Are you stupid? Is he talking? Then yes, he’s manipulating you.
Are you bright-ish? Are you constantly confused? Is everything your fault? Do you no longer know right from wrong, since the consequences never change? Do you feel helpless and small and in need of guidance? First, hit me up, you’re hot. Second, you’re probably being manipulated.
But honestly, no matter how clever you are, if he’s good at it, you won’t know. Because he won’t know he’s doing it. It won’t be a strategy or a plot with calculated outcomes… he’ll just somehow always know what to say, and he’ll get his way.
Because he’s right, and you damned well know it.