While there's a chance that the OP's account of the situation is biased or incomplete, "professional" VCs with "good intentions" don't ask for money, and profes

While there's a chance that the OP's account of the situation is biased or incomplete, "professional" VCs with "good intentions" don't ask for money, and professional firms doing any sort of business in good faith send legitimate bills (in this case, for hypothetical services) immediately, not after six months. The only professional viewpoint is that they are sociopaths who are willing to burn bridges with clients and other VCs for the sake of revenge or swindlers who want to extract money from a weak party.