Simon Cowell's fiancee has rejected rumours the couple have split, insisting she is still engaged to the X Factor star.
Friends of the music mogul say he has become increasingly cool towards his relationship with make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy. One close confidante even revealed it was "definitely over".
But Hussainy, who lives at Cowell's $4 million (Dh14.69 million) Beverly Hills mansion, said: "I still love him and he says he still loves me and we are still engaged — as far as I know."
Speaking as she left the house, a smiling Mezhgan — known as Mish — said: "We've been apart for a while. Of course I miss him. It's not easy being apart and even one day apart is hard when you are in love.
"But he's got his work in England and I've got my work here in Los Angeles."
The 37-year-old said she was aware of speculation that the couple have broken off their engagement, but said: "I don't know where these stories are coming from. It's as if when you're engaged you can't spend a moment apart or people think you've broken up.
"That's nonsense. We are still in love and still planning on getting married.
"I am still living here as you can see. I miss Simon but we speak on the phone three, four, five times a day."
Last week The Mail on Sunday was told by two separate sources close to Cowell, 51, that he had confided in them that the engagement was off and the relationship would end once he returned to the US after the X Factor final.
One friend said Hussainy would move out of the 11,500 sq ft mansion, just off the Sunset Strip, once Cowell returned to Hollywood.
"I doubt you will see them out together again," the friend said. "When he next goes over to LA, she won't be there."
Cowell's mother, Julie, whom he once described as "the one woman in the world I am closest to", appeared to confirm the split, saying: "It's a break at the moment. The problem with Simon is that he works too hard. I think the engagement was too quick."
As she spoke on Friday, Hussainy wore her £250,000 Graff diamond engagement ring.
Later, she drove to leading fashion boutique Badgley Mischka on Sunset Strip, which had a "bridal sample sale". When asked if she was trying on wedding dresses she grinned and said: ‘Not yet.' But she did confirm the couple have yet to set a wedding date.
