Diving to the Top

By Susan Horsnell

When Joanne McCarthy was given the opportunity to join a company as a Construction Diver, in a world dominated almost completely by men, a long-held dream finally came true.
Joanne was aware the career she had chosen didn't have a glass ceiling for women that would be difficult to shatter—It had one of solid steel which couldn't be penetrated.
Or so she thought.
Less than four years later, the respected construction diver found herself in a position she never imagined was possible. Somehow, Joanne had found a way around the steel barrier and was now running her small part of the world.
Boston Canon, a respected scientist, cared about the ocean and the creatures who call the environment home.
When he and his business partner finally received permission to research the ocean and reef nearby a new platform, he was elated.
What he wasn't prepared for was the beautiful woman in charge. A woman whose work was in opposition to his own.
Can these two find common ground?
Or will their opposing work goals tear them apart?
Set in Australia and written in Australian English.
Suitable for 17+

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Horsnell
• Release date: Oct 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223327509

Susan Horsnell

I’m an Australian author who lives in Queensland when not travelling and I write in a variety of Romantic sub-genres, including Western,  Historical, Gay, Mafia, and Contemporary Romance.  I have published over 60 books and novellas, many of which feature strong, independent heroines and rugged, alpha male heroes. Some of my popular series include the Outback Australia series and The Carter Brothers series. My books are known for their well-researched historical details, vivid descriptions of the Australian landscape and real life experiences. My work has garnered praise from readers and critics alike, and I have been a Finalist in both the Rone Awards and Laramie Awards as well as being a multiple times International Bestselling Author and USA Today Bestselling Author. If you're interested in learning more about my books:  Linktree https://linktr.ee/SusanHorsnell   

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Copyright © 2023 by

USA Today Bestselling Author - Susan Horsnell

The right of Susan Horsnell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed, or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon, or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, or mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

Written by: Susan Horsnell

Edited: Redline Editing

Proofread: Leanne Roger

Published by: Lipstick Publishing

Disclaimer

A silhouette of a scuba diver Description automatically generated with medium confidence

This story is set in Australia and written in Australian English.

While town, parks, and Royal Perth Hospital’s name are factual, some company names and ships in Australia are not. The same applies to those mentioned in Fiji.

I have taken liberties with the careers, and although I have carried out research, the descriptions and procedures are entirely fictional and should not be taken as fact.  I have glossed over the requirement for decompression stops and deep-sea vehicles requiring blow-down for the sake of flow in the story.

Thank you to Melody for general advice on Marine Biology and David for a rough overview of rigs/platforms.

Thank you to the young lady on reception at Perth Hospital for her advice and talking me through the layout and process. She was very confused until I explained it was for a book I was writing.

Chapter 1

A silhouette of a scuba diver Description automatically generated with medium confidence

JOANNE

Perth,

Western Australia.

February 8th.

I sat in the office of RigAsher, a drilling platform company I’d been employed with for a little over three years. The owner—Asher Campbell, a man in his sixties with striking green eyes, a bald head, and trimmed grey beard, sat on the opposite side of the desk.

In a chair beside me sat Tobias Watson, the senior construction diver, and foreman in charge of crews A and B. I had no idea of his age but guessed it to be somewhere around the mid-fifties. I'd been a part of crew A, which was headed by Isaac, since starting with the company.

We spent months putting together gas and oil platforms to customers' specifications before delivering them to a specified location. Once in place, the teams stayed on board for a couple of weeks, or however long was needed, to help iron out any initial engineering glitches before they took total control. Once the job was completed, it was back to Perth for a break before the process began again.

The company supplied platforms for both new fields, and to replace those past their use-by date that had become unsafe.

I was back in the office after a much-needed month off, the first decent amount of time I'd taken in almost a year. Some of the time had been spent cleaning up my apartment in Cottesloe. After months of working around the clock on our latest rig, which was now nearing completion, the dust over everything had been centimetres thick. I'd also spent a couple of days off the coast on a research boat with my best friend—Madyson who was a marine biologist, tagging sharks and retrieving tags that had expired and detached from the sharks as per their programs.

Madyson's team used both acoustic and satellite tags for monitoring and gathering information that was invaluable for their ongoing studies of marine life, and how they were affected by changing currents and tides.

I’d helped tag and retrieve on many occasions in my downtime over the years. It was something I enjoyed as it gave me a chance to dive for enjoyment and a break from the stress of constant calculations and analysis required in my job as a construction diver and engineer.

Jo, thanks for coming in on your day off. I have to fly out to Dubai in the morning for a few days and wanted to give you a heads up on your next job.

I frowned at Asher’s words and asked the questions that immediately entered my mind.

We don't deliver our current platform for another week. Then, with a couple of weeks on the rig and two more weeks off when we get back, it's gonna be a while before we start on the next one. I don't mind you calling me in, but Toby is crew foreman and could have given me a rundown on the next job, so I don't understand why I’m here. 

I’m retiring…Effective this Friday.

If I had been standing, Toby’s words would have knocked me on my arse.

What? It was the only word I could manage to push past my lips.

I'm two years past retirement age and want to spend more time with Claire and the grandkids before I shuffle off this mortal coil.

The official retirement age in Australia was sixty-seven, but it wasn't mandatory that you quit work at that age. I found it hard to believe the man beside me had not only reached that age but surpassed it. You're sixty-nine? No way.

