*somewhat dryly* You can say it with some confidence, you know. 'My staff likes me.' It's no secret.
*drums his fingers briefly against his knee (the one that doesn't act up when the weather's bad)* *more directly than usual, since that seems to be the trend here* It's also no secret how Lord Salgant treats you. *gestures upward to illustrate* In the time it takes him to walk up here, give you grief, and walk back out, the hermits hiding in the sixth-floor back offices are already stabbing their voodoo dolls.
*more seriously, holding your gaze* It's no one's business but yours how you choose to respond to him, of course, and we all respect that as much as we respect you. But you should know that nothing tanks this House's morale faster than watching our lord take that kind of undeserved abuse, week after week, with absolutely no hope that it will ever stop.