Demi Lovato and Niall Horan Romance Encouraged by Simon Cowell?

One Direction's Niall Horan and Demi Lovato have been hitting headlines with rumors of their Skype online romance.  Though the two have said that they are "just friends" on interviews and shows, the hype doesn't seem to fade.

In fact, their "boss" Simon Cowell seems to be enjoying the publicity that it is raising for The X Factor USA and for the UK band who were finalists on The X Factor UK in 2010 and signed under Cowell's record label briefly.

An alleged insider told Heat Magazine, "Demi is being spurred on by Simon, who finds the whole thing very amusing" and that Simon is "adoring the publicity,"

Just one week ago, Niall Horan confirmed with Ryan Seacrest about his Skype contact with Lovato, commenting, "I don't know what's going to happen."  Niall was also seen hanging out with Demi's family.

Hollywood is waiting to see this secret romance unfold.