During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.

When beautiful Catherine interviews for a new job as a financial trader at a top investment firm, the CEO of the company, handsome Paul, hires her right in the room with an eye towards bringing her to the top. He also has his eye on romance and the two quickly begin to fall for each other, as Paul lavishes her with extra attention and gifts. Everything seems great… until the morning after a business party, when Catherine wakes up alone in Paul’s lavish mansion, and walks downstairs only to find the dead body of his ex-wife!