Hannah's Chance
Copyright© 2025 by jackmarlowe
Chapter 6
Hannah got out of her hotel bed, knowing that this was truly a day of reckoning. She felt a little dazed from all the revelations the night before and tried to clear her mind, although one of Rossi’s statements persistently echoed in her head. “Without Alex live, you’ll be bluffing.”
A knock at the door caused her to finish dressing hurriedly. She opened the door to find Maria.
“Is everything okay? You weren’t answering your phone.”
“I’ve only just woken up,” Hannah replied. “I must have been really tired.”
“Are we going to the show? Since we can’t contact our offices yet, because of the time difference, I thought we’d go the exhibition center as usual.”
Hannah agreed that waiting in the hotel room until 3 PM when she could contact Alex wouldn’t serve any purpose, and so she asked Maria to give her time to get ready and have a bite to eat, and then they set out together for the investor show.
As they walked through the bustling streets of Milan, Hannah’s mind raced. The Keller biotech collapse data needed to be seamlessly integrated into her Tanaka model, and she didn’t yet know if Alex could execute such precise reconfigurations in the very limited time available.
Maria glanced at her. “You’re quiet today. Still thinking about Rossi?”
Hannah kept her gaze straight ahead. She didn’t want to say anything about her time in Rossi’s hotel suite, as she knew that Maria wouldn’t approve.
“Just strategizing,” Hannah deflected, her voice tight. “I’m going to ask my analyst back home to connect remotely and do the demo with me. I’m demanding a lot of him already, but the more I think about it the more I realize I can’t cope with the scarab beetle on my own.”
Maria frowned. “Let’s hope he doesn’t have any other commitment for that time.”
“That’s my big concern,” Hannah said. The whole question of Alex’s availability was troubling her, not just for the time of the demo, but for the hours of preparation needed beforehand. If he had an existing commitment to another client the demo was destined to be a complete failure.
They arrived at the exhibition center, the usual buzz of investors and entrepreneurs filling the vast space. Hannah scanned the crowd, her gaze sharp. Every face could be the scarab beetle’s proxy. Every conversation might hold clues. Maria drifted toward a display of sustainable packaging innovations, but Hannah remained rooted near the entrance, her mind churning.
“Alex needs to be online.” The thought was a drumbeat beneath the surface noise. “Three hours to prepare.” At least the plan to have Alex do the demo with her meant less for her to try and master beforehand, and gave Alex more time to work on getting everything integrated.
Maria reappeared, holding brochures. “Anything?” she asked, nodding toward the milling investors.
“Not yet.” Hannah’s gaze snagged on a man in a charcoal suit observing them from near the stairway to the coffee lounge. His stillness felt deliberate. “But someone’s watching.”
Maria followed her line of sight. “Tanaka’s CFO. Saw him yesterday.” She lowered her voice. “Shifty looking character.”
Hannah’s pulse quickened. Tanaka’s instability was her opening, but its CFO’s presence here might make things complicated. She forced herself to move deeper into the hall, Maria trailing slightly behind.
The CFO’s gaze lingered, cold and assessing. Hannah met it squarely, projecting calm authority she didn’t fully feel. She wondered if he knew she’d been talking to the scarab beetle, if he knew about the demo today, if he knew that the scarab beetle controlled so much of Tanaka, and if he knew he was considering selling his stake. She turned abruptly toward a holographic display of mining efficiency algorithms, using its shimmering light as cover.
Her phone buzzed with a text message. Unknown sender. “See you at 6 PM” it said succinctly, followed by a conference room name. She glanced at Maria. “I need to find a quiet spot,” she said. “Prep work.”
Maria nodded. “I’ll meet you later for lunch.”
Hannah saw that Tanaka’s CFO was no longer near the stairs to the coffee lounge, so she climbed them and found a seat in the corner. She started to plan exactly how she intended that the demo should go.
Her phone buzzed with a text message. Alessandro Rossi. “Remember the trap question. The Asian market dependence. Challenge him politely. Frame it as strategic curiosity.” She wondered how he had her phone number, as she hadn’t given him that or a business card. Still the timing was good, as the message was a useful reminder to her planning.
