Chapter 202
In one of the conference rooms at Caltech, I sat in a regular seat near the center of the table. Pepper was to my right, flipping through her handwritten notes. Siebert sat across from me with a thick book filled with printed research. Paige was beside him, jotting quick thoughts into her notebook, occasionally glancing my way. Harvey leaned against the wall near the whiteboard, arms crossed, observing quietly.
The door opened, and Gordon Moore entered—an elder statesman of science, 73 years old, yet with a sober and sharp expression that immediately commanded respect. He gave a polite nod to everyone in the room, then his gaze softened as he looked at Paige.
With a warm smile, he said, "How are you, little Paige?" His tone carried an air of genuine appreciation, the way a grandfather might greet a beloved granddaughter.
It's not hard to see why. Paige, only 13 years old, had managed to solve one of the most difficult challenges in topology and modern mathematics (not by coincidence it was among the Millennium Prize Problems). That alone would attract someone like Moore, a passionate supporter of basic and long-term research.
Paige told me that Gordon offered her financial support if she ever needed it—no strings attached. Siebert also mentioned that Gordon had emphasized the importance of looking after Paige's emotional well-being wherever possible.
Obviously, someone like him knows that beyond academic and scientific structure, emotional support is one of the most critical factors for nurturing real talent.
Paige smiled back. "I'm doing well, Mr. Moore. It's always good to see you."
He nodded and took a seat across from me.
"Mr. Moore, you really look like a well-dressed grandpa," I said normally.
Siebert nearly choked on his water. Harvey let out a short laugh, while Paige kicked me under the table and shot me a sharp look. Pepper walked past with her notes rolled in hand and 'accidentally' bumped them against the back of my head.
"Mr. Moore, nice to meet you," she said professionally.
Gordon shook her hand and replied, "Nice to meet you, Miss Potts."
He then turned to me with a smile. "And you must be Jake, right? Paige told me about you."
He added, "Another incredible young person—the writer behind four movies that are already blockbusters."
Before I could say a word, the door opened again. Another person stepped in—it was Regina, and right behind her, her father.
I stood up and started walking over to greet her.
Before we could even say hello, she raised an eyebrow and said, "What did you do this time, Jake?"
"Hey, déjà vu?" I exclaimed. "Third time today."
I gave her a quick smile and greeted her with a light hug, then turned to shake her father's hand.
"Henri, good to see you."
He greeted me back with a firm handshake and a nod.
Gordon raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise. "You also came, Henri?"
"Good to see you again, Gordon," Henri replied with a small smile.
I thought: no surprise they know each other. Regina's dad is a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA, where he also taught (currently on leave to oversee Broadcom). He's published over a hundred technical papers and holds several patents.
One hell of a dad Regina has.
Samueli and Moore—both PhDs, both billionaires—embody the rare blend of academic brilliance and entrepreneurial success.
I leaned toward Regina and whispered, "Where is Cher?"
She replied quietly, "She couldn't come. She already had something planned with her mom. She told me to tell her everything afterward."
I nodded. Then everyone took their seats.
"I will not waste your time," I began. "This meeting was called to discuss a discovery: graphene—or 'monolayer of graphite,' a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice."
Graphene wasn't exactly a household name—barely known outside highly technical circles.
Siebert passed around a brief theoretical summary of what had been expected before it was actually isolated:
Electronic Properties – Theoretical Predictions Before Isolation:
High electron mobility – Near-ballistic conduction with almost no resistance.
Very high conductivity – Predicted to outperform both copper and silicon.
High current density – Expected to handle significantly elevated electrical currents.
Mechanical and Structural Properties – Expected:
Extreme mechanical strength – Strongly suspected to be the strongest material ever modeled.
Extreme lightness – Confirmed theoretically; one-atom thickness made it the lightest possible 2D material.
Samueli and Moore looked genuinely impressed. Gordon leaned back with a small nod of approval, and Henri's brow tightened as he processed the implications.
Regina, on the other hand, looked completely lost—just like most people would be in that room.
Henri furrowed his brow and asked seriously, "How?"
I pulled out the strip of adhesive tape with a faint trace of graphite on it. I laid it on the table.
Paige leaned forward and began to explain technically, "We used mechanical exfoliation. It involves repeatedly peeling layers of graphite using adhesive tape, and under the right conditions, it leaves behind a monolayer of carbon atoms—graphene—on a substrate."
Gordon stared at the tape, then looked back up, incredulous. "Are you serious? A two-dollar experiment leading to the discovery of a new material—one that was previously considered purely theoretical and likely impossible..."
"Four dollars," I corrected him, "I needed to use the scissors too."
Everyone glared at me.
"What? It doubled the price!"
Gordon let out a soft laugh, while Henri smiled amused.
---
The AFM was available and ready. Siebert and Paige accompanied Gordon and Henri to check the sample.
Some time passed before they returned.
Everyone took their seats again. Before that, I briefly explained to Regina what was happening. She didn't seem the slightest bit interested.
Gordon looked at the tape once more and said, "That really amazes me—that something so simple actually worked. But we still need all the rigorous testing."
---
At one point, the meeting narrowed down to just me, Pepper, Harvey, Henri, and Gordon.
Henri spoke thoughtfully, "As incredible as this discovery is, I'm still a bit skeptical about its commercial viability in the medium term."
I nodded. "Graphene has immense potential, but it'll probably take decades before it really moves the market."
I continued, "I called you for two things." I looked at Gordon. "Paige will be the one leading the research. That's non-negotiable."
Then I turned to Henri. "And second, I'm asking for help shielding Paige from excess attention."
Not that I couldn't handle it myself (or I wouldn't reveal the graphene), but having two more influential billionaires on her side wouldn't hurt.
"She's going to win the Fields Medal—whether this year or in the next edition. And graphene has all the potential to one day bring a Nobel, even if it takes many years." I concluded.
Gordon murmured, "In entire history, probably only Marie Curie would be in the same league... and she is only 13"
He looked at me and added, "I would do both, even if you hadn't asked. A talent like Paige—it should be a civic duty to make sure she has a healthy environment."
Henri nodded in agreement.