Wow, a lot to think about, in only one line. First of all, I'm sorry you had such an unpleasant situation happen to you. And good that you're airing your feelings here.

OK, second part of your statement first: expecting nothing seems to be setting yourself up to live with lower standards for yourself, doesn't it? So that's not the answer, obviously. To have no expectations is a little different than to expect nothing, I think.

When you have no expectations, that's exactly it: performing your actions is your one and only objective. You have no interest in reaping the fruits of your actions.

When you expect nothing, there is still a sense of expectation out there, which is tinged with a sense of lowering one's standards (as facetious as it sounds, it's really the best way I've found to look at this). It's like expecting empty fruits, I guess.

So maybe you meant having no expectations, but please don't phrase it as "expecting nothing". The negative spin on the concept sets up exactly that: a negative spin.

And now the first part of your quote, the part I really wanted to address: "how does one distinguish true gut truths from maya?" Sometimes, I have absolutely no clue. Sometimes I make that split-second "proper" decision but am immediately beset with second-guessing and self-doubt. Then later on I'm doubly vexed: the situation has produced both pain (the unpleasant situation with your now ex-employee) and suffering ("I knew I should've listened to my gut about not liking her!").

I have no concrete suggestions as to how to consistently know when truth is true. It's been a longtime struggle for me as well. Used to be if I'd tell myself that by going through a difficult situation and the pain I endured from it was worthwhile as a teaching tool, people would tell me that I was rationalizing, kidding myself. Now, in studying yoga, I'm learning that those naysayers who told me I was rationalizing are the ones that are misinformed, and that my painful experiences were in fact worthwhile in my growth (tapas, yes?). It's hard to trust the minority of oneself.

"No good deed goes unpunished." Indeed. Those naysayers would have a field day with this one. But again they're wrong. You did do a good deed. Just because it wasn't received as such doesn't invalidate your good deed. That's truth, NOT maya.

Hang in there, learn the lesson, and move on. As my quote says, you need not partake the option of suffering.