The Tanaka patents could be critical, she reflected, slotting them right into her plan, although it was something else she needed Alex’s help with. Finally she had everything ready, or as ready as it could be without discussing the matter with Alex, and she decided it was time for lunch with Maria.
As they sat down, Maria leaned forward. “I’ve made a great contact this morning. Someone interested in ore sorting. Very interested. I’ve also emailed my office asking them to work on the Keller biotech. They should be there to read it in an hour or two.”
Hannah nodded, pushing her salad around her plate. She would have to call Alex as soon as she could. The email she’d sent explained a lot, but didn’t say anything about Alex doing the demo with her. The silence stretched, punctuated only by the clink of cutlery from nearby tables.
“Maria,” Hannah began carefully, “what if Tanaka’s CFO approaches us? He was watching me earlier.”
Maria shrugged, spearing a tomato. “Let him. You’ve got leverage now.” She paused, lowering her voice. “You look worried. Rossi didn’t ... complicate things?”
Hannah avoided her gaze, focusing on the crisp linen tablecloth. “I didn’t take much notice of him. I forgot about him after we left the club.” The lie tasted bitter, but Maria’s disapproval would only cloud her focus.
They finished their meal and Hannah checked her watch. 1:47 PM. Not long to go until it was realistic to start calling the office. Maria stood, gathering her bag. “I’m heading back to the show. Do you want me to join you for the demo?”
“Yes please,” said Hannah. “I’d really appreciate that.” She gave her the conference room name and Maria nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Hannah sat staring at her phone and as the time clicked on to 2:00 she dialed Alex’s direct line. Her knuckles whitened around the phone as it rang. Once. Twice. “Please be there.”
She waited five minutes and tried again. Then another five minutes. And another. Still no luck. It was now 2:20 which was 8:20 to Alex. She dialed again.
“Alex speaking.” His voice was flat, distracted.
Hannah exhaled sharply. “It’s Hannah. Did you get my email?”
“Just read it.” Papers shuffled in the background. “Keller biotech collapse integration into Tanaka salvage model. Requires complete recalibration of risk thresholds.” His tone sharpened. “Three hours is impossible without the raw Keller datasets. You didn’t attach them.”
Hannah’s stomach dropped. The datasets. Rossi hadn’t provided them. She was suddenly floundering and out of her depth. “Can you extrapolate?” she pressed, fingers digging into the tablecloth. “Use historical biotech failure analogs—”
“Not precise enough,” Alex interrupted, his voice clipped. “Your potential client will spot the variance. He’ll know it’s filler.” The line crackled with the sound of frantic typing. “I need Keller’s internal liquidity reports, asset depreciation timelines. Without them, the model’s a house of cards.”
Hannah’s throat tightened. Rossi’s oversight, or some kind of test on his part, threatened everything. “What if I get them? How fast can you rebuild?”
“Depends.” Alex’s keyboard clattered louder. “If you transmit within the hour? Maybe. But Hannah—” His pause felt like a chasm opening. “The demo’s at 6 PM Milan time. That’s noon here. I’ve got a pitch for Clare’s renewable energy group at 11:30. It’s locked in.”
Hannah’s blood ran cold. Clare. Her boss, unaware of Hannah’s side quest, had scheduled Alex. The timing was catastrophic. “Reschedule it,” she demanded, her voice tight. “Tell Clare it’s an emergency.”
A bitter laugh crackled down the line. “Cancelling her pitch screams mutiny.” The clatter of his keyboard stopped. “It’s one or the other, Hannah. Clare’s pitch, or your demo. Choose.”
Hannah stared out at the crowded coffee lounge, the investors blurring into a meaningless swirl. Clare’s pitch was solid, predictable work, the kind that kept everyone at the company employed. The demo was everything - Tanaka, the scarab beetle, Rossi’s whispered secrets, her chance to leap beyond being a secretary forever. But without Alex live, Rossi’s warning echoed - bluffing. And the scarab beetle would smell it.
