Anatoli Novoseltsev works in a ratings company, whose director is an unattractive and bossy woman. An old friend of his, Yuri Samokhvalov, who gets appointed assistant director, wants to make Novoseltsev the manager but encounters objections from Ludmila Kalugina, the director. Samokhvalov then advises Novoseltsev to lightly hit on the boss. Ironically, Novoseltsev and Kalugina fall in love with each other.