Ex-civil servant Nicholas Quinn lands the chairmanship of an investment bank, much to the annoyance of managing director Bruce Morton, who also had his eye on the job.

Someone has been getting up to serious mischief in Nicholas' office, and he is determined to find out who is responsible. However, his investigations turn up a few nasty surprises.

Bruce and Nicholas have trouble keeping up with some of their clever underlings, and find that not being in control makes it difficult to take credit.

Nicholas invites a feared female headhunter into Kendrick Maple, but what does he have to gain from it? And who will she try to steal from under his very nose?