“Alex,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “Cancel Clare’s pitch. Tell her...” Hannah paused, scrambling for plausible lies. “ ... tell her the Milan investor requested priority access to our modeling capabilities. Say it’s confidential, high-stakes. Flatter her. Make it sound like - her - opportunity.”
Silence stretched. Hannah could almost hear Alex weighing Clare’s wrath against Hannah’s desperation. Finally, a sigh. “I’ll try.”
“It’s not just the work beforehand,” said Hannah. “I need you to be available at noon. I need you to connect remotely and do the demo with me. It’s the only way. It’s impossible for me to manage this alone.”
“You don’t want much, do you?” said Alex, sounding shocked.
Hannah gripped the phone tighter. “It’s the only way. The client expects architects who thrive in chaos. Without you live, answering the technical specifics—”
“—he’ll know you’re winging it,” Alex finished flatly. “Fine. I’ll try. But only if I get those Keller datasets - now. And Hannah? Clare’s going to crucify me for cancelling her pitch. This better be worth it.” The line went dead.
Hannah stared at her phone, the silence roaring in her ears. He’ll try. It wasn’t a guarantee. It was a gamble. She shoved the phone into her purse, her hands trembling slightly. Without Alex live, facing the scarab beetle was suicidal. Without the Keller datasets, even Alex couldn’t build a credible model. Rossi’s trap snapped shut around her - he’d given her the intel but withheld the crucial data, forcing her to scramble or fail spectacularly.
Calming down a little, she realized she could drop the Keller analysis from the demo entirely and proceed without it. That was certainly an option. With Alex’s help, she could still put a convincing demo together. She decided that she needed some fresh air to help her think her way through this. She stood abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair. As she made her way out, she noticed Tanaka’s CFO at another table and wondered if he had been watching her again. Perhaps it was just a coincidence that he happened to be here at the same time as her, but she couldn’t escape the feeling that he knew something of what she was engaged in.
If she was going to stick to her plan, she needed those Keller files immediately. Rossi would have them. But could she get in touch with him immediately? Hannah strode towards the exit, weaving through clusters of visitors. She noticed Maria engrossed near a robotics display, machines gleaming all around her, but she didn’t stop. Every minute counted.
Outside, the air was fresh, but Milan’s afternoon sun felt oppressive. She had Rossi’s number because he’d texted her earlier and she dialed it now. He answered on the first ring, his voice smooth as silk. “Hannah. Missing me already?”
“The Keller datasets,” she cut in, ignoring the taunt. “You didn’t send them. Alex needs them now.”
A low chuckle vibrated down the line. “Ah, Hannah. I’m a very resourceful person, but even I haven’t got everything at my fingertips. If you want further information on Keller, why not ask him directly? Unless you want me to talk to him for you?”.
“Yes, talk to him. Given that I need them right now, I think it would be easier if you spoke to him. Keller Biotech’s internal datasets. Liquidity reports, asset timelines. Anything granular.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” The line disconnected abruptly.
Hannah stood frozen on the busy Milan sidewalk, the phone clutched in her whitening grip. Even if Rossi could get the datasets, how long was it going to take? Perhaps she should tell Alex to set up the demo without using Keller? She decided to go back into the exhibition center and headed for the coffee lounge. There, she sat in a quandary, not sure what to do. Time was ticking by relentlessly and she had very little of it left.
Her phone buzzed with a text. Alessandro Rossi. “Where do you want the Keller data sent to?” She didn’t stop to savor this positive development and immediately replied with Alex’s email address. He hadn’t said he’d already secured the data, but that was surely what he meant. So the plan was back on track. Alex would have the tools he needed. Now she hoped he would have enough time.
Her phone buzzed with a text. Alex Sanders. “Datasets received. Integrating files. Rebuilding model.” She exhaled sharply. One big hurdle cleared.
Her phone buzzed with a text. Alex Sanders. “Clare unhappy. Says you owe her an explanation.”