Yep, about to turn seventy.

Wow. I thought you were in your mid-fifties. Toby smiled before I spoke to Asher. Who’s our new boss?

You.

That one word had me feeling elated, terrified, and downright nauseous. Asher and Toby stayed quiet, giving me time to process the bombshell.

Me?

You, Asher confirmed with a nod. He held up one hand to silence me when I opened my mouth, intending to ask if he'd lost his mind. Toby and I spoke with the men on both crews yesterday to get their thoughts on who should take over. They were unanimous in choosing you. Every man out there agreed you should have the position.

They did? I had a good relationship with the men on both crews but their decision to put me in charge blew me away.

As far as I was aware, there were no other female construction divers in Australia and there had certainly never been a female head of crews. It was a man's world, and when I'd first come to work for RigAsher, none of the men had hesitated to point out that fact. Fortunately, Toby had read them the riot act about treating me as an equal. Over time, they began to notice I was their equal when it came to performing the job. Friendships were formed and respect was nurtured.

There hadn't been a glass ceiling in place, preventing me from reaching the top of my career—Crew Foreman, it had been one hundred per cent solid steel. And now, Asher was telling me I had somehow found a way around the impenetrable barrier.

I would have thought Porter or Isaac would have been next in line since they are crew A and B leaders.

The men are good, Jo—the very best in their field, but you're better. Aside from your smarts and qualifications, you have leadership qualities none of them possess.

Toby took over speaking. I’ve watched you for months, Jo, and have seen how the men search you out when they’re unsure of something. They respect your professionalism and expertise. While they are welders, plumbers, and some have engineering training, they don't have your broad level of knowledge. Look at yourself, Jo. You have a Master of Engineering and have completed courses to become a welder, plumber, and wreck diver. You're a qualified divemaster, open water dive instructor, and the most talented construction diver I have ever worked with. You even have experience in tagging sharks, although I don't see that talent being of use in our business any time soon. Your qualifications are mind-boggling, and you are one in a million, Jo. You deserve this position more than any man I know or have worked with, and the crews agree.

I was stunned by Toby's words which were spoken with passion. I sat silently while I turned everything over in my mind. Crew Foreman was a dream I never thought would be realised—A dream come true. Asher's offer was recognition of my ability to reach the top in a man's world. To run the world I found myself in. So why was I hesitating to validate his offer? Was I doubting my ability? Ability neither Asher nor Toby appeared to doubt.

I'll accept the position, I blurted.

The men let out a holler of victory and Asher produced a bottle of champagne and three glasses. We toasted to my new title and Toby’s retirement.

Oh, by the way…I’ve been in touch with the Diving To The Top magazine and they will be giving you a call to do a feature article.

My stomach turned over at Asher’s words.

What?

Do the interview, Jo. It will prove to other women that a man’s world can be successfully infiltrated.

Asher made a good point and I agreed to do the piece.

***

I walked on site the following morning to rousing applause from the men of both crews. Heat crawled over my cheeks; I didn't do well being the focus of attention, and the fact I'd been pretty much guilted into doing a magazine spread—Diving to the Top, the following evening had me scared to death. The popular monthly, which covered all things diving, construction, equipment, and the state of the oceans, had called and I'd agreed to meet. Their intention was to show other women what they could be capable of achieving and that nothing was beyond their reach in my chosen field.

I strode to where the men stood in a semi-circle with both of my hands shoved deep into the pockets of my regulation dark blue pants.

Speech, Isaac shouted.

When everyone quieted, I grinned. How do you know I accepted the position? Dumb question considering Asher, his personal assistant—Allison, and Toby were among the gathering and had no doubt told them all. Thanks, everyone. I won't let you down.

There was another round of applause before Dylan, a rigger on crew A, stepped out from behind the others with the largest bouquet of flowers I’d ever seen. He handed them to me, and I staggered a little beneath the weight.

Isaac then handed me a bottle of Glenfiddich scotch. We thought we’d cover all bases, he declared.

I laughed. The very feminine side of me loved dresses, heels, makeup, and flowers, but the ‘one of the boys’ side enjoyed an occasional drop of fine scotch, and Glenfiddich was one of the finest.

Thanks, guys. Now, we have a platform to finish building because if it’s not on time, my arse will be canned.

The men laughed and dispersed. I accepted the taps on the shoulder, hugs from Allison, Asher, and Toby, and all their congratulations. I pondered how incredibly lucky I was.

My previous position had been years with an engineering company where the men had never truly accepted a woman in their midst. I’d literally had to drag myself there every day. When I'd seen the advertisement for a construction diver with RigAsher, and read the outline of what was required, I knew the position was what I'd been looking for since I'd graduated. I hadn't hesitated to apply and had been called in almost immediately for an interview. Asher had offered me the job on the spot, with Toby’s approval, after only half an hour in his office.

There would never be anywhere else for me. I was where I belonged and working with crews that seemed able to read each other's minds in any situation. I had no words for how I felt about being trusted to be in charge. The possibility had never been on my radar since I'd believed it was a position that was well out of reach.

The first person I'd called the previous evening, to tell her the news of my promotion, had been Madyson and she'd squealed down the line almost sending me deaf. I'd wanted to go out and celebrate but she was on a deadline and had to finish