A young woman is pressured by her father to accept a job as secretary to Damien, a man she calls a 'stepbrother,' which she reluctantly does. At their shared home, Damien deliberately assigns her the room next to his, making suggestive comments about their new proximity. Later, his wife confronts him, angry that he sleeps with other women but won't kiss her, to which he coldly states their marriage is only business. On her first day of work, the woman is already reduced to fetching Damien's coffee, signaling his control over her has begun.