I have this client, see.  He is a first time CEO.  NIce company, good product- early stage, angel funded (so cash is king) but profitable.  Going out for VC funding soon.

The issue is he's not hiring anyone.  Well he is for one role but we are sending candidates opportunistically.   He's offering them consulting gigs (which is fine as these are exploso candidates) but when the subject of money comes up, he says something to the effect of "well, i'm letting them peek under the kimono…