I hope we didn’t give the impression that we *liked* it

I was project managing a web design and build for a healthcare client. We presented the first round of design and the response was positive. Their only feedback was minor things like letter spacing, button shapes, and so on.

Two days later I got a call from their project manager. 

Client: I hope we didn’t give the impression that we *liked* it.

Me: ….Your voice, tone, and choice of words suggested that, yes, you did like it. 

Client: Well you missed the mark. Could you design something more like the case study in our proposal?

Me: I didn’t see that proposal. Could you send it to me so we can better align? 

A couple of days later he emailed back:

Client: Never mind about the case study. If you just implement the feedback from the meeting everyone will be happy. 

Me: …I’m getting some contradictory feedback. Are you 100% sure we should move forward?

Client: Yes.  and said never mind about the case study, if we could just implement the feedback from the meeting, everyone will be happy. 

Not long after we presented the second round, the same guy emailed my boss claiming that his team was unhappy wit MY project management and they wouldn’t be paying for designs they never wanted to move forward with.