Melissa's dull life is turned upside down when cynical Peter Darcy mistakes her for her frivolous flatmate, Sonia.

Sonia is Peter's cousin and Melissa is immediately caught up in the sinister battle over their family business and is persuaded to maintain the deception to shield Sonia from a rift with her dying grandmother.

As Melissa becomes increasingly involved with the arrogant family, she is swept helplessly out of her depth, both in love and ruthless intrigue and is forced to play the masquerade through to the end to learn the truth about the difference between masquerade and reality.