Paula Fairley, now head of the Harte chain of department stores, has taken on the burden of preserving Emma's legacy. However, she suffers dissent within her extended family, in particular from her devious cousin Jonathan Ainsley.
Emma Harte steps down from running her vast financial empire, leaving her granddaughter Paula Fairley in charge of the department store.
Paula's work ethic, just like her grandmother's, causes trouble at home. An oil spill takes her to America.
Paula's plans to divorce Jim to marry another man are disrupted by a car accident; Emily and Winston set a wedding date, and the matriarch's death keeps the family in turmoil.