Marcelo blinked at the sudden appearance of Stephanie's father. Well, if this didn't cap off a nowhere near perfect evening, the Brazilian would go out and get shot somewhere to make sure he hit all the high notes.

"Hello, sir," he said in his politest businessman tone as he shook the offered hand firmly. Or as firmly as a regular human male could.

"Yes, your speech seems to be exactly what the crowd wanted to hear. Congratulations."

Marcelo recalled Brooke getting Stephanie out of the naked flaming angel of death mode when he was again absolutely useless. Now, he could go find a drive-by to get in front of. He marshaled up the right blandly polite facade to put on his face.