Her throat tightened. This was something else she had to deal with. Should she call Clare now? She considered the matter carefully. No. Clare would demand answers she couldn’t give - not without exposing everything. The Tanaka deal, Rossi, the scarab beetle’s web. She’d sound like a crazy woman, like she’d lost her mind. Better to face Clare later, when she had leverage. If she survived tonight.
She ordered an espresso and watched as Tanaka’s CFO entered the lounge. Was this another coincidence or was he following her everywhere?
Her phone buzzed with a text. Clare Buchanan. “Explain. Now.” So she couldn’t put Clare off until later after all. She was going to have to deal with her right away.
Her phone buzzed with a text. Alex Sanders: “Keller collapse integrated. Model recalibrated. Will be ready.” Relief washed over her, cold and sharp. Alex had delivered. But Clare’s message lingered like poison.
“Explain. Now.” Clare’s text glared from Hannah’s phone screen, sharp as a blade. Hannah’s thumb hovered, pulse drumming against her temple. Later, she’d planned. After the demo, when I’ve won Tanaka. But Clare wasn’t waiting. Hannah pictured her boss’s rigid posture, the icy disapproval that could freeze a room. A lie wouldn’t hold. Clare would shred excuses about “confidential opportunities” once Alex cancelled her pitch. But the truth was worse - admitting she’d commandeered company resources for a shadow game orchestrated by a man who’d bitten her neck a few hours ago.
Hannah typed rapidly, fingers trembling. “Deeply sorry, Clare. Secured urgent Milan investor access requiring Alex’s full focus. High value, time sensitive. Will brief fully ASAP.” She hit send before doubt could paralyze her. Silence followed. No reply. The absence of a reply felt heavier than words.
Tanaka’s CFO slid into the chair opposite her, uninvited. His smile was thin, predatory. “Ms. Hartwell. Always so ... industrious.” He nodded toward her phone. “Doing good business?”
Hannah kept her expression neutral, locking her screen. “Just coordinating logistics, Mr. Reddy. Investor events keep me busy.” She sipped her espresso, the bitterness grounding her. He knows something. The certainty coiled in her gut. “Though I’m curious why Tanaka’s CFO would find my activities of any interest.”
“I’m really only interested in your dealings with Tanaka,” he replied. “I wonder if you could update me?”
Hannah held his gaze, the espresso cup steady in her hand despite the tremor in her wrist. “We’ve made our proposal to Mr. Chen,” she said evenly. “We’re waiting to hear from him.”
“Chen doesn’t make decisions without board approval.”
Hannah’s espresso cup clinked against the saucer. “Then I look forward to hearing from the board,” she countered smoothly.
Reddy leaned forward, lowering his voice. “The board are divided, they squabble over every decision.”
Hannah met his gaze without blinking. “I’m sure they’ll reach a consensus.”
“Perhaps.” Reddy traced the rim of his glass. “But some board members find it difficult to face reality. To come to terms with Tanaka’s true position.”
Hannah kept her expression impassive. “I’m confident Tanaka will recognize the most viable path forward.”
“Viability depends on perspective. Some see opportunity in restructuring. Others see it as surrender.”
“Surrender implies defeat,” she said, her voice cool. “Restructuring isn’t defeat, it’s strategy.”
Reddy’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation breaking his composure. “Strategy requires understanding the battlefield. Tanaka’s complexities aren’t easily mapped.”
Hannah set her cup down, the porcelain ringing sharply. “I specialize in mapping complexity, Mr. Reddy. Especially when it involves undervalued assets and hidden liabilities.” She leaned in, matching his intensity. “For instance, why would the CFO personally monitor a junior consultant’s coffee breaks? Unless Tanaka’s instability runs deeper than the board admits.”
Reddy’s knuckles whitened around his glass. “Junior consultants don’t usually attract the attention of men like Alessandro Rossi,” he hissed, his veneer of calm cracking.
Hannah didn’t flinch. “I’m sure Signor Rossi talks to many people.” She held his gaze, the air between them charged. Perhaps Reddy’s surveillance wasn’t curiosity, but fear. Fear she’d expose whatever rot he was hiding.
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