My Dear Secretary

Successful novelist and playboy Owen Waterbury hires aspiring writer Stephanie 'Steve' Gaylord as his secretary. Steve sees this as a dream come true and admires Owen's work, hoping to learn from him. Behind the charm, Owen's egotistical temperament has driven past secretaries to quit.

Owen remains perpetually in debt and cannot begin the contracted novel that would pay his bills and secure a lucrative advance. Steve quickly becomes more than just a secretary, trying to keep him focused and productive. The pressure of looming deadlines strains their professional arrangement.

Steve and Owen marry; Steve remains steadfast as she pursues her own writing while supporting him. The couple's personal life becomes deeply entwined with his literary career. Steve's perseverance forms the backbone of their volatile partnership.

Owen writes a novel based on events from his life, including a character based on his publisher. The manuscript is submitted for publication but is rejected, leaving Owen disappointed. The failure fuels tension between Owen and Steve as their finances and reputations hang in the balance.

Owen declares that he cannot have a wife who is also his secretary and fires Steve. He quickly resumes hiring an admiring and attractive new secretary. Steve's removal from the staff marks a sharp turn in their marriage and collaboration.

Steve takes her completed novel and Owen's rejected manuscript to her former employer, Charles Harris, a major publisher who is romantically attracted to Steve. Harris agrees to read both manuscripts, seeing potential in both the creative and personal dynamics. This meeting sets the stage for a publishing showdown.

Harris finds Owen's manuscript interesting but ordinary, while he believes Steve's manuscript is worthy of publication and possibly literary prizes. He asks Steve to consider publication despite the risk to Owen's ego. Steve weighs professional gains against personal loyalties.

Steve initially refuses publication to spare Owen's fragile ego, but she changes her mind when Owen's continued philandering makes the situation untenable. Her decision signals a turning point that could redefine both their careers. Harris remains positioned to push the deal forward.

Steve's manuscript is published and becomes a best-seller, shattering Owen's expectations and drawing intense attention to her. Owen's annoyance grows as Steve's success eclipses his own reputation. The dynamic between husband and wife shifts dramatically in the public eye.

To reassert control, Steve hires an attractive male secretary, prompting Owen to snap and declare that he will be her secretary again. The power balance between them tilts once more in Owen's favor. Steve's career, however, remains on a trajectory of its own.

Steve agrees and begins narrating a book to Owen based on their life together. Owen strongly objects to the portrayal and the way she describes him, leading to a heated argument. Despite the clash, the two continue to engage with each other as collaborators.

After the quarrel, Owen and Steve reconcile and get back together, continuing their strained but enduring partnership. The film closes with their complicated but stubborn bond intact. Steve remains an accomplished author while Owen remains a volatile but influential figure in her life.