Simon Cowell and Mezhgan Hussainy in 2011

It’s common knowledge that X Factor guru Simon Cowell usually stays in very close contact with all of his ex-girlfriends, so it was little surprise when The Sun’s photographers spotted him taking former fiancé Mezghan Hussainy out recently.

However, what did seem a tad strange was the Simon reportedly did his very best to make it seem as though he wasn’t with Mezghan!

The paper reports, “His former fiancée went on ahead as she arrived with the X Factor boss in his Rolls-Royce Phantom at the plush Beverly Hills Hilton in LA.”

The couple’s outing marks the first time they’ve been seen in public together since their split earlier this year.

In Tom Bower’s no-holds-barred biography Sweet Revenge, the author claimed that Simon had said that the relationship was a mistake…

He’s quoted as saying, “We came to the conclusion that I’m a hopeless boyfriend.”

However, of Simon and Mezghan’s date, a source close to Cowell said they were at the hotel for a “promotional event for the US X Factor”, adding, “They’ve always been close and remain on good terms.”

Meanwhile, it’s been reported in What’s On TV magazine online that further revelations in Bower’s book state that Simon is “worried” that judge Gary Barlow may be plotting to build an “entertainment empire” that could rival, or outdo, Simon’s own.

Again, Bower quotes Simon as saying that Gary “chased that madly; to get three initials after his name,” referring of course to the OBE Gary’s been awarded.

Bower said, “Ever since Barlow has clawed his way back from a disastrous attempt to become a solo star, Cowell was niggled by his conviction that Barlow was bidding to establish a rival entertainment empire and, like Paul McCartney, secure a knighthood.”

Well, even if Gary did build this “empire” I can’t see Simon going broke anytime soon! Can you?