Born to a respectable French-Canadian family, Dawn L'Andry shows promise as a student and dreams of becoming a schoolteacher. But her craving for both love and luxury cause her ultimate downfall. After leaving her home and beloved father to attend university in Montréal, she finds life on a tight budget more difficult than she had anticipated. A fellow waitress at the restaurant where she earns a few extra dollars introduces her to the head of an escort service, and Dawn is sucked into a hooker's life. She also fulfills her dream of teaching, but her nighttime activities often distract her from her altruistic mission. Her obsession with money and fascination with the idea of sex with strangers keep her constantly on the edge. Sought after by rich and famous clients, she engages in dangerous, exploitative acts with an adeptness that always makes them want more. But an encounter with Sanjay, a wealthy, married East Indian physician, turns Dawn's carefully arranged life upside down. Dawn's beauty and sexual expertise leave Sanjay breathless. His infatuation with her escalates, disrupting his work and family life, until she proposes becoming his mistress, on condition that he never ask about her true identity. Sanjay lavishes her with jewelry, luxurious vacations, cash and even her own stock brokerage account. Their idyllic arrangement comes crashing down around them, however, when Dawn's parents try to arrange a marriage for her. At first, Dawn is incensed but soon realizes that her parents' concern for her future is justified. Terrified of her double life being exposed, she agrees to marry and breaks up with Sanjay. Though Dawn has tried not to be too hurtful, a jealous and enraged Sanjay hires a private investigator to uncover her disgraceful past. Dawn's father learns of his daughter's sordid hidden life and banishes her from the family. Devastated, she drives her car off a bridge. Sanjay hears of her death and tries to take his own life. In the end, both lovers survive and meet by chance in Montréal. There, after an evening of soul-searching, they achieve forgiveness and find solace in each other's arms once more.