I DARE YOU (Kate Bishop)

three

Wednesday followed Kate through the hallways of the building, head slightly in the clouds as she let Kate lead the way.

Kate stopped and Wednesday stumbled into her back, looking at her best friend with a frown.

"That was rude," she said.

"Shh," Kate whispered, pulling Wednesday to hide behind a wall.

"I should've known that this empire of yours would be built on a lie," Armand III's voice floated from the open doorway at the end of the hallway they were hiding near to spy on.

Wednesday frowned as she tried to listen to the other voice there.

"By myself from the ground up. So whatever you think you saw is not true," Eleanor's voice joined his.

"Don't insult my intelligence," Armond scoffed.

"You're frankly insulting us both," Eleanor said.

"I know what I saw," Armond said.

"You are all just-"

"Don't you try that on me. I gave you an opportunity to explain yourself!"

"I don't want to argue with you," Eleanor snapped.

"I've got powerful friends, too. The kind you don't want to mess with," Armond said.

They heard footsteps and Wednesday quickly pulled her phone out. She turned the camera to face herself and Kate and looked through the screen.

She could see Armond leaving his office, Eleanor behind him.

"Please," she tried. Armond disappeared around a corner. "Armand!" Eleanor called. He didn't reply. "See you at Christmas dinner," Eleanor muttered, walking down the hallway towards Wednesday and Kate.

Wednesday quickly pocketed her phone, following Kate after Eleanor.

"Mom, what was that about? Is that guy threatening you?" Kate asked.

"I honestly... I have no idea. Why are you lurking in the hallways? Were you two looking to find somewhere to make-out again?" Eleanor looked between the two of them with raised eyebrows.

Wednesday's cheeks flushed bright red while Kate had a small grin on her face at the sight of Wednesday getting embarrassed.

"We were outside getting air," Wednesday mumbled.

"Come back to the party," Eleanor said.

"Okay. Alright," Kate said.

"Okay," Eleanor said, starting to walk away.

"Be right there," Kate said.

"Alright," Eleanor said.

"Why," Wednesday started quietly, "do I have the feeling that we aren't going to be right there?"

"Because we're not. We're going to see what Armand is doing," Kate said.

She grabbed Wednesday's hand and tugged her down the hallway Eleanor had just left. Wednesday pointed to the corner she'd seen Armand disappear around and Kate led her down the hallway.

The two of them followed Armand down a long white hallway lined with folded tables. He turned left at the end and they hurried silently behind him. He led them through a kitchen filled with kitchen staff and waiters.

Wednesday remembered the waiters were wearing the same clothes as Kate, so she nudged Kate.

"Pretend to be a waiter. I'm a guest," Wednesday whispered.