Thomas Packard is dead and the tensions between his grandchildren mount as to who will get the major shareholding in the store, who will be on the board, who will be chairman. Amelie fights to maintain her position whilst coping with a marriage that is far from perfect and trying to resist a strong attraction to her friend's husband. Then their world is torn apart by the declaration of war, but business must go on despite staffing difficulties. It opens up new opportunities for Amelie, who is quick to seize them, and puts ever more of her energies into her beloved Packards, but it also stiffins her brother Alec's resolve to stay firmly in control...