Ira, a young economics graduate, is in a difficult life situation. After failing to find a job in her chosen profession, she has to work as a sales assistant in a perfume shop to earn enough money to pay for her sick mother’s therapy. One day, a customer comes into the shop, whom Ira recognizes as her old school friend, Alina. On learning about Ira’s problems, Alina decides to help and persuades her father, Sergey, owner of a large pharmaceutical company, to give Ira a job. Suddenly an exciting new stage in Ira’s life opens up: a new job and excellent career prospects. Now she can afford to pay for her mother’s operation and also to move into a separate apartment with her fiancé, Anton. Any prospect of a wedding, however, is not about to happen, when Alina takes a fancy to Anton. Anton, a selfish and timorous individual, responds all too readily to Alina's advances and betrays his fiancée. Ira is devastated by Anton’s infidelity but is rescued from her depression by Sergey, who showers her with affection and support during this difficult period. When, later, Sergey proposes to Ira, she is only too ready to marry him, despite still being in love with Anton.