Entertainment> Celebrities

Kate's dinner date with a 54-year-old billionaire

(dailymail.co.uk)
2006-09-22 15:32

After shocking the fashion industry with their joint venture, Kate Moss and Topshop owner Philip Green put the seal on their special relationship with a night on the tiles together.

The pair celebrated with dinner at Mayfair restaurant China Tang, toasting her multi-million-pound deal to design an exclusive range of clothing for the high street outlet.

BhS Billionaire Green then took his new muse to Aspinalls Casino, not that she needed many winnings thanks to the new contract believed to be worth ￡3 million - with some reports even speculating it could be in the region of ￡10 million.

And Green seemed to be acting as the style icon's knight in shining armour, employing his security to shove past the waiting hordes of photographers as Moss and their party left the restaurant.

Wielding a giant cigar, he berated photographers waiting outside the restaurant who had the audacity to attempt to get a passing shot of one of the most photographed women in the world.

As they are both Croydon born, the 54-year-old businessman clearly has a soft spot for the model.

In May he stumped up ￡60,000 at a boozy charity auction for the honour to give the supermodel a kiss. But, in the presence of his wife Tina, Green wisely offered it to Jemima Khan instead -and the pair, much to his joy, gave each other a long, lingering smooch.

Earlier this week, Green and Moss picked up from where they left off and were spotted together beside the catwalk runway prompting speculation of a deal.

Last night Moss, 32, with hair tied back and wearing a short black mini, seemed to take the attention all in her stride and let Green's security make a path for her to get into a waiting car as they sped off to the nearby casino.

And despite mixing business with pleasure, there was no sign of her on-off boyfriend Pete Doherty. The rocker was spending yet another a night in at a rehab clinic trying to kick his addiction to heroin and cocaine. But we are sure he will be enjoying the upturn in his girlfriend's fortunes.

After being photographed last year allegedly snorting cocaine, Moss has boosted her income by an estimated ￡30 million sealed by designing the Topshop range due out in Spring 2007.

Green took a personal role in the negotiations to secure Moss' support and commitment to the new partnership.

He said her appeal was "global" and that she "creates a fashion statement wherever she is seen".

The collection will be sold across all of Topshop's 308 stores.