rigid caution. “Poseidon isn’t public knowledge.”
“Two companies are currently trying to acquire AquaSonix,” she replied. “So I don’t think Poseidon’s a secret exactly.”
Mark leaned forward, lowering his voice as cocktail glasses clinked around them. “Those companies might know the name Poseidon because they’re defense sharks sniffing leaks. But they don’t know the details.” Suddenly changing the subject, his voice returned to its normal level. “Are we going to get something to eat? Lunch was a long time ago.”
“The restaurant looked busy when I came in,” she replied. “Why don’t we go to my room and order something through room service?”
Mark studied her face. “Alright. If that’s easier.”
They took the elevator to Hannah’s floor, with Mark being deep in thought and the silence between them filled only by the soft hum of the machinery. In her room, he lingered near the window overlooking the boardwalk lights while she called downstairs for grilled salmon and a steak. When she hung up, he turned abruptly. “You didn’t bring me here for dinner, did you? Poseidon’s classified Level Two military tech. Even mentioning it violates my NDA.”
Hannah moved closer, her tone low and deliberate. “It may be classified, but a company called Maritech is trying to acquire AquaSonix because of Poseidon. They’re rushing the deal through without following all of the usual procedures. Tell me why it’s worth that desperation.”
Mark’s jaw tightened. “I couldn’t possibly comment.”
“You already did.” Hannah stepped even closer. “Tell me what Poseidon is, Mark.”
“You know, I’m tempted to leave,” he said. “But I could really do with that steak.”
Hannah realized that she needed to tread gently. She couldn’t afford to scare him away. There was still plenty of time to quiz him that night and after the meal he might feel more relaxed.
“Yes I’m hungry too.” She gestured toward the minibar. “Let’s crack open some beers while we wait.” Mark nodded, his shoulders easing slightly as she handed him a bottle. He twisted off the cap, took a long pull, and sank into the plush armchair by the window.
Hannah sat opposite him, keeping her posture relaxed. “So is working at Meyer better for you? You’re very enthusiastic about boat engines. I get the impression you’re at home there.”
“We don’t just build boat engines,” he replied. “What you see at the boat show is just a part of what we do. The pleasure craft side is interesting and has a certain glamour to it, but we also build engines that power fishing trawlers, cargo ships, ferries - the workhorses of the sea.”
He halted as room service arrived, the aroma of seared steak and grilled salmon feeling irresistible to both of them. They ate quietly for a moment, the only sounds being the clinking of silverware, the distant thrum of boardwalk music, and the ocean waves as the tide came in.
A bubble of normalcy had settled over them and Hannah decided not to burst it just yet. She asked Mark about the breakup with his girlfriend he’d mentioned earlier. He said it had come out of the blue and was hard to get over when he had to see her at work every day, but he was over it now. He asked her if she was in a relationship, and she told him that she was married but separated.
The personal talk continued until they finished their meals. Mark appeared to have visibly relaxed and Hannah tried to build on that by handing him another beer. Silence fell on the room once more, but it wouldn’t be for long as Hannah was intent on circling back to Poseidon.
“It must have been a big decision to leave AquaSonix,” she said. “I know you’re enthusiastic about what you’re doing now, but Poseidon must be something major, something revolutionary. Something it would be hard for someone to walk away from.”
Mark paused for a moment and then rose from his chair. “I’ve enjoyed our chat this evening, but I think it’s best if I leave now.”
Hannah rose too, blocking his way out. “Don’t be in such a hurry,” she said. “I’m all alone in town. I could do with the company.”
Mark hesitated, unsure how to respond. Hannah decided that she needed to take the initiative and moved closer to him. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. He didn’t kiss her back, but he didn’t do anything to stop her either.
Hannah broke the kiss and smiled brightly. He still hesitated, still unsure how to respond, still unsure what to do. Hannah tried again, but he still didn’t kiss her back, appearing frozen, looking apprehensive, wondering what he might be getting himself into.
She decided to try a different tack. She took a step back and unbuttoned her blouse and then slipped it from her shoulders. He looked surprised, but she could tell he was also becoming captivated. She reached behind her back and unhooked her bra, slipping that from her shoulders too.
Mark suddenly shook his head, as though waking himself up or coming out of a trance. “Like I said, I think it’s best if I leave now.”
“Of course,” said Hannah. “If that’s what you want. I’m sorry that my breasts aren’t good enough for you.”
“Your breasts are gorgeous,” he said, making a point of looking them over. But I reckon you’re some kind of foreign spy. I could get into a lot of trouble talking to you.”
“I’m not a foreign spy, Mark,” she said, deliberately chuckling. “If I was a foreign spy I’d be asking you for specifics. How Poseidon works, technical specifications, that sort of thing. Foreign spies target people who have access to blueprints. I haven’t asked you for anything like that. It would just help me in my work a lot if I knew what kind of project Poseidon is.”
The room fell silent for a moment, the only noise coming from outside, the faint but persistent sound of distant carnival music and every so often a wave crashing onto the shore. They stood facing each other and then Hannah decided to make another move and resume her undressing. She reached for the zipper of her skirt and pulled it open, the rasp of the zipper sounding loud in the quiet room.
