Uncovering You 6: Deliverance by Scarlett Edwards

the first time Jeremy has shakenmy hand.
    “Welcome to the business world, then, Miss Ryder,” he tells me formally. “I have a feeling you’re going to like it here.”

     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    When we land countless hours later, I feel exhausted. After the handshake, Jeremy donned a professional mask.
    There were no more discussions about feelings, relationships, or personal concerns. Jeremy was completely dispassionate as he told me the terms of use for my new cellphone, and for the continuation of contact with Fey.
    The cell has been rigged so that anything I do on it is captured and transferred, in real time, to a virtual server that only Jeremy has access to. All my actions on it are recorded--from the briefest touch of the screen to the exact second I turn it off at night. It has no data, only regular network access, and of course the Wi-Fi is permanently disabled.
    There are two numbers configured into the contact list. Only two. Neither can be deleted or removed. Others cannot be added, either—at least, not by me.
    The first number is my own. It has an international area code that I don’t recognize. Jeremy said that it’s so that the phone can function globally. It’s programmed in such way that I don’t need to remember it, and I can give it out to others.
    When I’ll get the opportunity to do that, I do not know.
    The second number is what I have to use if I want to make a call. It routes to Jeremy’s cell. I must dial him, and then punch in the number I really want to call. It gives him the opportunity to either approve or reject the call. And, of course, record and listen in on anything I say.
    The phone is hardwired not to dial any number but his. It’s not just a software implementation. It’s a hardware thing. It ensures, as Jeremy pointed out, my complete compliance with his wishes.
    So, honestly, the phone does not offer much. If anything, it’s just a stark reminder of how much control Jeremy has over my life.
    But, it’s nothing I could have imagined holding in my hands even a month ago. For that, I’m grateful. This is definite progress.
    Obviously, phone calls made to Fey would need to be scheduled in advance. That’s the only way to ensure Jeremy’s availability. I would need to arrange them to work with his schedule.
    All in all, it means that my new cellphone is little more than a pretty, expensive paper weight. And an alarm clock. Jeremy pointed that out with a knowing glimmer in his eyes.
    At least now I can keep track of the dates. I bring up the calendar and see that today is January 16 th .
    As soon as we get into the limo, Jeremy has his earpiece on and begins making calls. I listen with half an ear. Being privy to just one side of conversation does not give me sufficient context to make use of anything I might hear. Besides, I doubt Jeremy would let slip anything he wouldn’t want me to know.
    Instead, I look out the window at the passing traffic. It feels strange to be back in California. So much has changed in the course of the last few weeks. And yet, so much is still ever the same.
    I remain bound to Jeremy. Whether by force of the illegitimate contract or by my own need to be there, it doesn’t matter. Our lives are inexplicably linked far, far into the future.
    Eventually, we pull up at the estate. When I left by myself, I was so excited to be off the property that I never bothered looking back at it. But now, as we wait for the gates to open, I can see it in all its glory.
    Even from the street, it looks magnificent—almost like a conservation area. The black gate is linked up to a high brick fence that disappears into the shrubbery. I see the tops of all the trees inside and remember just how big the property is. The sense of size is magnified as the limo snakes its way through the twisting lane that leads to the mansion.
    We stop at the front. It’s already dark. All the lights in the house are on. They shine through the open windows making it look like one