Jonah Cunningham is a bitter, lonely, old man whose regret over a previous, failed relationship has marred his superficially successful life. The decision that haunts him is simple: he allowed his career to supercede his personal life and lost the one person for whom he cared to scarlet fever. To drown out his remorse, he has forced himself into a rigid daily routine planned out to the minute and has isolated himself from almost all human contact. On the anniversary of his departure to America and the subsequent end of his relationship, however, an unusual elevator ride gives Jonah the unique opportunity to revisit his past. He is given a new body and a bit of luck and quickly finds himself installed in the household of Eveline Robinson, the girl he once loved. He quickly gains a great deal of influence over her and decides to craft for himself the future he always wanted. As Eveline's personal servant, however, he discovers her side of the love story: the truth behind her other suitor and the reason behind her decision to leave him.