“You said that Poseidon’s classified military tech. Does that mean it’s some sort of weapon?”
He hesitated. “No ... it’s an acoustic transmission array.” He could tell from her expression that his words hadn’t meant very much. “A new type of underwater communication system,” he added.
It was Hannah’s turn to pause her words, as she absorbed this information and tried to understand the significance of it, but she still continued with her undressing. He’d given her something valuable, but she felt that she needed more and had to press him further. She slid her panties down her legs and stood fully naked before him. For a moment, they just gazed at each other.
Hannah broke the silence. “Is it just me that’s going to be naked tonight?” she asked, a little sarcastically. “And you just stand there fully clothed?” Mark suddenly jolted into action and tugged his polo shirt over his head. His chest was lean and defined, the muscles tensing as he tossed the shirt aside.
“This acoustic transmission ... What makes it revolutionary? Why would Maritech crush an acquisition timeline for it?”
Mark hesitated, staring intently at Hannah’s naked body, the boardwalk lights painting fleeting patterns across her skin. He reached for his belt buckle, undoing it quickly. “To understand why it’s revolutionary, you need to understand where we are now.” He kicked off his shoes, chinos pooling at his ankles.
“Underwater communication has always been very difficult.” he continued, moving very close to her. “Underwater, radio waves travel poorly.” His hands found her breasts. “Laser signals scatter quickly.” He leaned in and kissed her. “Acoustic coms are slow and easily disrupted.”
His fingers continued to play with her breasts, concentrating on the nipples now, as Hannah ran her hands across his shoulders. “In short, timely and reliable communications just don’t exist.” He guided her backward onto the bed, his mouth exploring her neck, his hands returning to her breasts, finding them irresistible.
“So how does Poseidon solve that?” she murmured, her hands returning to his shoulders, and running down his back, caressing him gently. He focused on her nipples again, which were proving very responsive to his touch and were now very hard beneath his fingers.
“It solves it through a new kind of acoustic technology, giving the world something its never had access to before.” He spread her legs gently, fingers tracing her inner thighs. Hannah gasped softly. “Meaning effective underwater communication for the first time ever”.
His fingers slid inside her, tracing slow, deliberate circles as Hannah arched against him. “Effective meaning ... fast?” she breathed, fighting to keep her mind focused, trying to understand as much as possible, but starting to succumb to the rising tide of arousal.
“Fast and reliable,” Mark murmured against her collarbone, his thumb pressing rhythmically. “You asked what makes it revolutionary.” He withdrew his hand, moving to position himself between her thighs. “It’s a revolution because no underwater mission will remain untouched.”
Mark was in position and was ready. Hannah braced herself as he entered her, her breath catching at the sudden fullness. “Missions?” she managed to say, as he began to thrust, still managing to concentrate, wrapping her legs around his waist to anchor herself.
“The applications are endless,” Mark gasped, establishing a rhythm, thrusting deeper. “Communication ... in ... water ... suddenly ... effective...” His rhythm grew urgent, the thrusts punctuating each word. “Imagine ... submarines ... talking ... to ... each ... other...”
Hannah arched upward, her mind scrambling to register his revelations amidst the raw physicality of his actions. His hips snapped forward relentlessly as he continued to thrust, the boardwalk lights blurring through the window as sensation started to drown her analysis.
“The data transfer rate...,” she gasped, trying to anchor herself mentally between thrusts, “ ... how much faster?”
Mark groaned, pressing deeper, sweat gleaming on his temples. “Orders ... of ... magnitude...,” he managed, his rhythm fracturing as sensation overwhelmed coherence.
Hannah clutched his shoulders, nails digging in, holding him tight, desperate to extract strategic value from intimacy - just as she had on previous occasions. But Mark was a fading force now and his movements grew erratic, his thrusts losing precision to primal urgency.
“Broadband ... equivalent ... to...” His words dissolved into a strangled gasp. He shuddered violently against her, collapsing forward as release claimed him, his revelation unfinished.
Hannah lay pinned beneath him, his weight suddenly oppressive. The technical secrets she needed – transfer rate, transmission range, encryption protocols, military deployment timeline, civilian access and applications – remained locked away behind his spent body.
He rolled off moments later, breathing heavily, but he wasn’t finished with her. He stayed close and his hand reached out, with the intention of taking her to her own release. His fingers worked gently, but firmly, and Hannah became lost in his touch, feeling her peak approaching.
It wasn’t long before her climax hit. She gasped very loudly as her body shuddered with the intense waves washing over her. He moved closer to her, her body trembling with the aftermath, trying to put his arm around her. But Hannah’s mind was now on other things. As the trembling died down she got up from the bed, wrapping herself in a hotel robe.
She crossed the room and filled two glasses with water. Returning, she handed one to him. “Orders of magnitude faster,” she prompted, keeping her voice low and curious. “That implies real time submarine coordination?” Mark took a long drink, avoiding her look.