Camille Aubert reports to the bookshop in Giverny where she works with a woman named Marguerite. While sorting through books, Camille discovers a handwritten love letter from Jack St. Claire to Emmaline Rochefort caught in the pages. She doesn’t let herself read the full letter but is intrigued by the accompanying photograph of the couple. She reflects on her own longing for love. On her lunch break, she studies Jack’s and Emmaline’s addresses on the envelope, wondering how “an English-speaking man in Paris end[ed] up writing a love letter to a French woman” in Giverny (12). She then looks up Emmaline online and is shocked to discover she had a little girl and that she recently died. Camille finds herself remembering her late father’s sudden death at his restaurant not long ago. Throughout the rest of the day, Camille is preoccupied with Emmaline and Jack’s story and wonders if she should return the letter to Jack in Paris.

Camille impulsively takes the train to Paris. It is the first time she’s left home since her father’s death, and she finds herself reflecting on his passing once more. Once she arrives in Paris, Camille wends her way to Jack’s apartment, where an attractive woman greets her. The woman introduces herself as Phoenix and welcomes Camille inside, assuming she is there for a nanny interview. A confused Camille doesn’t correct her. Inside, she meets Jack’s daughter, Bea. She hears Jack moving around upstairs, but he doesn’t come down. She finds herself humoring the idea of taking the interview and living in Paris with Jack and Bea. She finally tells Phoenix that although she doesn’t have experience with children, she understands Bea’s situation; her own mother abandoned her when she was young, and her father raised her. A touched Phoenix promises to be in touch soon. Camille leaves with the letter still in her pocket.

Over the following days, Camille starts imagining a future in Paris while worrying over the possibility of getting the nannying job. Then one day, Jack “strides into the small, musty shop” where she works (29). She notes how handsome he is in person and that he’s still wearing his wedding band.

Jack introduces himself and expresses what an impression Camille made on Bea. He then asks personal questions about her life in Giverny before hiring her for the nannying job. A shocked Camille celebrates with Marguerite afterward. Marguerite urges her to head to Paris immediately, thrilled on her behalf.

Within the week, Camille sets everything up with Phoenix, packs her bags, and heads to Paris. Back at Jack’s apartment, she settles in with Phoenix’s help. Phoenix explains that Jack has had trouble caring for Bea since Em’s death. After she leaves, Camille realizes she is now solely in charge of the little girl.

Camille and Bea get to know each other, cooking food, talking, and dancing. Bea tells Camille about her dreams of becoming a ballerina like her aunt Elizabeth. Amid their playful dancing, Jack returns home and yells at them to turn down the music, scolding Camille for speaking in French; he has demanded she speak only English at the house. An unnerved Camille tries to stand her ground. Afterward, she wonders how Jack can be so cruel with his sweet daughter.

Throughout the next day, Camille hears Jack in the house but doesn’t see him. She still feels on edge after yesterday’s interaction. A week into her new job, Phoenix babysits Bea to give Camille a day off. She walks around the city and takes herself out for dinner. Alone at the restaurant, she doodles on a napkin and muses on Jack and Emmaline’s history. Afterward, she continues walking, shocked to see Jack from afar. She impulsively follows him into a dark bar. The employees direct her to a secret area downstairs, where she is surprised to discover a sex club. There she finds Jack in a BDSM room with a woman. She feels aroused when he touches the woman and praises her for being good. Shortly thereafter, Jack emerges from the room and confronts Camille. He grabs her arm and drags her out of the club, insisting she cannot be there. A tearful Camille lurches away and heads for home.

Over the following days, Camille remains preoccupied with the incident at the club. She doesn’t lose her job as she feared but doesn’t see Jack either. Then one day, while out with Bea, Camille encounters Jack’s sister, Elizabeth. Bea introduces them. Elizabeth explains that she learned French from Bea’s mother, with whom she was close for many years. A curious Camille wonders what she might learn about Jack from Elizabeth.

Jack resurfaces that night. Bea tries engaging him in conversation, but he is brusque and insists she stop speaking in French. Afterward, Camille puts Bea to bed. Bea asks for a hug from a touched Camille. Back downstairs, Camille runs into Jack in the kitchen. She tries to ask him about the club (now understanding it is his business) but keeps stumbling over her words. An irritated Jack demands that she stop talking.

Alone in her room, an emotional Camille can’t make sense of her feelings for Jack. Then she hears creaking in the hall and discovers Jack lurking outside her door. He presses himself against her and pushes her to the wall, touching her face. Jack asserts that he shouldn’t have hired her before pulling away. An aroused Camille begs him to stay longer, but he disappears down the hall.

Over breakfast the next morning, Bea tells Camille that her mother’s ghost visits her every night. Camille realizes that Jack is sneaking into Bea’s room after she is asleep to check on her, but she doesn’t say so. Bea is hopeful that Em’s ghost will visit and comfort her father, too.

After dropping off Bea at school, Camille creeps upstairs and explores Jack’s private rooms. Just as she is about to look inside a curious armoire, Jack appears. He puts his arm around her and offers to show her the contents, revealing a stash of hooks, ropes, paddles, gags, and whips. He watches her as she inspects the items, but as soon as she asks about the adjacent room, he clamps his hand over her mouth and threatens to fire her if she comes upstairs again.

The next day, Camille waits until she is alone to look up more on rope bondage, or shibari. Intrigued by her research and curious to learn more, she writes Jack a letter expressing her feelings and leaves it in his room.

While Jack is trying to fix business matters at the club one night, he distracts himself by scrolling through old photos of Em on his phone. Phoenix stops in and remarks on his decision to hire Camille, whom she likes. Phoenix cared for Bea after Em’s death and reminds Jack that she is still there to help. An uncomfortable Jack urges Phoenix to go home. She is his closest friend, but he doesn’t feel like talking.

Jack leaves the club at 4:00 am and heads home. On his walk, he thinks about Legacy’s future, Bea, Phoenix, and the prospect of returning to California. He checks on Bea when he returns to the house, overcome by guilt for “failing” her. Then, he finds Camille’s letter in his room. In the letter, Camille tells him how curious she is about bondage and asks him to teach her, promising to keep it professional and innocent. Aroused just thinking about BDSM with Camille, Jack is unsure what to do. He writes her an honest letter and slips it under her door against his better judgment.