<human>: I am a paralegal in a law firm.  I have been working in my current position for approximately a year, and plan on going to law school following another year's work.  Overall the job is not bad, however I view it as a stepping stone.

I generally work with pretty nice people (especially the associates on my team).  The partner I work under is a no-nonsense and slightly intimidating guy, who doesn't like to be bothered.  So I work hard to make sure he isn't.

All of this would be fine, except that the Secretary who I work with really doesn't like me.  She has spent the better part of today complaining audibly about doing work that she thinks I should be doing (the partner who I work under recently told me he felt that I was overworked, and was shifting some of my more menial tasks to the Secretary).  Every day I try to be nice to her (smile at her, say hello in the mornings, etc.), but she is always very cold back.  If she has any issues with me she approaches them in an extremely passive aggressive manner.  Her bad attitude is making my job less pleasant, since I have to sit near her.

Honestly, I feel pretty bad for her.  She's approaching 50, single, divorced, has children to look after, and working a job she clearly feels is beneath her.  Despite this, I don't think it's fair for me to have to put up with her bitter attitude.

I would like to discuss this with her directly, however my past experiences trying that on smaller things have led to her blowing me off with remarks such as, "I don't have time for this" and her treating me with extra contempt.  At the same time, I don't just want to be some doucebag who runs off to HR with my complaints about somebody.  To clarify, I don't hate her, or want to get her in trouble or anything.  I just want her to stop being such a bitch to me.

So Reddit, what should I do?  How do you deal with an unpleasant co-worker?

Condense the text into a few key points
<bot>: Secretary hates me for no reason I can fathom (other than general bitterness), and I would like her to stop being so unpleasant to me.