Arriving back at The X Factor studios this morning after a whirlwind trip to the U.S, Cheryl Cole couldn't stop beaming.
But perhaps it wasn't her reunion with 'close friend' Derek Hough that was making her smile - but an offer of a £6million U.S. record deal.
The Girls Aloud singer jetted to Los Angeles for just 36 hours to attend some top secret meetings - despite being in the middle of The X Factor live shows.
Cole, 27, was summoned to the Universal offices in LA this week after she achieved her second solo UK number one with Promise This on Sunday, according to The Sun.
Although the Girls Aloud star is yet to sign on the dotted line, she has been offered £6million for the deal, which would include releasing her first two albums - 3 Words and Messy Little Raindrips - and two further ones in the U.S.
Cole's spokesperson confirmed to the MailOnline that the singer was in LA for some 'meetings', but insisted she had not signed a U.S. record deal.
After flying overnight from LA to Heathrow, Cheryl fought off the jetlag as she went straight from the airport to the X Factor studios in Wembley to spend time with her protogees Katie Waissel, Treyc Cohen, Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson.
While Cole's success as a solo artist in the UK has been helped by her Girls Aloud fame and The X Factor, she is a relative unknown in the U.S.
It is believed her rapper friend Will.I.Am, who has collaborated with Cheryl on various tracks of both of her albums, helped convince Universal executives she could be a good signing.
In her 13 months as a solo artist, Cheryl has achieved two UK number one singles, a further two top five singles and a number one album 3 Words, which was certified triple platinum.
On Wednesday, the X Factor judge was spotted keeping a low-profile in Derek's car as he pulled up outside the plush Century apartment block in Century City.
While Hough, 25, was happy to be photographed in his jeans and shirt, Cole hid in the front seat of his black Audi - with just her dyed red hair just visible over the dashboard.
The day of Cheryl's visit coincided with Derek writing a public declaration of congratulations to the singer on his Twitter page after her single Promise This got to number one on Sunday.
He wrote yesterday: 'Dimples is number one wahooooooooooooooooo !!!! So proud of her, especially after such a tough year.'
The pair haven't seen each other for the beginning of September since Cheryl returned to London from LA for the X Factor live shows.
Derek has been equally busy in daily rehearsals with Dirty Dancing actress Jennifer Grey for Dancing With The Stars, which he won earlier this year with Nicole Scherzinger.
Cole has kept fans guessing over the nature of her relationship with Hough since she split from ex-husband Ashley Cole in February.
The pair have been friends since last year when he starred alongside her in her video for Parachute.
It makes sense, she wouldn't have gone to the US this week just to see Derek because she has her X-Factor mentoring duties, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was true.
It's inevitable that she will sign on a US label, and now is a better time than ever
FFTL for first US single
Followed by Yeah Yeah, 3 Words, Parachute or The Flood :heart:
lmao hellz to the no. Got it from ONTD cuz americans where sayn theyve never heard of Girls Aloud and they were irrelevant cuz no one knows them in the US, then somebody posted it
Cheryl Cole (born Cheryl Ann Tweedy, 30 June 1983) is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model and television personality.
Cole rose to fame when she was selected to become a member of pop group Girls Aloud on ITV's reality television programme Popstars The Rivals in late 2002
Not credible at all.
everything posted is so true. i hope cheryl stays in europe and leaves us alone personally 
