Rising action refers to the part of the story wherein your main character did something for the story to progress. In this case, the man's overconfidence has gotten him into a situation that he cannot control. Thus, the story will flow towards a series of events.
It is foreshadowed that Susan is at a zenith, a highpoint in her life. This, however seems to be the last highpoint that she will ever be at, insinuating that the rest of her life was much more depressing and less exciting.
