Picking up right after the heartbreak, romances and uncertainties from the season two finale in Paris, Jane, Kat and Sutton are back in New York City and dealing with the aftermath of some major decisions. Scarlet Magazine brings in Patrick Duchand to run the digital branch, effectively knocking Jacqueline down to only running the print magazine. Meanwhile, Jane has picked her guy but is frustrated that a man is put in charge of a women's magazine. Kat struggles to keep up happy appearances on social media and as a speaker at the Scarlet Summit while secretly suffering heartache. Sutton and Richard enjoy their romance in the limelight and discuss moving in together.

Jane begins her fertility treatments in preparation for freezing her eggs and is assigned an article to write about her experience, but with a very personal twist. Kat learns that a prominent lesbian bar is being closed down and replaced with condos and decides to throw a Queer Prom to fundraise its rescue. Sutton moves in with Richard but struggles to accept his help when Oliver's mysterious absences force her to put in more hours at work.

With Jane's egg extraction on the horizon, she and her boyfriend can't wait to have sex again and she challenges herself to be less "vanilla" and more "rocky road" in the bedroom. Alex examines his dating life in a piece for Scarlet digital when he realizes he was the subject behind a #MeToo story. Fed up after realizing that her councilman doesn't have his city's best interests at heart, Kat decides to channel her passion by volunteering for his opposition. Sutton considers a career shift into fashion design but debates how to break the news to Oliver.

Jane stumbles on the scoop of a lifetime, but Jacqueline turns down the pitch when her impending 10th-anniversary gala and continued power-struggles with Patrick force her to contemplate her future with Scarlet. Sutton preps a design seminar application for Oliver's recommendation, but he remains distracted by things in his personal life. Kat decides to run for City Council but reconsiders when she learns what the opposition might spin about her past.

Scarlet falls prey to a data hack, halting production of the dotcom and magazine and Jane and Jacqueline fear their investigation could be compromised as a result. Pressures escalate when Sutton and Richard host a dinner party. Meanwhile, Kat opens up to Tia as they begin her campaign.

The Scarlet email hack brings up memories of the trio's first meeting four years ago, reminding them that together they can overcome anything.

When Kat faces racial profiling while canvassing for office, she is tempted to call the woman out on social media in order to find justice. Sutton realizes that Richard is keeping something from her. Meanwhile, Jane and Jacqueline make headway on the workplace harassment investigation.

When Adena returns to New York, Kat debates whether she's ready to see her, but quickly realizes she might not have a choice. Sutton is stretched in too many directions between styling for Oliver and designing for her seminar, causing friction with Richard.

When Kat beings to doubt herself on the eve of her election, an unexpected person gives her the reassurance she needs. Jane and Jacqueline are confident about their workplace harassment investigation and decide to take action. Sutton coaches Carly through a difficult situation at school.

When Jane and Jacqueline's exposé makes an impact, Jacqueline takes a hard look at how she can make Scarlet an industry leader that practices what it preaches. Sutton celebrates the end of her design seminar with a fashion show but surprises herself with the results. Jane deals with an emotional fallout amidst a career high. Kat makes a choice not to run from her problems anymore.