There was no issue with the interview process itself. However at the end of the first round, the hiring manager asked me to prepare some work to show the managing director for the second round. I have no issue with this, however I sought to ask the HR department whether or not my asking salary could be met if I were to pass the next round of interviews. There was no communication from the company following this and I was told by a contact within the company that I was taken out of consideration due to asking this question. I feel that it is a perfectly reasonable question to ask if I'm being asked to prepare work in order to avoid wasting time if the company is unable to meet my asking salary.