“No need to do the sauna too, in this heat,” Audrey said. “They should add lavender or citrus to that steam to de-stress New Yorkers.”

“Yeah, the perfect way for New Yorkers to get sauna health benefits while still rushing to their next destination,” Winnie said. “And we could create an app that alerts people to the next steam stack to blow and make enough money to quit law.” Winnie was quite certain that she didn’t want to make partner.

“I can’t believe you have to go to Texas. Should I write a note to the senior associate about how essential you’ve been to the Hen case?”

“Then he’ll just want more of my time.”

“True.” Audrey sighed. “Malaburn just asked me to update a memo.”

“How’d you get assigned more work? You have a full plate,” Winnie said.

“He caught me in the stairway yesterday.”

“I’m not surprised he haunts the stairway. But he’s supposed to go through the assignment partner. Did you tell him that? That’s the whole point of the assignment partner. He can parcel out assignments fairly and make sure that no one associate is overburdened. It’s just like Malaburn to bypass that.”

“I did tell him. And called the assignment partner.” Assignment partners should assign someone else to cover this when on vacation.

“Malaburn. The problem is he’s really influential. He’s one of the highest-billing partners because all he does is work,” Winnie said. “What’s he on? Like divorce number three?”

“I don’t see how I can say no,” Audrey said. Winnie didn’t contradict her. This was definitely a job for the assignment partner. “Anyway, Whitaker seemed depressed about it. I’m going to talk to HR and see if it’s true. Maybe it’s a surprise party.”

“I don’t think they throw surprise parties for seventy-year-old partners. Too much liability,” Winnie said.

They ran to catch the light and cross the street. The sidewalk seemed less crowded than usual; probably most preferred to stay indoors in the air conditioning. A wise choice. Her shirt was sticking to her armpits. The sun burned her arms. The heat was radiating off the buildings. So, this was how it felt to be a piece of toast. She was getting cooked walking down the street between the two buildings.

“But he’s a legend. I can’t believe they’re not throwing him a party. It’s not that much effort.” Audrey shaded her eyes to see the figures down the block. “Is that Colette and Tim?”

“Yeah, I forgot to tell you that I ran into him as he was on the way to lunch in the cafeteria. You could’ve met him for lunch there.”

“Because lunch in the cafeteria is so romantic.”

“Your crush, not mine,” Winnie said. “Maybe they found each other in the cafeteria and decided to go out for lunch.”